Naked Queens

Thank you to everyone who came and contributed ideas to our Brainstorming Meeting. We know this group will do a fantastic job transitioning from GEAC Plus to Millennium!

From Naked Queen Beauty Pageants to Royal Parties, pop quizzes and extravagant prizes, many fantastic (and sometimes crazy) ideas were shared at today's Brainstorming Meeting. If you missed it or forgot to take notes, here's a few of the ideas* that came out of this morning's meeting:

Inspiration

-Use countdown clocks to alert the staff and public that Millennium is coming.

-Publicize everywhere-- on the catalog, the website, the walls, email, bookmarks, blogs, buttons, on the patio, and in the staff room. If it's electronic, print it out and post it where we can see it.

-Create a slide show that continuously loops on screens in prominent areas.

Education

-What's an RSS feed, anyway? Create a glossary of terms and a check-list of necessary-ILS skills. Award completion prizes to anyone who finishes the check-list.

-Practice makes perfect. Create training sessions that are self-paced and available in advance, so we can learn how to "auto-pilot" Millennium before it goes live...but don't schedule it too far ahead. We don't want to forget everything we learned!

- Not everyone learns the same (or is available at the same time!). Offer a variety of ways to learn--one on one, self-paced computer courses, large classrooms, small groups. Use real-world examples. Class times should be less than an hour and convenient to most of us. Evenings, early mornings, or early afternoons are great. Don't even think of scheduling anything between 3 and 5 p.m.

-Bribe us, please. Candy, pens, gas cards, special parking passes, paid vacations...training is much more fun with incentives!

Inspiration

-Be honest and address concerns. Answer the old "Where's my desk?" or "How does this affect me?" question.

-Create stations "Let Me Show You" stations and enlist volunteers to personally show patrons how to use the new ILS. Offer something to patrons who use "self-service" functions.

-Build a buzz. Have trained staff members wear pins that say "Change Agent"--when patrons ask what the buttons are for, staff can talk about the new ILS.

-Make it fun! Hold a GEAC funeral or a Millennium birthday party. Host an after-hours party for patrons, with live demos. Invite the public to design a logo.

Brainstorming Wrap-Up

If you like to talk, teach, or spread good cheer, we want you to join the team! The IDT Queens are looking for cheerleaders, trainers, and ambassadors to help make the transition to Millennium. Send us an email or sign-up in the Staff Room.

As for the limited-edition, very cool Harry Potter bags....the winners were Libby Heumann and Rose Prouty. Congratulations, ladies!

As always, we love to hear your opinions! Feel free to leave a comment below or send us an email. Don't forget to check back here on Thursday for a special surprise!

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*Ideas: this blog merely represents notes taken during today's brainstorming session. In no way does this blog imply that everything published will be done.