Using Videos For Library Board Reports

It's the end (or beginning) of the month at your typical public library. The library board of trustees (or governors or directors or whatever they're called in your neck of the woods) will be meeting again soon. That can only mean one thing for library department heads.

It's Library Board Reports Time Again!

Once again, library department heads will crunch those numbers and pile-up charts, graphs, and statistic-laden paragraphs that showcase what's been happening this past month at the library. How many items circulated? How many items were used in-house? How many patrons attended programs? How can we make all this data more interesting?!?

Try videos for your next board report. Videos grab the board's attention and present information in a fun format. Consider some examples.

You can create a complete, straightforward video version of your written board report, like Greenwood (Indiana) Public Library's Technical Services Department did in February, 2013.

GPL Board Report (February 2013)
by GPL Technical Services

To accompany one of its monthly board reports, Greenwood (Indiana) Public Library's Technical Services Department wanted to show in a cute and engaging manner what they're doing to get all those collection items out to the public.

GPL Technical Services Library Board Report Video (April 2013)

The Adult Information Services Department at Mooresville (Indiana) Public Library (where I work) showcased its recent inventory project using a video shown at the March 2017 Board of Trustees meeting.

We did something similar to highlight our Technical Services Department. (We're a small library, so our technical services staff has lots of other duties, including reference, special collections, and circulation.)

MPL Technical Services (Promo Trailer)

by Mooresville Public Library (2012)

When Greenwood (Indiana) Public Library's Technical Services Department was asked to talk with its board about "a day in the life of a book" (i.e., the cataloging process), they presented this video.

A Day in the Life of a Book at GPL
by GPL Technical Services (2013)

When a library and its board bids farewell to a beloved staff member, a video is a particularly nice send-off.

Our Tribute to Miss Suzanne

by Mooresville (Indiana) Public Library (2012)

Aren't these videos cooler than assorted numbers in dry, stark columns on paper?

Try a video at your next library board meeting. It's bound to impress as well as inform.

Comments

See All the Fun You'll Have Working at the Library!

For many years libraries have used videos to promote programs, resources, services, community connections, local history, and many other activities. There is often an underlying implied theme: the library is a fun place to be! Patrons and staff have known this to be true forever. Consider, too, that the library is a fun workplace , and videos can share this side of a library's character. I work in a small township public library ( Mooresville [Indiana] Public Library ) where fun is not merely a daily expectation, it is a requirement. MPL's YouTube channel has a fleet of videos showcasing the smiles staff wear while working. Let's see some. Beyond Books Infomercial by Mooresville Public Library Go Ask Reference by Rachel Montgomery & Meghan Adams Librarians Do Taio Cruz by Suzanne Walker We Love Mooresville Public Library by MPL Staff of 2019 Libraries & Old Dewey by Suzanne Walker and MPL Staff & Volunteers It's even possible ...

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