Sandra Nelson presented the program Choices, Choices, Choices: Making Decisions in a Complex Environment to an enthusiastic group on Tuesday. The majority of the attendees were library managers from public libraries all over the country, some traveling to Chicago from Idaho, Delaware, South Carolina, New Jersey and Colorado. Sandra discussed different types of decision makers, including the “shoot from the hip” style, those who make decisions based on “the last person they spoke with” and those who “don’t make decisions at all.”

The all day workshop addressed defining the problem of decision making, and used 3 case studies which the attendees worked on in small groups. Using the attendees ideas on the case studies, Sandra addressed how to scan your environment, gather data and identify options before making decisions. When evaluating your options, Sandra’s steps included: Initial Impressions, Careful Consideration, and Choose the Best Solution to the Problem. She also discussed implementing and monitoring decision making and included tips for making effective decisions. Reported by
Shannon Distel, Program Coordinator, PLA