Librarian in Black Blog – Sarah Houghton-Jan

At a time when we’re looking at reduced staffing in libraries, reduced salaries, reduced benefits, and reduced morale, it might be a good time to ask your boss about telecommuting (working from home) opportunities.  Maybe your union could concede a 5% pay cut if every staff member gets two telecommuting days per month.  Maybe you agree to a transfer or a reduction in health care if you get to work from home a half-day each week.  I can tell you from experience that telecommuting is a positive thing: for both the employee and the employer.

I work from home 1 or 2 days per week.  This was my only condition for getting hired at SJPL.  I live two hours away, and even making that commute only 3 days per week is hell on earth.  Every day I get to work from home is one more day I don’t go crazy.

To all the telecommuting haters out there: telecommuting works!  It’s cheaper, increases productivity, saves energy, reduces traffic, and increases morale.  Below are some stats you can use to convince your supervisor that telecommuting is a good idea!

The number of Americans who worked from home or remotely at least one day per month for their employer was 17.2 million in 2008. (WorldatWork Telework Trendlines 2009)

40% of U.S. employees hold jobs that that could be done at home (50 million). (Telework Adoption and Energy Use in Buildings and Transport Sectors in the United States and Japan)

The EPA estimated that $23 billion could be saved in transportation, environmental, and energy costs if there were a 10 to 20 percent increase in telecommuting. (EPA Study)

33% of Canadians would choose telework over a salary raise: 43% would quit for another job that allows telework. (Innovisions Canada)

Organizations could save 1 office for every 3 teleworkers (that’s about $2,000 per teleworker per year, or $200,000 per 100 teleworkers).  With telework, AT&T saved $3,000 per office for approximately $550 million by eliminating or consolidating office space people no longer need.  About 25% of IBM’s 320,000 workers worldwide telecommute from home offices, saving $700 million in real estate costs.
(Innovisions Canada)

Dozens of reputable studies have proven that teleworking 1 to 3 days per week increases overall employee productivity by 10% to 45% — a great way to trim overtime and related costs. That means that 2 to 10 teleworkers (depending on your situation) equates to one “free” extra worker.  The increase in productivity for half-time teleworkers would equate to over 5.5 million man years of work.  Specific company stats are below:

• American Express telecommuters handled 26% more calls and produced 43% more business than their office-based counterparts.
• Compaq Computer Corporation documented productivity increases ranging from 15 to 45%.
• Surveys and pilots conducted by IBM Canada (where about 20% of its workforce teleworks) indicate that employees can be as much as 50 per cent more productive when they work in telework environments (Innovisions Canada)

Cisco saved over $277 million in productivity in one year by letting employees work from home using the company’s own virtual office technology.  In addition, employees garnered fuel cost savings exceeding $10 million per year. (Cisco)

Gen Y’ers are more difficult to recruit (as reported by 56% of hiring managers) and to retain (as reported by 64% of hiring managers) but they are particularly attracted flexible work arrangements (ranked as 8 on a 10 scale for impact on overall job satisfaction). (The Edge Report, 2008 Robert Half International Survey)

72% of employers say telework has a high impact on employee retention. (1999 Telework America National Telework Survey)

Telecommuting programs reduce unscheduled absences by 63%. (16th Annual Unscheduled Absence Survey)

Productivity is hugely increased among telecommuters.  And it’s not just the staff themselves who think so.  Over two-thirds of employers report that supervisors view a measurable increase in productivity among their telecommuters.  Specific company stats are below:

• AT&T workers work 5 more hours at home than their office workers (Chicago Sun Times, 10/99)
• JDEdwards teleworkers are 20-25% more productive than their office counterpoints (Chicago Sun Times, 10/99)
• American Express workers produced 43% more than their office based counterpoints (Colorado Telework Coalition)
• Compaq increased productivity 15% – 45% (Colorado Telework Coalition)

A great resource for more information on telecommuting is the Telework Research Network website. They offer a great deal of research, a huge list of pros and cons with statistics, and a lot of information for both companies and individuals wanting to telecommute more.

