Friday Update

Last December I promised I would resume my weekly blog posts in an effort to keep everyone more informed. I hope you engage with this blog weekly to make sure you know what's happening and what's next. Senior managers met yesterday to talk about the plan to improve communication, so also expect more regular information updates from your supervisors and managers going forward. If you have any particular questions that go unanswered please communicate that upward and I'll be sure to answer to all.

• Business Plan meetings are scheduled for:
• Thursday January 26, 1pm @CCB Collection services staff, Uptown, Simmons)
• Tuesday, January 31, 1pm @NS
• Thursday, Feb 16, 1pm @SW

Meetings should last about 90 minutes. We'll talk about the impact of SHARE, the AMH project, our program and service ideas for 2017, and the biggest project for 2017: Strategic Planning.
The 2017 Business Plan is available on our library website under the "About" tab.

• Hats off to the NS circulation staff who are so cleverly redesigning their workflow around the new AMH system. It's wonderful to see your innovative ideas for making the system work the best it can. Until all of our collection is tagged with RFID tags, the value of AMH will not be fully realized. So help your coworkers at the Northside branch by volunteering for an hour or two a week to tag. We'll be hosting some after hour tagging parties soon, as well. The more the AMH system recognizes, the less the NS staff need to scan by hand. Let's all pitch in and help!
• Thanks to the Bookmobile and Outreach Staff for welcoming Brandi into their fold during Scott's absence. Brandi is working hard to cover her regular job and also help with scheduling and logistics for the bookmobile to keep everything running smoothly. We are so grateful to her for stepping into this role. Scott will recuperate from knee surgery at SW when he returns in February until he can maneuver the 
• The library will be hosting a public forum to gather information leading to a plan to develop a Creative Economy in Kenosha. We'll hold that discussion after hours at the Uptown Library on Tuesday, March 7th starting at 6pm. If you are an artist, performer, musician, actor, writer, or any other creative person, please come on out and express your views on how the city can support your dream of supporting yourself yourself through the arts.
• We'll be hosting the SHARE Directors Council, a group of about 30 directors, tech people, and trustees from Lakeshores Library System and Kenosha County Library System, on March 7th at Northside Library. The group wants to see AMH in action. Racine Public Library is at the beginning of their RFID project, so this will be helpful for their staff to see. Other LLS libraries are also interested in tagging their collection. Wouldn't that make our workload so much easier?
• The annual  Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference begins this week. We have reserved NS and SW meeting rooms for group viewing. See Joe's email for details about the schedule. Please do your best to attend at least one session, especially if you have very few chances for continuing ed. There's always a lot of good stuff to inspire you, generate new ideas, and make you proud to work in a library. We pay one fee as a sponsor of the conference so your attendance won't cost us a dime more than already spent.
• The KPL Foundation is planning a gala event at the Simmons Library on Saturday, September 30 from 6:30-9:30pm. They will be launching an annual Library Legacy award. If you have a suggestion for someone in the community who has been a tireless supporter either with money or time, let me know so I can pass your nomination on to the Foundation board.
• The Kenosha Expo is at Parkside on March 4 and 5. We will host a table there to spread the good word about our programs and services. If you are willing to meet the public at our table either day (paid time) contact Aaron. 

That's the news for this week. Have a warm and happy weekend!

Barb