Little Libraries – Big Barriers:
 


How Collaboration and Determination
 helped us Overcome Obstacles & Achieve Success with our Microlibraries Project Scottsdale Public Library - AzLA 2017

• Robbin Gaebler Building Operations & Volunteer Services Senior Manager, SPL

• Brandon Chapman Supervisor of Volunteers, SPL

• Lee Payne Palomino Library Branch Manager, SPL

• Yvonne Massman Natural Resources Coordinator, Scottsdale McDowell-Sonoran Preserve

• Jim Nance Intel Encore Fellow

Panel Members

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What we think the path to success looks like…

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What the real path turns out to be! Lessons Learned • Remain flexible and adjust expectations • Be optimistic • Build a coalition of willing partners • Control your stressors • Position your organization to accept and maximize opportunities • Choose the right team for each stage • Be tenacious (revive project from a dormant state) • Understand what you can let go of • Stay open to new ideas • Be able to pivot and “go with the flow” • Make it fun

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Aug. - Oct. 2014

Getting Started… • Informed Acting Library Director about original idea for microlibraries project • Lead the Change - Arizona event • Lead the Change teams formed to address goals in Strategic Plan

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2017 R

2014 Jan. - Apr. 2015

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Planning phase:

size site selection partners/stakeholders installation & maintenance stocking & restocking funding

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Contacted Arizona Association of Fine Woodworkers

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Prototype delivered by AAFW

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Received authorization from new Library Director & Community Services Director

Interior space:

Height≈28”

Depth≈14” Width≈18” ≈36”

2017 B

2014 • Meeting with Scottsdale Sister Cities Association

June - Oct. 2015

• Possible sites: McCormick Stillman Railroad Park Youth & Family Services building One Civic Center SkySong Chaparral Dog Park Museum of the West Paiute Neighborhood Center

2017 B

2014

Aug. - Oct. 2015

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Grant opportunity presented to team by library staff member

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$1,000 grant awarded from Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors

2017 R

2014

• Lose members of original Lead the Change team • Sister Cities Association contact steps down

Nov. 2015

• Initial meeting with McDowell-Sonoran Preserve • McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park option is declined

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2017 Y

R

2014

• Planning phase:

Nov. 2015 Feb. 2016

Name of project Branding/logo Graphics materials (stamps & stickers)

• Meeting with Parks & Recreation (also in Community Services Division) to discuss possible partnership • Contact Facilities Department to discuss mounting and installing microlibraries • Reach out to One Civic Center to discuss possible partnership & placement in lobby

2017 B

2014

Apr. - June 2016 • New key Facilities contact • Contacted Home Depot to have “volunteers” build microlibrary shaped like a dog house • Sites narrowed to Chaparral Dog Park & Human Services

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2017 R

2014 • Project stalled with Parks & Recreation • Loss of Arizona Woodworkers to build structures • Transport of Home Depot microlibrary

July 2016

• Pursuant to AR 155, advised by Purchasing to not solicit gifts/donations from Home Depot as could constitute a conflict of interest

2017 B

2014

• Contact Preserve about engaging Eagle Scouts to build microlibraries • Meeting with Boy Scout and Preserve staff 2 more potential locations:

July 2016

Pinnacle Peak Brown’s Ranch

2017 Y

B

2014

July - Sept. 2016

• Response of positive interest from key Facilities staff • Project named changed from Books in Parks to Books2Go • City of Tempe introduces their Little Free Libraries program to their citizens (similar to Southwest Human Development Project)

2017 B

2014

• Site visit: met with staff at Chaparral Dog Park Concerns about dogs urinating on posts, books strewn across grounds, etc.

Sept. 2016

2017 R

2014

• Experience Matters • Intel Encore Fellow joins project • Friends of SPL sought to administer the program

Oct. 2016

2017 J

B

R

2014

• Arrange to have Facilities Tech build metal frames • Planning: Facilities Tech & Intel Encore Fellow meet Books ordered for first microlibrary Marketing/promotion (stickers) Team of volunteers to stock Grand opening

• Permission from Library Director to use $1,000 from Special Revenue for project

Oct. - Nov. 2016

• Feb. 2017 preliminary installation date for first microlibrary at Chaparral Dog Park • Meeting with stakeholders to construct microlibraries; Facilities Tech brings prototype for metal frame

2017 J

B

2014

Nov. - Dec. 2016

• Library is asked to have microlibrary at the Farmer’s Market in Old Town Scottsdale - ‘mini’ structure for outreach • Community Services Division creates own flyer for the Farmer’s Market microlibrary independent of the Library Team

2017 R

2014

• Field trip to Preserve to scout possible sites: Brown’s Ranch Pinnacle Peak Thom’s Thumb Gateway

Dec. 2016 Feb. 2017

• Next locations: Mountain View Park Horizon Park

• Books ordered for initial start-up collection arrive

2017 B

2014

Dec. 2016 Feb. 2017

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Metal frame delivered and progress on “dog house” and “barn” designs (negotiating other departments’ timelines, priorities & workloads)

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All-staff email sent outlining Books2Go project

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Date set for installation at the Chaparral Dog Park - April 11th during National Library Week

2017 B

2014

• Boy Scout declines microlibraries for Eagle Scout project

Mar. 2017

• One Civic Center site is no longer an option

2017 R

2014

• Planning for microlibrary at Indian School Park • Positive feedback & interest from community (word of mouth) • Project listed in City Council Update

Mar. - July 2017 2017 B

2014

Mar. - July 2017

• Grand opening celebration April 20, 2017, National Library Week; mayor is present and media coverage

2017 R

2014

• More metal frames delivered to Intel Encore Fellow

Mar. - July 2017

• Fellow working steadily towards construction of schoolhouse microlibrary to be installed at next park

2017 J

B

2014

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Unauthorized sign placed on Chaparral Dog Park microlibrary

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Meeting with Indian School Park stakeholders and site no longer viable location due to objections

Aug. 2017 2017 B

2014

• Reach out again to Preserve - Pinnacle Peak site approved •

Authorization from Code Enforcement & Planning Department

• Farmer’s Market outreach - the “barn” debuts • “School house” design microlibrary nearing completion Y

Aug. - Oct. 2017 Y

B

In Conclusion… R

Questions & Answers