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Preparing to Plan: Children's and Teen Program Framework

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Preparing to Plan: Children's and Teen Program Framework

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Draft Plan - Revised Children's and Teen Program Framework

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Draft Plan - Revised Children's and Teen Program Framework

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APLL Planning_Appendix 8 Drafting the Plan

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I scored the highest on the following sections:
- Make Intelligent Decisions
- Cultivate Relationships
- Develop Individuals
I scored the lowest on the following categories:
- Navigate Municipal and Community Connectedness
- Create a Learning Environment
-Sustain a Health Workplace
I am not surprised with my results and know that I need to work on my knowledge of the municipal landscape as it relates to the library, and working more healthily myself.  I often tend to stay late, work from home and/or think a lot about work which can keep me up a nights.  I have to be better at balancing what I do, setting limitations and setting an example for staff in that regard too.  I do encourage staff to take breaks, leave on time, etc. but then I don't do that myself.
Things I am hoping to develop through APLL is learning to better harness the library's infrastructure to communicate to our community, develop relationships with key stakeholders and municipal decision makers, and fine-tune my internal leadership skills when it comes to fostering learning, communication, handling issues and minimizing stress for staff.

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Module 3.3 Activity: Purpose and Enduring Value of the Public Library

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Module 3.3 Activity: Purpose and Enduring Value of the Public Library

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My library system is currently undergoing the development of a new strategic plan. As part of this discussion, and something that many new patrons compliment us on, is our current tagline: "Doorway to Discovery". I love this line because to me, it captures exactly what a public library is. "Discovery" is the key word-- did you learn something new by reading a book, participating in a program, meeting friends/acquaintances or new people at the library, or by talking with library staff?  Did you see our community board and discover a service or event in our community that you didn't know about?  Did you use one of our databases or streaming services?  Did you come in because it's a safe space and you needed some help finding resources in the community?  Did you come in because you just needed to get out of the cold/heat and you knew you were welcome in the library? Have you not come in to location at all, but found what you needed through our website?
Looking at other public library mission, vision and values statements, there are common words and phrases which all capture the point of public libraries and their value in communities: explore, empower,  enrich, help with success of the community, help to keep the community engaged,etc. Without the public library, community members would not necessarily have access to the resources or opportunities that the library provides.  The public library of today can mean almost anything to anyone, but one thing is sure-- it helps contribute to the success of the community by contributing to the success of the individual.

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My ideal mentor is someone who is in tune with the public library industry and its trends; someone who is knowledgeable yet generous in terms of sharing information and their experiences.  I would like a mentor to be kind, open and positive, while also being able to give constructive criticism when it is needed.  My ideal mentor would be able to balance giving guidance and allowing me to explore concepts and ideas on my own.  He/she would be encouraging, approachable yet direct- someone who can challenge me to think differently when needed.
I would also like my mentor to work in a similarly sized library system to my own, so that we could more effectively relate to workplace expectations.

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I think my learning style has changed as I've gotten older.  In school, I was much more of a reflective and intuitive learner. But now I am more on the active/visual side of learning. I find I can keep more in my brain by seeing others do it, or by trying something out myself. I am also very much a visual person when it comes to hard data or statistics-- charts are my best friend in those cases! From the Learning Styles Questionnaire, I was surprised to learn that I am more of a global learner than sequential. I do think it depends on the situation with regards to this. If I feel bogged down with details, then that's where I tend to focus. If the situation feels more open, then I have the liberty of seeing the bigger picture. I sometimes have to consciously choose to approach a situation without focusing too much on the details.
Barriers in learning for me tend to centre around time constraints and motivation. If a topic seems really big/overwhelming or uninteresting, I have to push myself to get started.  If I am rushed, then learning something can seem like a chore.  I do my best learning when I find the topic not only interesting but also engaging, and I have the time to take it all in

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"Managers develop organisations; leaders develop people."

Robin S. Sharma

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I choose to work in a public library setting because I believe in what it stands for in a community -- I enjoy seeing people use the library as a community hub, a place of discovery and learning, or for access to vital information that they can't get anywhere else.  All are welcome.

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I enjoy travelling, yoga, walking my dogs, gardening and spending time with family and friends.  And of course, I like to read!

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I completed my MISt degree at the University of Toronto in 2010.  I have an undergraduate degree from UofT as well, in Sociology.

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I currently work at the Whitby Public Library as the Community Branches and Borrower Services Librarian. I work out of all three locations, so I have gotten to know my library system quite well.  I have been at WPL for 5 years, and in my current position for a year and a half.  I also worked as a Community Engagement Librarian.  While work can be challenging, as a staff we also get along very well and we make work fun.  Here is a picture of me with a colleague at an event where the library hosted a green screen booth.

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I live in Toronto and have been happily married for 14 years.

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We have two dogs, George and Ricardo. Both are rescue dogs, and we love them to bits. Below is a picture of them last Halloween. Yes, we dress our dogs up for Halloween.

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Hi!  I'm Erin Anderson.  I'm very much looking forward to starting the APLL program this year. I hope to get to know you all as we go through this program together.