Our Stories Transforming Our Libraries: The York County Library System

Authors

  • Mina Edmondson York County Libraries
  • Deborah Eicher-Catt The Pennsylvania State University, York

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/palrap.2016.131

Abstract

These narratives chronicle the authors’ journeys to collaborate and discover the transformative impact that stories have on library culture and library staff. This study describes a research collaboration between York County Libraries and Penn State York. In Phase I, we collected stories from library staff as the library system was being challenged to reimage public libraries for the future. The major themes and types of organizational stories identified in the initial narrative project were presented during a county-wide all-staff in-service training. The library District Consultant (first author) and the Penn State professor (second author) then facilitated a workshop designed to lead staff in their exploration of these topics and generate a written record of their storytelling/discussions. This data became the basis for Phase II of the project and allowed the system to strategically assess its evolving culture and identity.

Author Biographies

Mina Edmondson, York County Libraries

District Consultant, York County Libraries

 

Deborah Eicher-Catt, The Pennsylvania State University, York

Professor & Program Coordinator, Communication Arts & Sciences

 

 

 

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Published

2016-11-17

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2016)

Section

Research

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