mich la april 2011
TRANSCRIPT
Libraries: Evolution, Revolution and the Two Kinds of Extinction
Stephen Abram, MLSMichLA Directors’ Summit
April 11, 2011
My Goals Today
Talk about the big picture changes affecting libraries
Suggest the ones that matter the most Talk about influence, advocacy and success
(and if I am doing my job I’ll make you uncomfortable, occasionally mad, irked, and challenge your assumptions. )
“Don’t you know what a library is for?
It’s to prevent us frommaking damn fools
of ourselves.”
George LockeChief Librarian
1908-1937Toronto Public Library,
quoted in theToronto StarApril 3, 1982
Are Your Strategies Frozen in Time?
Are they Based On Incremental Change?
Are they Responding to Future Challenges
or Past Pain?
Stop complicating things!
What Can Librarians Do?
Extinction
Extinction
Evolution
A Library Metaphor: Dinosaurs didn’t go extinct
because the climate changed. They went extinct because the
didn’t or couldn’t adapt.
Opportunities Abound
IN TIMES OF DYNAMIC CHANGE Innovation Inspiration Information Ideas Invention Investment Illumination Influence
Another Library Metaphor
Grocery Stores
Grocery Stores
Grocery Stores
What do real users want? Meals
Cookbooks, Chefs . . .
Cookbooks, Chefs . . .
Chefs, counsellors, teachers, magicians
Librarians play a vital role in building the critical connections between
information , knowledge and learning.
Opportunities Abound
Convincing = Advocating Creativity Collaboration Consortia Cooperation Community
Sensemaking
Strategy is a Choice . . .
To be a victim and feel these changes are fated and blamestormOR
Create the future we need and take collective responsibility for the conversation and development of the future.
Find Reasons not Excuses.
As technology advances
Think
Emboldened Librarians hold the key
News Flash “The Internet and technology have now
progressed to their infancy”
The Top 20
What are our libraries’ strategic responses to these environmental factors and changes?
E-Books1
Kindle Singles
2
Google Books
3
How would you enhance the book without the compromises
of the 1500’s?
Digital is Insufficient
Death of Containe
rs
4
No More DVD’s
5
Research
Culture
6
Content Farms
& SEO / SMO
7
Content Farming
Pay attention to the opportunities in: SEO SMO GEO Content farm issues (e.g. Appliances, cars,
drugs, consulting, etc.) e-Books and advertising Directing traffic to your site
(Encyclopedia.com)
Apple: Apps
7
Kindle Formats
8
E-Reader Lending
(Lendle)
9
ContentDisaggreg
ation
10
What does all this mean?
The Article level universe The Chapter and Paragraph Universe Integrated with Visuals – graphics and charts Integrated with ‘video’ Integrated with Sound and Speech Integrated with social web Integrated with interaction and not just
interactivity How would you enhance a book?
E-Learning
11
E-Learning
StrategicAnalytics
12
What We Never Really Knew Before (US/Canada)
27% of our users are under 18. 59% are female.
29% are college students. 5% are professors and 6% are teachers.
On any given day, 35% of our users are there for the very first time!
Only 29% found the databases via the library website. 59% found what they were looking for on their first search.
72% trusted our content more than Google. But, 81% still use Google.
We often believe a lot
that isn’t true.
2010 Eduventures Research on Investments
58% of instructors believe that technology in courses positively impacts student engagement. 71% of instructors that rated student engagement levels as “high” as a result of using technology in
courses. 71% of students who are employed full-time and 77% of students who are employed part-time
prefer more technology-based tools in the classroom. 79% of instructors and 86 percent of students have seen the average level of engagement improve
over the last year as they have increased their use of digital educational tools. 87% of students believe online libraries and databases have had the most significant impact on
their overall learning. 62% identify blogs, wikis, and other online authoring tools while 59% identify YouTube and
recorded lectures. E-books and e-textbooks impact overall learning among 50% of students surveyed, while 42% of
students identify online portals. 44% of instructors believe that online libraries and databases will have the greatest impact on
student engagement. 32% of instructors identify e-textbooks and 30% identify interactive homework solutions as having
the potential to improve engagement and learning outcomes. (e-readers was 11%) 49% of students believe that online libraries and databases will have the greatest impact on
student engagement. Students are more optimistic about the potential for technology.
The Baker’s Dozen
1. Health and Wellness / Community Health / Nutrition / Diet / Recovery 2. DIY Do It Yourself Activities and Car Repair 3. Genealogy 4. Test prep (SAT, ACT, occupational tests, etc. etc.) 5. Legal Questions (including family law, divorce, adoption, etc) 6. Hobbies, Games and Gardening 7. Local History 8. Consumer reviews (Choosing a car, appliance, etc.) 9. Homework Help (grade school) 10. Technology Skills (software, hardware, web) 11. Government Programs, Services and Taxation 12. Self-help/personal development 13. Careers (jobs, counselling, etc.)
