Director's Blog
Woodmere Briefly Closed
Posted by Metta Lansdale on Dec 22nd 2012, 1:29pm.
Due to the terrific windstorm yesterday some aluminum flashing came partially loose from the clock tower last night and was blowing around in the high wind. I am grateful to a library visitor who brought it to our attention yesterday late afternoon. Because it appeared it could come loose and injure a visitor in the area, I made the... read more »
TADL Retains Library Services for the Blind for Smaller Service Area and Enhances Outreach and Digital Offerings
Posted by Metta Lansdale on Jul 18th 2012, 10:02am.
At its July 10, 2012 Special Board Meeting, the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) Board of Trustees voted to continue providing specialized services for the blind and physically handicapped; it accepted the Advisory and Outreach Center (AOC) service model proposed by the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB); and it accepted the MCB proposal to... read more »
LBPH Advisory and Outreach Center (AOC) - an MCB Proposal
Posted by Metta Lansdale on Apr 23rd 2012, 10:53am.
Q. What is an AOC?A: This is a new model for LBPH service. The National Library Service defines and sets criteria for Advisory and Outreach Centers. The individual AOCs are authorized by the state’s Regional LBPH. The Michigan Regional LBPH is in the process of setting up the structure to establish these centers... read more »
GRAND TRAVERSE AREA LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED (LBPH)
Posted by Metta Lansdale on Apr 12th 2012, 1:10pm.
Q: What is Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH)?A: The Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is a part of a nationwide network that provides recorded books for the blind. These services are completely free to registered participants. The (Michigan) Regional LBPH is headquartered within the state government... read more »
Express Checkout and Materials Handling Technology - An investment to control operating costs
Posted by Metta Lansdale on Apr 6th 2012, 2:12am.
TADL, like libraries everywhere, is experiencing nearly unprecedented growth in demand while property tax revenues (used to pay routine expenses) continually decline. To address these challenges, the TADL Board has approved the implementation of technology that will enable patron self-service and improve efficiencies in materials handling. (updated... read more »
MELCAT – WHEN WILL TADL JOIN?
Posted by Metta Lansdale on May 5th 2011, 2:12am.
I have been asked why TADL has not yet joined MeLCat. Excellent Question! Here is the long and short of it... Q. What is MeLCat?A. MeLCat is a state-wide unified catalog of participating libraries. Most are public libraries but many academic libraries participate as well. Notably, this is voluntary on the part of participating... read more »
About
Metta Lansdale began service as Director of the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) on November 1, 2009, a position that had been held by Michael McGuire who retired after 34 years of service.
Lansdale most recently served as Director of the Royal Oak Public Library. Under her guidance that library experienced a 60% increase in visitors in 2008, followed by a 23% increase in the next nine months establishing the library as a community center and anchor in the vibrant downtown of this southeast Michigan city.
She had previously served for nine years as Director of the Chelsea District Library. Through her leadership there she transformed a small village library into a state-of-the-art district library for the 21st century. She initiated a $1.2 million capital campaign and an $8.2 million bond election for the renovated and expanded McKune Memorial Library in Chelsea, where she championed and developed public library volunteer services and programming fully developing the library as a community center. This development was recognized in 2008 by the American Library Association with the designation as the Best Small Library in America.
Lansdale also brings more than 20 years of management experience in a large hospital library setting; she also launched and for ten years maintained the Health Information section of MeL (The Michigan Electronic Library).
Lansdale is active in professional and community organizations including the Michigan Library Association and the Michigan Center for the Book. She is a member of the Traverse City Rotary Club; previously, she served as secretary and webmaster for the Royal Oak Rotary Club and back-up webmaster for the District Rotary site; she was a member and incoming board member for Royal Oak Kiwanis and served on the Board of Directors of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce. For the Michigan Library Association she was on the Legislative Action Committee and the 2010 Conference Planning committee. She currently serves on the board of MCLS, the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services.
Lansdale Director Interview with TADL August 8, 2009