My most excellent adventure at the TriChapter meeting in New Orleans was the CE offering, “It’s about time, it’s about space,(c)” presented by Lynne Fox.

For once, I took a course that actually changed my work behaviors, and for the better. Coincidentally, I returned from the meeting to face the challenge of surrendering about 100 square feet of Backroom office space, which I used for years as my work/storage area. Using the RAFT (Refer it, Act on it, File it, Toss it) principles I had learned in class, I was able to clean out the room quickly and confidently, knowing that my choices fit with the decision process Lynne had taught us. My office/work space is now more organized and logical than it has ever been.

The time and file management basics - avoiding procrastination, dealing with interruptions, organizing information (supplies, rules and maintenance), and converting paper files to electronic files provided me with a system for continuous and routine maintenance of paper and electronic files.

She also covered folders and files in Windows 95, electronic “To Do" lists, Netscape (and other) bookmarks, and special tips for MS Outlook users.

The in-class exercises were especially useful, being grounded in reality, not hypothesis. In particular, the exercise in defining folders, sub-folders, and sub-sub-folders, with retention rules and deletion dates proved most useful. (If Dewey could put all knowledge into ten classes, why can’t I?) Also helpful was the High priority/high reward planning grid. Curiously, before I knew I’d be losing it, the single item I’d placed under low priority/low reward was the Backroom.

At the conclusion of the class we had the opportunity to make a contract with ourselves, committing to use three time/space management strategies to improve our efficiency and effectiveness. I chose, RAFT, BRWT/BGWP (be ruthless with time, be gracious with people) and Files, not Piles. They help me every day.

I highly recommend this class, and suggest that ICON bring Lynne Fox to Omaha in the near future for a city-wide CE, since the principles apply to all librarians.

I am most grateful to ICON for the grant money that supported my travel to New Orleans for the TriChapter meeting.

Ken Oyer, Librarian
Hartigan Medical Library
Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Medical Center
Omaha, NE