Speaker – Jennifer Koerber, Boston Public Library
Bringing humor back to your job can relieve tension, make work fun, etc.
Mostly work is serious …. but let’s not take ourselves too seriously!
Hillsdale Public Library – being goofy with some signs, pushing limits a bit with them. For example, they put a sign reading “dive into a good book! Sign up for summer reading” by their flooded parking lot.
Craigshead County Jonesboro Public Library – their funny billboards
The idea – take them a bit farther, push the limits
Smartphones – best tool ever for bringing funny into the library. Take photos of funny stuff, use them for inspiration, etc
Don’t just share what’s not allowed in the library. Share what IS allowed, too, in a fun way.
Get a pulse of what will work in your community. Don’t scare people off while pushing the limits. So use humor that works in your local community – not necessarily the humor you would personally use.
That was physical world stuff. What can you do digitally?
April Fools Day jokes on websites as example. Whole Foods did a fun one.
Recycle your ebooks here! Funny one… at free-ebooks.net
Me – Hmm… This could be fun. Thinking…
Kodak – new service – print your own kittens!
Elsewhere on your website:
– Avatars for library staff can be fun
– Fun with titles, 404 pages, etc
Lawrence University changes text on the website to pirate on Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Those moving pictures! Videos…
Craighead’s comedy video series – on YouTube
– Other fun videos mentioned
Laugh at yourself, too!
Be a children’s librarian for one day – you will develop a sense of humor and get used to being the center of attention.