Responses from the ULA PR Committee Survey on improving our round tables

Question #1: How can we improve involvement in our round tables?
What would get you more involved?

• Bring in dynamite presenters that will help us build our skills and make behavioral changes which will make a difference in our ability to satisfy our customers and thus improve our own enjoyment at work.

• Do more e-mail meetings for people in outlying areas. Keep up personal communication even when they cannot attend.

• I think it would be helpful if roundtables could meet or sponsor workshops during the year rather than just at the annual conference. I realize that travel is a major concern for different areas of the state, but maybe there are some logical geographical groups that could meet more often. I also think it would create more involvement if roundtables had a strong action agenda of items they wanted to accomplish to make their roundtable and/or ULA stronger. Maybe everyone just has too much to do?

• I have been a member of ULA for six years and I have to admit that I have never really known anything about the round tables. I attend ULA conventions regularly and try to read the newsletters but have always felt that the round tables were something that was preset.

• I might be more involved if there were a humanities-specific roundtable. I think some people don't want to get involved because they are afraid they will have to chair a roundtable, I know I would not be able to do that so I am shy about suggesting a roundtable topic. However, fine arts, music, etc. would be a good one.

Question #2: How can we improve ULA participation and communication?

• Try chat room times focused on a topic which will generate interest. This will serve three purposes: 1. Help ULA folks to get to know each other; 2. Get them familiar with chat software operation; 3. Allow them to share expertise.

• Contact every library in the state, including members and non-members, and ask what training would be relevant to them. Send ULA flyers with membership information, conference information, etc. to all libraries, enough for each staff member if possible.

• If we had a web page that listed people and their areas of expertise or workshops they were willing to give--maybe the state library continuing education person could put this together. I think the public relations committee could work on ways to communicate throughout the year--announcing workshops, events, etc. of interest.

• I think a press release regarding the ULA awards would be newsworthy. For the Daily Spectrum at least (in St. George), the two people who received awards from Cedar City and St. George are prominent enough that the paper would be interested in it. Let's blow our own horn!

• I expect you'd have to issue invitations to individual libraries in order to pry our attention away from work. This would be particularly true with outlying areas. Maybe a letter to each Library Director encouraging them to recommend a staff member for involvement.

• I loved having the conference at the Expo center. Also our conference fees were paid for this year. I think cost is a big deterrent for most people.

If you have not already responded to the survey, please take a few minutes to answer these two questions.

Thank you,
ULA PR Committee