Mind Mapping Your LibraryMind Mapping Your Life

Denise Anton WrightPublic Library Administration Consultant

South Central Library SystemMadison, Wisconsin

Greetings from New Glarus!

What is Mind Mapping?

Why Do Mind Mapping?

• Very versatile process; wide range of uses• Suitable for professional & personal situations• Each mind map is unique – reflects the

thoughts of the creator (great for the memory)• “What you think about – you bring about”

What You Can Do with Mind Mapping

• Presenter notes for lectures / presentations• Notes from texts / books• Notes from talks, presentations & discussions• Project management• Knowledge management• Exam preparation

Example – This Presentation

Example – A Project

“Swiss Army Knife for the Brain”- Tony Buzan

Tony Buzan (1942 - )• Former science reporter• Late 1960s – need for efficient note taking• Roger Sperry’s “split brain” research• Researched extraordinary people• 1970s BBC television series “Use Your Head”• Author, speaker, consultant• iMindMap software

Why Does Mind Mapping Work?

• “Brain friendly”• “Pictorial Superiority Effect” = visual stimuli

take precedence over other sensory stimuli• Reducing chunks of text, replace them with

visualizations = better for your brain• Our thinking = unpredictable, led by

association & oriented towards key concepts

What Mind Mapping Can’t Do(other presentation methods are better suited)

• Linear information (for example, giving directions )

• Process presentations / process charts (the logic is different than Mind Maps)

• Mathematical expressions

Mind Mapping FormatsTraditional (paper and pencils / markers)• Most flexible• Fits into most settings• “muscle memory”Computer / Device software • Easy to share• Professional appearance• Easily updated

Let’s Get Mind Mapping

What you’ll need:• Perfection is not required• A topic / issue / task / process to mind map• White paper (legal size is great!)• Colored markers / pencils / pens• Imagination & Creativity

Let’s Get Mind Mapping

Tips & Suggestions• Always begin in the middle of your mind map• Branches always connect to the main idea or

other levels of branches – use as many branches as needed (curved branches)

• Keywords instead of phrases• Colors distinguish one branch from another• Personalize with drawings, symbols, etc.

Useful Resources• Tony Buzan has published widely (books, e-

books, DVDs, etc.) on the topic of mind mapping

• Many of his students have also published on the subject

• There’s also great information available on YouTube (including interviews with Buzan)

• Official Tony Buzan sites: www.tonybuzan.com and http://thinkbuzan.com