Vivienne Blake shows us how to prep students for university

This seemed like such a simple episode about an obvious idea, collaborate with local universities to give your students a taste of their near future; but Vivienne is not an obvious librarian, which is why I always enjoy talking with her. Our conversation touches down on the interplay between skills, mindset, & confidence, and demonstrates how schools are too obsessed with the former at the expense of the later. It also demonstrates how simple ideas are the best ideas because even though their direct effects are difficult to quantify, the affects are often broad and long lasting. I think this ‘effect / affect‘ juxtaposition is at the heart of what’s particular about the value prop of libraries. Vivienne uses our time together to explain in detail how to achieve a similar project in your library, and I waste most of my minutes wistfully reminiscing about my own university days.