Inside, Outside, and Online - New book by Chrystie Hill offers practical advice for libraries building community

DUBLIN, Ohio, USA, 18 June 2009—Inside, Outside, and Online, the new book by Chrystie Hill, a librarian and director of community services at WebJunction, offers practical advice and inspiration for libraries building community.

Based on a scan of the community and technology environments that libraries operate within, related literature, and the practical experiences of hundreds of library staff actively building communities through their work, Inside, Outside, and Online provides insights into the essential elements of community building through:

• Identifying user needs and designing services to meet those needs
• Engaging communities with service selection, creation, and iteration
• Utilizing practical new technologies

The principles outlined in Inside, Outside, and Online can support anyone working to build a strong community of engaged, interested and satisfied library users—no matter the size or type of library.

"I wanted to write this book when I realized through my work with library staff at WebJunction.org that the community building librarians do with traditional library services is very similar to the community building we do online with more recent services based on the Web," said Ms. Hill. "My research shows that we are joined by the connections our services create for our communities, regardless of where they are delivered or in what format. I hope this understanding creates a new bond between librarians of all kinds."

Inside, Outside, and Online is available at libraries identified through WorldCat.org, and can be purchased through the ALA Store or other online book stores.

Ms. Hill is a librarian, writer and community builder. After a short time at the Seattle Public Library, she started It Girl Consulting, a small venture that helps libraries use online tools to build communities. In 2003, Ms. Hill joined WebJunction, the leader in online learning for library staff, where she serves as director of community services.

Ms. Hill is a frequent presenter at library meetings and conferences, and her articles have appeared in JASIST, Library Journal, and RUSQ. In 2007, she was named a Library Journal “Mover and Shaker,” the magazine’s annual list that identifies librarians who are “shaping the future of libraries.” She holds an undergraduate degree in biology and psychology, an M.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, and an MLIS from the University of Washington, Seattle.

About WebJunction
WebJunction serves to bridge the barriers to learning by providing open, affordable, online learning communities. Members take courses, attend events, share knowledge, and network with others, all in an environment that fosters collaboration and mutual support. WebJunction’s vision is to be the place where the entire library profession gathers to build the knowledge, skills and support needed to power relevant, vibrant libraries. Founded in 2003 and based in Seattle, Washington, and Dublin, Ohio, WebJunction is supported in part by OCLC, grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Institute for Museum and Library Services, partners in state library agencies and other library systems and organizations, and the library community.  More information is at www.webjunction.org.

About OCLC
Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit library service and research organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent, preservation, library management and Web services to 71,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories. OCLC and its member libraries worldwide have created and maintain WorldCat, the world’s richest online resource for finding library materials. Search WorldCat.org on the Web at www.worldcat.org. For more information, visit www.oclc.org.

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OCLC, WorldCat, WorldCat.org and WebJunction are trademarks/service marks of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks/service marks of their respective owners.