Upcoming Events

PrairieCat Union List Circulation, Monday, February 13 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Burr Ridge Staff Potluck, Monday, February 13 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

SMS team meeting, Monday, February 13 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

RSA Cat Committee Meeting, Tuesday, February 14 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

RSA Holds Workshop, Tuesday, February 14 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

SWAN Committee of the Whole, Tuesday, February 14 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

SWAN Board Special Meeting, Tuesday, February 14 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

RAILS Board LLSAP Task Force Meeting, Wednesday, February 15 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

View all events

Customer-Focused Library Grant

Summary

The purpose of The Customer Focused Library project is three-fold:

  • To gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative information about the customer experience in the grant partner libraries using evaluation practices from retail.
  • To derive best practices from the information gathered.
  • To share those best practices widely through the Metropolitan Library System, the state of Illinois, and the library community as a whole.

Envirosell, a leading research and consulting agency for commercial environments that integrates the analysis of layout, merchandising, and operations, conducted a study at the four partner libraries.  Each partner library was selected for its diversity of size and user population.  Results from the study were presented at a workshop at MLS on April 29, 2008. Library Directors from the four partner libraries presented their best practices and implementation plans at a workshop at MLS on July 22, 2008.

Grant Presentations and Best Practices

Look for the "Why We Borrow" pre-conference at the American Library Association Conference in Chicago to hear more solutions for the Customer Focused LIbrary!

 

Funding for this grant was provided by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Illinois State Library and the Illinois Secretary of State.