San Jose Public Library’s Database Delight program, a 23 Things-style online training on databases, has been going strong for one week now.  For the first week, we have had approximately 100 SJPL staff members participate in learning about our major article database suite with EBSCO (which we’re calling EBSCOhost Research Databases for lack of a better name).

The prize bidding is going well too!  All of our prizes are posted on Flickr as a set, and for each week someone participates, they get one bid on any of the 46 prize packs we have available.  Despite my worries that the donated prizes wouldn’t be flashy enough for staff, we’re actually getting some really positive feedback about what we have.  We had to get all prizes donated by the staff themselves, since we are not allowed to spend any city money on prizes for staff (it’s seen as paying the staff twice to do their jobs), or ask for donations from local businesses (it’s seen as a conflict of interest in that we might favor businesses who donate for future city projects).

Personally, I just love reading through the prize descriptions, which were written by our insanely witty Digital Futures intern, Robert Sese.  Below is one example: the Search Engine Love Triangle Prize Pack.

Do you wake up with Google in the morning but sneak off with Bing during lunch? Do you see Yahoo when you’re on that business trip to Chicago? Then the Search Engine Love Triangle Prize Pack is for you!
1. 2010 Bing calendar with some super sweet background images theoretically used at some point on the bing.com search page. Each month also has a query typed into the search box to give you something to search for each month. February’s search query? “Pollen”. The first month’s free, but you have to get the calendar to see the rest (or you can view the image at a higher resolution and you can probably read the search terms off the calendar).
2. bing sticker. Stick WHEREVER YOU WANT.
3. bing pen. Write WHATEVER YOU WANT.
4. Yahoo yelling device. I thought the Yahoo item was one of those push lights, but it’s actually someone yelling the word “Yahoo…oooooo!”. I forecast you will press this button at least 5 times, but no more than 13 times in your lifetime.
5. A white and black 3/4 sleeved Google font having t-shirt that says “i’m not your damn search engine.” A bit aggressive for my taste, but most people will probably just recognize the font and say “that’s a Google shirt”. Size small 100% cotton.

The  feedback we’ve gotten from staff so far has been absolutely fabulous.  Since it only takes a half hour or so per week to participate, we’re hearing that many of our staff in all positions are participating: Aides, Pages, Library Assistants, and Librarians. We’ve had a few technical glitches (IE 6 displaying comments strangely, some Flickr prize items’ commenting was invisible for a while), but everything is fixable or work-around-able.  I think we’ve worked the kinks out and are now going full blast!

For me, the best thing about the project is that staff are learning stuff!  Here are three sample comments from staff about the first week’s exercises:

• Offering quick overviews of SJPL’s databases is a great idea. I am a hands-on person so the exercises at the end are a good way for me to reinforce my learning.
• Ebsco is where you can send patrons for their Consumer Reports questions! i.e. Do you have the Consumer Report that recommends the best toaster? I also learned something new from Science News for Kids-that there is a new element on the periodic table, Copernicum.
• I found this to be a nice idea. It should be an ongoing project to help us all keep our database skills sharp. This would especially be good for non-librarians. I often find myself instructing the clerical staff on how to use databases. They are always so pleased to learn about a new resource. With this project, they can become as aware of database searching as librarians and can help the public even better than they already do.

Furthermore, staff are making suggestions about ways to improve the database and pointing out things that they don’t like.  Here are a couple of examples:

• I am not very satisfied with the language translation feature. It would be great if they included more languages (for example: Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and more.)
• When you select “new search” the database preference does not reset automatically to “all”. There should be some kind of a prompt so searchers are aware of this or they are likely to get no results for a subsequent search in a different subject.
• The blue bar containing the tabs at the top of the page is surprisingly easy for the eye to miss. It would help if the tabs were more “tab-like” or otherwise more prominent.

