Upcoming Events

ADML Day, Wednesday, May 22 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

WJ: Broadband Adoption Toolkit, Wednesday, May 22 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

ISL ILL Code Mtg, Thursday, May 23 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

SWAN ILS Committee, Thursday, May 23 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

RSA Database Subcommittee Meeting, Thursday, May 23 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM

RAILS Board Finance-Personnel Committee Meeting, Friday, May 24 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM

RAILS Board Meeting, Friday, May 24 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Memorial Day (RAILS Closed), Monday, May 27

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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.