By RUBY DIAZ
Tiger Media Network
Forsyth Library and Hays Public Library partnered up to give a presentation on how to make meetings better and more productive on Tuesday. According to Forsyth Library Engagement Specialist Anna Towns, Forsyth and Hays Public Library have partnered for about a year on the How-To Series.
Anna Towns giving introduction speech for the meeting makeovers convention 
Students listening and taking notes on presentation while Nicole Frank speaks. 
Nicole Frank explaining how different types of meetings work 
People in attendance for meeting makeovers presentation. 
Nicole Frank presenting her introduction for the presentation BY RUBY DIAZ 
Introduction slide for the meeting makeovers presentation BY RUBY DIAZ
This presentation educated attendees on how to make meetings better. Whether it be a catchy opening or an attention grabber, how to set up seating, or even how to close the presentation without actually closing it, the presentation focused on how to correspond to the desired type of environment.
FHSU Director of Professional Development Nicole Frank was the featured presenter. Frank said 90% of success is based on preparation, attributing nationally renowned author and event facilitator Priya Parker. Frank also discussed different types of meetings and how they can be successful.
“Walking meetings inspire creativity, so if you want people to put their phones down, put their laptops away, not necessarily look you in the eye, walking helps creativity because people think better in nature,” Frank said.
Frank also mentioned how important it is to stick to the agenda for the meeting and that it is important to constantly be engaged so that attendees don’t get lost or off the schedule.
“You have to be more intentional about audience engagement,” Frank said.
In this presentation, the audience learned how to use engaging content or questions to draw in attention, or even start a conversation.
“Priya Parker makes the point that you should have a clear opening and a clear closing,” Frank said. “This doesn’t have to be anything more complicated than, ‘hey everyone, welcome to the meeting.’”
During the presentation, attendees asked questions including one student who was curious what the best way to make established groups more collaborative to new members.
“I would look at those standard ones and I would have that group together, come up with their own norms of collaboration,” Frank said.
Frank also mentioned how important it is to stay on time. Be respectful of people’s time and to make sure the meeting starts and ends at the scheduled times.
The next scheduled How-To Series is a homecoming event, ‘Tiger Totes and T-Shirt Making,’ where attendees will be able to heat press vinyl to customize shirts and tote bags. The event will take place at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23. It will be limited to the first 100 attendees.
“We do [How-To Events] monthly for the most part, other than the months of November and December, which are more collabs, but not How-To Series just because of the holidays,” Hays Public Library Adult Services Librarian Jessica Shields said.