So, maybe the database vendors will be listening – and will see the staff comments and requests and respond!  We’re covering a different database each week, mostly from all different vendors.  This is a great opportunity for the vendors to see a real hands-on evaluation of their products.  I hope they’re listening!

I am very, very pleased with how this experiment has turned out so far.  I encourage other libraries to pursue a similar program with staff and also with library customers!  I have been contacted by two library systems, one consortium, and three small libraries who are now building similar learning programs after this model.  I am so happy that our library’s work is helping others!  After all, learning is a shared experience and one that we can all help each other with.  If you want more info on how this program was started or how it’s working, see the Database Delight website “About This Project” section or contact me.

The City of San Jose is facing a $116 million deficit.   What does this mean?  It equals 878 jobs.

A local television station, CBS 5, did a story on the impact on children and families of losing libraries and community centers.  These two screenshots from their story really sum up how horrible this is.

Libraries are going to be open only 3 days per week.  We are going to lose 110 jobs in the library.  We will have reduced money for collections, for support services like web & IT, on and on.  More or less, as things stand it looks like we will be barely treading water once all the cuts take effect.

For the Parks department, they’re looking at 21 community centers closing and losing 117 jobs.

About half of our budget shortfall is a huge increase in the amount of money the city has to put into pension pay-outs (because of investment value decreases).  I know every pension fund is facing that, but to me San Jose’s case seems rather extreme.  So, to pay off people who retired we are firing people who work there now?  That makes me so sad.  The mayor says that if all remaining employees take a 10% pay cut (permanent, not one-time), then the city could potentially keep 2/3 of the jobs we’re looking at losing.  So far the unions have said no.

The City of San Jose is in a bad space.  We’re not going to survive this very easily or cleanly.  I worry, whether I have a job there in four months or not.  Whoever is left is going to be doing less, with less.  As with almost all libraries right now, in a few months the survivor guilt and stress of greater responsibilities and greater demands are going to start taking hold.  It’s crucial that we address staff morale, dealing with layoffs (both for those laid off and those left behind), counseling services, stress relief at work, and being realistic about what we can achieve.

More than anything, I hope that all libraries will follow the example of our Director, Jane Light.  She has been honest with the staff from day one about how bad the cuts are.  No sugar coating it, no hoarding information, no sealing admin off behind closed doors.  There have been open meetings with staff on an ongoing basis, constant emails, and guidance for managers.  Honesty is definitely the best policy when bad news is the order of the day, whether it’s the easy path or not.

I’ve been thinking about vendors lately.  Mostly about vendors who don’t do so well, who hurt their customers, rip every last dollar from our wallets that they can, and walk away laughing haughtily.

I read some articles from people discussing virtual reference solutions, and what products are better than others, including what vendors provide better support and sales experiences.  In California, we are losing our statewide online reference cooperative, so we’re left scrambling with only a few months to pick new products.  The resulting fracas is intriguing — the gloves have come off and the anger people have felt at particular vendors is coming out full force.

Also, Meredith Farkas recently wrote about EBSCO’s role as an evil empire, and lists several major faux pas they’ve made in recent months. Incidentally, Farkas’s boss received a phone call from EBSCO’s VP of Marketing right after her post.  Nobody called Farkas, just her boss.  That in and of itself is interesting.

My general opinion of EBSCO is not a good one.  As I commented on Meredith’s site, I have worked with EBSCO & other database vendors for the last 9 years. EBSCO consistently pulls titles, has ridiculously long embargos (which they also change at will), gives misleading or incorrect information during sales presentations, pressures publishers into exclusive deals (it’s either only us, or we won’t work with you), and repackages and sells the same content in different bundles–double-charging libraries and giving a false impression that the library is getting more content than they are.  I was very disappointed when our library switched from Gale to EBSCO this past year and these problems further solidify my position. I would love to think EBSCO could change but the long term pattern of behavior makes me think it’s corporate culture…and that’s hard to change.

