On the Next Episode of

Library Hoarders

Presented by Stephanie Bailey, Roxanne Belcher and Julie Timmins

How do we go from this….

To this…

Brainstorm:Why are you

here?

• Clutter gives us too much to look at.

• Too much stuff distracts attention from other tasks.

• Clutter muddles the message and makes it hard to see what is really important.

The Cost of Clutter

• Clutter makes it hard to relax by invading open spaces, inhibiting creativity and signaling that we have work to do.

• Clutter signals to others that we may be disorganized, ineffective, or overwhelmed.

• Messy spaces can create guilty feelings or embarrassment, resulting in anxiety.

The Cost of Clutter

The Benefits of Minimalism

• Clean space give the eye a chance to rest.

• Minimalism reduces stress.

• Patrons will focus on the materials and messages that are most important.

• Minimalism supports clarity and presence.

Johnson County Library administration tasked staff –

“Our buildings will be a source of pride.”

From this….

Antioch Library Information Desk, 2009

To this…

Antioch Library Information Desk, 2013

Minimalist vs. Hoarder

Using a scale of:

1 = Hoarder 10 = Minimalist We were tasked at aiming for an 8-9.

Clutter Tolerance Levels

• Julie: Professional 5-6, Personal 3“But the floor is like a shelf”

• Stephanie: Lazy 9“We can always buy another one”

• Roxanne: I’m a closet 9“I have a saying on my office door – ‘I dreamed my whole desk was clean.’ (It’s not.)”

From this….

Corinth Library Work Room, 2009

To this…

Corinth Library Work Room, 2013

How?

• Collaborate – get everyone involved.

• Rate – focus on your spaces.

• Moderate – not everything at once.

• Donate – junk to a good cause.

Scorecard Example

Field Trip

Be sure to notice:• Entrance• Signage, especially unnecessary signage• Furniture arrangement

Field Trip

Be sure to notice:• Is it useable?• Is it attractive?• Would YOU want to spend time here?• What can be improved?

Results Summary

Another Results Summary

Brainstorm:Dish.

Patron Comments

“I love what you have done with the library. It looks so open and clean!”

"I like how open the youth area is now."

“I like the roominess.”

Patron Comments

“We've been gone 3 months, and you've changed so much! I really like that the building entry way is so much more open and inviting.”

“This has been a welcome transformation. Thank you!”

Patron Comments

“You've got a beautiful place to work here. Great library.”

Patron Comments

“What's going here? More empty space? I liked it the old way better. I really liked it the old way.”

(not everyone liked the change)

Staff Reactions, Meagan

“When I [transferred] last year, I found myself in a hoarder situation.  The supply cabinets were a hazard and the office was a nightmare.  The office had so much junk piled on the floor you had to clear a path to walk through it. 

“I had to do something about it ASAP or else I wouldn't have been able to function.”   

Staff Reactions, Meagan

“I ended up throwing out six 55-gallon trash bags full of broken toys, scraps, and dried up/unusable craft supplies.  There had clearly been an organization system, but it had long been abandoned.  “More than once in the time prior to the reorganization, we bought craft supplies that I later found we already had stuffed in the back of the cabinet. “I combined supplies that were stored in multiple places, removed any cardboard storage boxes, milk crates, and broken boxes, and standardized the storage and labeling.” 

Staff Reactions

(again, not everyone liked the change)

“Honestly, I'm not sure how uncluttered a working desk space can be; none of the desks are bad, but they're not stark and empty either.”“We need paper. Sometimes it gets messy.”“There are 3 warm bodies in the office so each person has their own mess. Some people are just messier than others.”

Maintaining the Neatness

• Cultural change

• Periodic upkeep

Clutter Blurs Clarity

• Decide who you are and who you aren’t – clarify your brand.

• Throw out everything that blurs that brand.

• Consider going digital.• Don’t spend time on what worked in

the past – live in the present.

Resources

No paper; we won’t contribute to your hoarder tendencies ;)

Leave your email address and we’ll email you a booklist and other online resources.

“Out of clutter, find simplicity”

- Albert Einstein