NMRT Minutes & Reports

Idea Swap: Programming
July 15, 2018
The group met at Beaverton City Library to share programming ideas.

Speed Networking
April 20, 2018
NMRT sponsored this session at the OLA conference. Participants met at least five new people during the 50 minute session.

OLA Conference Morning Meetups and Reserved Tables at Lunches
April 19 and April 20, 2018
These were networking opportunities to give NMRT members the chance to learn some names and chat with others about the OLA conference and beyond. Members of the OLA Board, including many library directors and managers, joined us for lunch.

Networking/Social Hour at 2018 OLA Conference
April 19, 2018
The group met at Cornucopia Bar & Burgers after the conference events for the day. We chatted and exchanged contact information.

Tour of Portland State University Library
March 26, 2018
Staff members Rose, Chris, and Suzanne gave us behind-the-scenes tours of Public Access Services and Special Collections. Special collections included some amazing rare books dating back to the early medieval period. We got a look at ILL, circulation, and technical services. We also got to browse the newly acquired Dark Horse comics collection.

Networking/Social Hour
February 18, 2018
We met at Carina’s Bakery to network and chat about job searching and other library news.

Meetup: Job Searching Edition
October 15, 2017
This was an informal meetup where we shared our successes, failures, and advice about job applications, cover letters, resumes, interviewing, and networking. We also did a peer resume review.

Tour of Open Signal
June 11, 2017
Staff member David gave the group a behind-the-scenes tour of Open Signal. We learned about how you can take classes, borrow film and video equipment (free after taking classes to certify you to use the equipment), and create content to be aired on local cable community access channels. We looked at the production studios, recording studio, computer lab, and equipment library located on-site. This place is a hidden gem in our community!

After our tour, we listed to the podcast titled Dewey Decibel: Into the Future. We discussed the future of libraries, including the pros and cons of a fully mobile service model.

Speed Networking
April 21, 2017
NMRT sponsored this session at the OLA conference. Participants met at least five new people during the 50 minute session.

Tour of Hillsboro Brookwood Library, Library of Things
April 2, 2017
Staff member Sarah gave the group a tour of the library. We started in the youth services area, where they are reorganizing the collection into groupings such as “dinosaurs” and “shiny” to make browsing easier. We then learned about the Library of Things (LoT). LoT is completely funded by the Friends of the Hillsboro Public Library. The library shelves the things currently available for checkout near the front of the library. Holds pickup is on shelving nearby. The library has a board for suggestions of items to add to the collection. After ordering the initial collection, the library is now ordering new things four times per year. A list of things available for checkout is available on the library’s website. https://www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/departments/library/explore-the-collections/library-of-things

The LoT collection is available to all WCCLS cardholders, but things must be picked up at either the Hillsboro Brookwood or Shute Park libraries.

We also got a sneak peek of the library’s new makerspace. The space, which was not yet open to the public, will offer equipment such as a 3D printer, a sewing machine, and a Silhouette Cameo. Patrons will be required to take an initiation class prior to using the space.

Sarah offered her top three tips to libraries considering starting a library of things. First, how are you going to market and talk about it? Videos have been successful for Hillsboro. Second, what are your criteria for things upon return? What’s an acceptable level of cleanliness for kitchen items? Will you check that every piece of a game comes back every time? Third, where are you going to put everything?

Tour of Bonneville Power Administration Library
January 24, 2017
Staff member Kaye gave the group a tour of the library. Physical materials in the library’s collection are available for checkout to BPA employees and to the public through interlibrary loan via the public library. Digital materials, including historical photos and databases, are available online. Photos, documents, and videos about the organization’s history are available at the visitor’s center. The library and visitor’s center are open to the public.

Networking/Social Hour
December 11, 2016
The group met at Blue Star Donuts. We chatted and exchanged contact information.

Oregon Historical Society Research Library
September 27, 2016
Staff member Scott gave the group a tour of the research library. The library is small but has a lot to offer. A good place to start your research is on their online catalog. Some collections of note within the library are the pioneer records with information about people who came to the area via the Oregon Trail, the clippings files with newspaper articles and brochures about notable people, places, and events, and the photography collection. Additional items are housed at a storage facility in Gresham. The City of Portland and Multnomah County archives are other places to reference when looking for historical information.

For those interested in archival work, one must like to organize and spend long periods of time working in isolation. A good way to become involved with the Oregon Historical Society Research Library is to volunteer. Some volunteers work at a desk pulling materials and others work on a project transcribing audio files. Volunteers are also needed to help in the museum and with special events.

Aloha Community Library
June 18, 2016
Library director Terri gave the group a tour of the library. The library is small but has big changes in the works. There are 15,000 items currently catalogued. The library is not funded by a city or county; it is a 501c3 organization funded by donations and fundraising. The library desk, which handles circulation and reference questions, is primarily staffed by volunteers. Volunteers also sell books and do other fundraising activities. Anyone interested in volunteering can find out more information on their website at http://alohalibrary.or

During the summer of 2016, the library joined the Washington County Cooperative Library Services. This meant changes including increasing open hours and hiring additional staff. In the fall of 2016, the library moved to a new, larger space around the corner from the original library, opened in 2012.

Networking/Social Hour at 2016 OLA Conference
April 21, 2016
The group met at Bend Brewing Company after the conference events for the day. We chatted and exchanged contact information.

Multnomah County Central Library
March 20, 2016
Staff member Megan gave the group an extensive tour of the library. We visited all floors of the library, including staff work areas, the closed stacks, the sheet music and picture files, and the windows to view the eco-roof.

There are around 180 employees at the Central Library, and approximately 600 employees system wide. The first step of employees is titled Access Services Assistant. On-call staff substitute where needed. There are three security guards every open hour at the Central Library and three library staff per floor. Volunteers are critical to the operation of the library.

Each reference staff member is in charge of a specific section of collection development but does not necessarily work in that section at the desk. Reference librarians participate in Book a Librarian in which patrons can request research on a specific question and make a 30 minute appointment to discuss the findings. My Librarian is a personalized reader’s advisory service. Reference staff members also provide an online chat service for questions.