Third Thurs Twitter Chat - March 2018 - Creating space for community engagement

Creating space for community engagement with Jodi Kolo and Lori Pulliam of Oak Park Public Library, Oak Park, IL

  1. Today! Third Thursday Twitter Chat on Creating Space for Engagement, 2pm East. Our special guests are Jodi Kolo and Ashley Boyer from Oak Park Public Library (IL) #MCLSchat https://t.co/coRMANkC2S
    Today! Third Thursday Twitter Chat on Creating Space for Engagement, 2pm East. Our special guests are Jodi Kolo and Ashley Boyer from Oak Park Public Library (IL) #MCLSchat pic.twitter.com/coRMANkC2S
  2. We’ll get started in a minute on our chat about space for engagement in libraries. Tell us who you are and where you’re from! #mclschat
  3. Hi everyone! This is Jodi Kolo from the Oak Park Public Library, just west of Chicago. #mclschat
  4. Please welcome Jodi Kolo and Ashley Boyer from Oak Park Public Library in Illinois as our guests for this chat! #mclschat
  5. Q1 Tell us about "Idea Box" at Oak Park Public Library? #mclschat
  6. A1: Located just inside the Main Library entrance, the Idea Box is a dedicated 19-by-13-foot space for visitors of all ages #mclschat
  7. A1: Repurposing a former café space, we wanted to use our front entrance and as place to boldly say we are books… and more! #mclschat
  8. Q2 What prompted the decision to create "Idea Box" at the library? #mclschat
  9. A2: What’s inside is always changing, providing participatory community experiences. Everyone is encouraged to learn through play #mclschat
  10. I loved the pictures and Ideas saw at your website! I have space to re-purpose and am consingering something similar. #mclschat
  11. Great! Hoping you post and share when you're in progress and done! #mclschat
  12. How many different people are involved in implementing ideas? The whole community? #mclschat
  13. Like everything else in the Idea Box, the approach to how installments are planned and executed keeps changing. #mclschat
  14. Q3 Why do you think it's important to create space for community engagement in the library? #mclschat
  15. A3: Engagement is one of our library’s three strategic priorities. The other two are learning and stewardship. #mclschat
  16. A3: These drive our everyday work and decisions #mclschat
  17. A3: We want neighbors to connect and build relationships #mclschat
  18. A3: It’s one of the few spaces for a shared multigenerational experience in the library #mclschat
  19. Q4 How is Oak Park Public Library turning outward? #mclschat
  20. Q4: R Harwood: “turning outward is when we make our community the reference point for everything we do. Not our conference room” #mclschat
  21. Q4: Community aspirations drive our work. We listen, we ask “what kind of community do you want to live in?" #mclschat
  22. Great link.. thanks for sharing that. #mclschat
  23. How does your staff manage patrons in the space? #mclschat
  24. @smithlib The space is right inside the front door, in the vestibule. So not always staffed #mclschat
  25. @smithlib Our Safety & Security Monitors make it part of their rounds too #mclschat
  26. @psallthestories Must be flexible. Can’t predict how people will react and what they will do. #mclschat
  27. @psallthestories Destruction is part of the process. Yet beauty can paralyze naughtiness #mclschat
  28. Great way to think about it! RT @oakparklibrary: Destruction is part of the process. Yet beauty can paralyze naughtiness #mclschat
  29. Q5 What community partnerships have helped make "Idea Box" a success? #mclschat
  30. A5: The local art league and elementary school district, the library’s two artists in residence, one visual and one spoken word #mclschat
  31. Q6 What successes have you had in your space? #mclschat
  32. A6: Media! And feedback on "Contribute Your Creativity" to a Tee  http://bit.ly/2DSLtz6  @baytownlibrary installed a similar space #mclschat
  33. Would you have any issues if we stole every single one of your ideas? #mclschat
  34. Q7 What have you learned from having this space in your library? #mclschat
  35. A7: Be curious. Be open. Be flexible. Always be changing! #mclschat
  36. A7: Also, be sure partners understand space is open to all, not under lock and key #mclschat
  37. What percent of ideas/exhibits have been well received? #mclschat
  38. @oakparklibrary @LibraryTodd Ones in which the door was locked, so you could only peek inside, even worked. #mclschat
  39. I have been reading previous questions and responses; I love the attitude of focus on responding/engaging the community #mclschat
  40. Q8 Is there anything that you would do differently in creating your engagement space? #mclschat
  41. Q8: A future goal is to find more local artists who might be interested in creating temporary murals #mclschat
  42. Q8: Where the space is, at our front door, also has positives and negatives #mclschat
  43. A8: Tough to monitor space because of vestibule location; not in lobby staff sight lines #mclschat
  44. A8: Remind staff of opportunity for skill building, collaboration. Highlight opportunities for learning, developing #mclschat
  45. Have you created categories/terminology for the types of exhibits/displays? Specifically, the level and type of interactions? #mclschat
  46. Q9 What were some of the most popular "Idea Box" installations? #mclschat
  47. These are really cool examples...how do you solicit feedback from the community to assist in development of exhibits? #mclschat
  48. Q10 In what other ways do you foster engagement with the community, in or out of your buildings? #mclschat
  49. A10: Cruising the streets with Oak Park’s Book Bike, The Paperback Rider  http://oppl.org/bike  #mclschat
  50. A10: We had a community contest for naming the Book Bike! Clever Oak Parkers! #mclschat
  51. A10: Also librarians regularly visiting and plugged in at the schools, community/chamber of commerce meetings #mclschat
  52. Q11 Anything else you want to share about creating space for engagement in the library? #mclschat
  53. A11: We find ideas are never in short supply in our community! #mclschat
  54. A11: Ask what people want and they will tell you! #mclschat
  55. A11: Thank you for this opportunity to share! Stop by on your next visit in/near Chicago! #mclschat
  56. That's all the time we have today. Thank you Jodi and Ashley for joining us today! #mclschat
  57. @oakparklibrary Thank you for the great information and sharing more about Idea Box! #mclschat
  58. Our next chat will be 4/19 @ 2pm East on Digital Library Cards with special guest Eric Mims from @MPHPL. #mclschat