However, it’s not just the virtual reference companies or EBSCO, and we all know it.

Why do we in libraries tolerate this kind of arrogant behavior from a vendor?  We’re the ones with the money.  They should be doing what we want.  We need to vote with our wallets and choose to work with vendors who provide the best possible products for the money, are fast to respond to technology trends, do not engage in shady business practices, and treat their customers with respect.

I encourage everyone to make your vendors aware that you are not happy with their behavior (it’s not like they’re going  to smack you in the face for saying so).  I also encourage everyone to vote with your wallets the next time you get to make a vendor choice — pick the one that does what you want, how you want it, and who has a good reputation with your peers.  Don’t automatically go for the lowest price.  You’ll pay for it in different ways later, believe you me.

I also encourage everyone to be vocal to your colleagues, online and off, about which vendors you have problems with.  I think it’s fairly well-established in libraryland which vendors are on the “dislike” list.  And you know what?  I’ll cite the vendors on my own list right here.  In my work with libraries I personally have had problems with Reed Elsevier, EBSCO, Reference USA, 3M, Innovative Interfaces, and OCLC (sadly).  Some combination of poor ethics, price gouging, misleading sales pitches, lying, hoarding, poor product development, horrible customer service, and/or plain bad products has led to these vendors making my list.

When people ask me my opinions about products or companies, I give them freely, good or bad.  Then again, I’m known for being rather mouthy and have gotten myself on some social black lists by doing so.  I’m at peace with that.  It’s who I am.  Actually, I find it amusing to hear reports of CEOs, salespeople, or project managers using four-letter words to describe me — all because I gave their product a single bad review on my website.  Really?  I’d much rather that vendors contacted me to talk about why they got a bad review, instead of throwing stones at someone giving them ideas about improving the product, albeit without the smiles, whipped cream, and cherries that usually accompany focus group discussions that they’re probably more accustomed to.

Many others in the library field are not able or willing to vocalize their negative feelings about vendors, either out of fear or angering the vendor, fear of angering their employer, or perhaps some other reason still invisible to me.

I plead with all of you to speak your minds, to be honest, and to help your fellow libraries by saying the good and the bad both.

And I plead with all library vendors to remember: you get our money because we choose to give it to you.  Remember who the customer is in this relationship.  Do everything you can to make your customers happy while still meeting your bottom line — for without us, you will be in bankruptcy court before long.

Tips from Lifehacker on improving the security and strength of your passwords.

You can preview the new NoveList right now! I quite like it, and find the design much more up to date and easy to use.

via @NoveListRA on Twitter

The Internet Public Library offers a useful guide to image/photo sharing.  The focus is on Flickr, but most issues apply to any photo website.  If you are looking for an intro guide to using Flickr in a smart way at your library, check it out.

via ResourceShelf

Ever freak out at your library about whether or not you were allowed to take photographs of programs or patrons, and if so, if you needed a signed waiver for everyone in the shot, and what to do for kids?  Yeah, most of us who work in libraries have faced this at one time or another.

Check out this useful webpage & downloadable flier: The Photographer’s Right: A Downloadable Flyer Explaining Your Rights When Stopped or Confronted for Photography.  The site focuses on photography law and rights in the U.S., but links to resources for the U.K., Australia, and Portugal as well.

via @libraryman on Twitter

The Web Poster Wizard lets you create a quick poster (really a web page) for a class syllabus, a worksheet, 0r project.  I think this could be handy for teachers and trainers with no existing class website or online learning space, who want to write a few paragraphs, add an image and some links, and don’t want to do it in a blog format.  If all you want is a page or two, then this might work better for you.

via Phil Bradley’s Weblog

The San Francisco Chronicle revamped the comics section in its weekend supplement to feature all indy comics, as opposed to the traditional syndicate stuff.  A nice move from a nice paper.

via Boing Boing