Biography
Even as a child, Cheryl Bryan noticed and was inspired by the difference a library can make in a community. This appreciation led to her career working in and for libraries. For the past 15 years, mostly in New England, she has consulted with library managers and boards of trustees on planning, hiring, public relations, fund raising, building planning, renovation, and expansion. Asked to write a book Planning Facilities for Services Now on applying the Planning for Results process to planning building projects for the Public Library Association. Once the book was published I taught classes on Planning and Managing Building projects for PLA around the country. Created and instructed online classes in Communication for the University of North Texas LEAD program.
Over the years I've been convinced it is all about communication, internal and with the community, and change adaptation in libraries. My positions for SEMLS and MLS involved consulting and training library managers on planning,hiring, public relations, fund raising, and other various management topics like advocacy, and the provision of classic library services like readers advisory work.
Specialties: strategic and long range planning,and defining comfortable and functional public spaces.
Beyond facilitating planning I also provide training in customer service, readers advisory work, marketing, public relations, advocacy and fund raising.
Over the years I've been convinced it is all about communication, internal and with the community, and change adaptation in libraries. My positions for SEMLS and MLS involved consulting and training library managers on planning,hiring, public relations, fund raising, and other various management topics like advocacy, and the provision of classic library services like readers advisory work.
Specialties: strategic and long range planning,and defining comfortable and functional public spaces.
Beyond facilitating planning I also provide training in customer service, readers advisory work, marketing, public relations, advocacy and fund raising.
Résumé
Teaching and Consulting
Adviser,
Massachusetts Library System
Assistant Regional Administrator for Continuing Education and Consulting
SouthEastern Massachusetts Library System
Director
Brewster Ladies' Library
Public Speaking
Albany Public Library
"Assessing Your Library’s Physical Message" The PLA Reader for Public Library Directors and Managers, ed. By Kathleen Hughes. Neal Schuman Publishers, 2009.
Managing Facilities for Results: Optimizing Space for Services, ALA, 2007.
Professional Affiliations
BA, cum laude English and Religion, State University of New York at Albany
Teaching and Consulting
- Massachusetts Library System Adult Services Adviser for administrative, community outreach, and staff development.
- Provided consulting site visits to member libraries for space planning and staff and board problem solving.
- Facilitated long range planning in public and academic libraries.
- Developed and presented ALA CPLA (Certified Public Library Administrator) CORE classes in Planning and Management of Buildings and Organization (for PLA) and Personnel Administration ( for SEMLS).
- Created and taught series of Long Range Planning classes based on Planning for Results model.
- Created and presented online Communications Core class for University of Texas LEAD program.
- Developed and presented Readers' Advisory Genre Training course 2001-present.
- Developed and delivered Basic Library Training workshops in Administration, Reference, and Collection Development.
- Developed and presented workshops for staff development days including technology sandbox, readers advisory, and customer service.
- Developed workshops as requested for individual libraries’ staff training.
- Created Library Forager blog featuring user-based design of library services.
- Designed annual members’ satisfaction survey for continuing education program.
- Developed class wikis for administration and readers’ advisory classes.
- Represented region on state, regional and national committees.
- Panelist in Library Journal’s Green Design Institute, Hartford, CT, December, 2008.
- Regular presenter at PLA, NELA, and New England states’ association conferences. Topics include user-centered design, green design, current trends in library service, readers advisory techniques, planning, experience economy, mindfulness, job information centers and others as requested.
- Create, implement, and administer continuing education program for 350+ member multi-type regional library system.
- Collaborated in creation of New Director Essentials wiki.
- Founded and Chaired Cape and Islands Interlibrary Association.
- Initiated and implemented LSTA Grant and created committee to present two-day program on “Library As Commons” with Paco Underhill and James Gilmore as keynoters included break-out facilitated small group sessions.
Adviser,
Massachusetts Library System
Assistant Regional Administrator for Continuing Education and Consulting
SouthEastern Massachusetts Library System
Director
Brewster Ladies' Library
- Developed and managed budget, increasing funding 418% during tenure.
- Successfully obtained and administered $1,200,000 State Construction Grant.
- Developed detailed building program.
- Building Committee member for project that more than tripled facility.
- Participated in architect search/selection, and building committees.
- Attended weekly construction meetings with contractor's agents.
- Collection development and management of collection, increasing annual circulation from 53,000 to 116,000 (119%).
- Generated long-range plans for Library with annual action plans.
- Initiated monthly staff meetings, annual personnel reviews, staff and volunteer manuals
Public Speaking
- Participated in television, press and radio interviews to promote library building project.
- Initiated outreach speakers program from library to local organizations.
- “Job Information Centers in Libraries”, NELA, 1985.
- Presented Long Range Planning in the Small Library program at Massachusetts Library Association, 1986.
Albany Public Library
- Executed $20,000 grant from National Endowment for the Humanities.
- Developed and directed LEARN grant from NYS Education Department.
- Provided general reference service in regional central library.
- Created and offered Career Life Planning workshops.
- Initiated resume training and review services.
- Developed and presented exhibits, video tapes, and slide tape shows for professional and community groups.
- Developed and presented workshops, program series, and individual learning programs in Library, city, county, and state agencies.
"Assessing Your Library’s Physical Message" The PLA Reader for Public Library Directors and Managers, ed. By Kathleen Hughes. Neal Schuman Publishers, 2009.
Managing Facilities for Results: Optimizing Space for Services, ALA, 2007.
Professional Affiliations
- American Library Association
- ALA ASCLA (Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies) Executive Board, 2002-2003, 2006-2010
- Chairman, ALA (ASCLA), Interlibrary Cooperation and Networking (ICAN) Section, 2006-2007.
- Chairman, ASCLA Committee for Continuing and Independent Education
- Massachusetts Library Association
- Intellectual Freedom Committee
- New England Library Association
- Founding member of New England Library Leadership Symposium (NELLS), 2002.
- Chaired NELLS, 2007-2008.
- President, 2001-2002.
- Conference Chair / VP, 2000-2001
- Chair, Committee for Educational Opportunities 1999-2000
- Chair, Bylaws Committee, 2003-20011
- Cape and Islands Automated Network
- Board member
- Vice-president of Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing Network (CLAMS).
- Chairman, CLAMS Technology Committee
BA, cum laude English and Religion, State University of New York at Albany