Inside, Outside, and Online: Building Your Library Community [Paperback]

Chrystie Hill (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0838909876 | ISBN-13: 978-0838909874 | Publication Date: May 1, 2009

Inside, Outside, and Online provides practical advice and inspiration for building community with your library. Based on a scan of the community and technology environments that libraries operate within, related literature, and the practical experiences of hundreds of library staff actively building communities through their work, the book provides much-needed insights into the essential elements of community building through

* Identifying user needs and designing services to meet those needs
* Engaging communities with service selection, creation, and iteration
* Utilizing practical new technologies

Whatever your role, and whatever size or type of library, the principles outlined here can support anyone working to build a strong community of engaged, interested, and satisfied library users.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In this fluently written how-to manual, author Hill makes a potent case for community building as an essential form of service in public libraries, both for their survival and relevance and also for the needs of those Americans who find themselves “bowling alone.” She outlines five steps in the process she recommends public libraries follow to build communities: assess, deliver, engage, iterate, and sustain. Explanation of the stages is clear, and examples from librarians in the field serve as dynamic illustrations. Although the book was researched and written before the current economic debacle caused library use to skyrocket, Hill’s model remains applicable—and provides libraries with a method for taking full advantage of increased foot traffic as well as connecting outside and online. --Ann Welton

About the Author

Chrystie Hill is a librarian, writer, and community builder. After a short stint at the Seattle Public Library, she started It Girl Consulting, a small venture that helps libraries use online tools to build communities online. In 2003 Chrystie joined WebJunction where she serves as their director of community services. Chrystie is a frequent presenter at library meetings and conferences, and her articles have appeared in JASIST, Library Journal, and RUSQ. In 2007, Chrystie was nominated as a Library Journal "Mover and Shaker". Chrystie s undergraduate degree is in biology and psychology, she holds an M.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, and her MLIS is from the University of Washington, Seattle, where she lives with her desk and a laptop.

Product Details

• Paperback: 194 pages
• Publisher: Amer Library Assn Editions (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0838909876
• ISBN-13: 978-0838909874
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,603,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For any librarian who wants their library and their community to be successful, September 13, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside, Outside, and Online: Building Your Library Community (Paperback)

A library is more than a building that grants access to information. "Inside, Outside, and Outline: Building Your Library Community" is a guide for librarians to adapting one's library to the community around it. Every community is different, and therefore every library should be different to suit local needs. With advice on identifying the needs and desires of the communities, attracting the community, and more, "Inside, Outside, and Outline" is of strong recommendation for any librarian who wants their library and their community to be successful.