Whether in person or electronically, users come to the public library from outside the library realm. And that's exactly where genuinely transformational ideas lie. In this book Doucett mines new territory by exploring how successful organizations ""outside the stacks"" conduct their business. By analyzing what several private-sector organizations and their leaders are doing outstandingly well, she quickly hones in on transformational concepts that are ready for application in public libraries, offering more than a hundred innovative ideas that can be put into practice to improve customer service and day-to-day library operations. Canvassing the worlds of advertising, online commerce, fundraising, retailing, and more, Doucett profiles such successful professionals as Margaret Atwell, Kickstarter Chris Wilson, L.L. Bean Brian Kevin and Ginny Wright, Down East Magazine Kate Chaney Chappell, Tom's of Maine Walter Briggs, Briggs Advertising An exciting survey of creativity in action, Doucett's book will encourage public library directors, managers, trustees, and staff to cross-pollinate their own expertise with innovative ideas from outside the stacks.

MLS programs do a good job of teaching the basic skills of being a librarian - how to catalog books, how to clarify a reference request, how to run a story hour. But as any working librarian will tell you, that's not the half of it. A long-time library administrator, Elisabeth Doucett gives new librarians a full dose of practical advice and wisdom that remains between the lines of most library curriculum, while also teaching seasoned professionals a thing or two. Gleaned from years of hard-fought experience, this book . Covers a variety of library topics that are truly relevant to the day-to-day job, such as management, administration, and marketing.Shows how librarians can use practical business and organizational skills to do a better job and further their careers.Presents information in a grab-and-go format perfect that's ready to apply in the real world.For MLS graduates just entering the job market, as well as individuals interested in switching gears through promotion or advancement, Doucett offers the inside scoop on what a librarian really needs to know.

The ideas in this book are all about helping your library building become a more exciting, interesting, experiential space where people are engaged and want to spend time. More time spent in the library increases the library's value and relevance to its users - and the more intriguing the space is, the more it helps draw in new patrons. Taking inspiration and examples from companies and non-profits outside the library world, this book's engaging ideas include using "biophilic design" to bring nature into your library through gardens, plants, and greenery; transforming static spaces into "Instagram bait"; putting art installations in bathrooms; turning underutilized spaces like hallways and mezzanines into welcoming "chill" zones; creating pop-ups and other flexible spaces that change regularly; developing co-working spaces in libraries; preserving and promoting silent spaces; and creating "parklets" from parking spaces. Complete with lists of additional resources for discovering even more ideas, this book will help all kinds of libraries create innovative spaces that will delight their communities.