Hobbies and Gardening
Consumer reviews (choosing a car, appliance, etc.)
Health and Wellness / Community Health / Nutrition / Diet / Recovery
Local History
Homework Help (grade school)
DIY Do It Yourself Activities and Car Repair
Genealogy
Legal Questions (including family law, divorce, adoption, etc)
Test prep (SAT, ACT, occupational tests, etc.)
Technology Skills (software, hardware, Internet/web)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
88.3%
83.1%
81.7%
75.9%
72.9%
67.8%
60.0%
60.0%
58.3%
51.7%
10.0%
15.3%
16.7%
22.4%
25.4%
30.5%
31.7%
35.0%
41.7%
48.3%
1.7%
1.7%
1.7%
1.7%
1.7%
1.7%
8.3%
5.0%
0.0%
0.0%
Resource Levels for Top Ten Areas of Patron Interest (Question 1)
EnoughNot EnoughNot Applicable
History
/ Socia
l Studies
Scien
ce / S
cience
fairs)
Biographies
Literat
ure
Speci
al Eve
nts (Blac
k (or H
ispan
ic, Asia
n, Nati
ve Ameri
can) H
istory
Month)
Women’s S
tudies
Religio
n0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
45.0% 46.7% 46.7%
32.2% 33.3%
5.2% 3.4%
43.3% 38.3% 38.3%
42.4%35.0%
12.1% 11.9%
10.0% 13.3% 13.3%22.0%
20.0%
22.4%39.0%
1.7% 1.7% 1.7% 1.7%11.7%
56.9%
44.1%
0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.7% 3.4% 1.7%
Student Homework Support - Level of Requests by Area
N/ANot at all CommonSlightly CommonCommonVery Common
Europe
Middle East
United Kingd
omAfric
a
World Cultu
res/U
nderstan
ding Our W
orld
Australia
/New
Zeala
nd
China / Fa
r East Asia
Easter
n Euro
pe
Latin Ameri
ca
India / P
akista
n
Cuba & Cari
bbeanRussi
a
Asia Paci
fic0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
18.97% 20.00%
6.90% 8.62%14.04%
1.72% 5.00%10.53%
1.89% 3.39% 6.90%0.00% 0.00% 1.69%
39.66% 38.33%
37.93% 32.76% 22.81%
24.14% 20.00%14.04%
18.87% 16.95% 10.34%15.25% 13.79% 8.47%
34.48%28.33%
36.21% 41.38% 47.37%
56.90%50.00%
57.89%
49.06%55.93%
51.72% 52.54%46.55%
45.76%
6.90%11.67%
18.97% 17.24% 14.04% 17.24%23.33%
17.54%
28.30%22.03%
31.03% 30.51%39.66%
42.37%
0.00% 1.67% 0.00% 0.00% 1.75% 0.00% 1.67% 0.00% 1.89% 1.69% 0.00% 1.69% 0.00% 1.69%
Areas of World Which Generate Most Questions
N/ANot at all PopularSlightly PopularPopularVery Popular
Gardening (L)Knitting & Needlecrafts (P)Knitting & Needlecrafts (L)
Arts & Crafts (P)Arts & Crafts (L)
Television Shows (P)Television Shows (L)
Gardening (P)Computers (L)
Pets (P)Pets (L)
Music (P)Traveling, Tourism & Vacations (L)Traveling, Tourism & Vacations (P)
Exercise, Cycling & Walking (L)Exercise, Cycling & Walking (P)
Movies & Film (L)Movies & Film (P)
Cooking & Recipes (L)Computers (P)
Music (L)Cooking & Recipes (P)
Recreational Reading (L)Recreational Reading (P)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Top 12 Hobbies - Patrons (P) & Librarians (L)
Whitespace
Broadband13
Free Culture
14
Mobility
15
Digital 1st & Only
16
Peer e-Review
17
Inter-Disciplinar
y
18
Discovery & Ideas
The Future Discovered
• Stem Cells• fMRI and The Brain• Cloning• Trucking and GPS• Wind and other energy• Nanotechnology• Robotics• Massive Book Digitization• Music• Translation• Streaming Media• Seed Bank
Total Integration19
The new bibliography and
collection development
KNOWLEDGEPORTALS
KNOWLEDGE,LEARNING,
INFORMATION &RESEARCHCOMMONS
We Only Get So Many Once-in-a-Lifetime Chances To Do
Great Things
Unlocking the Value Conversation
Conversation Headings
o Mobile & Device(s) supporto Wirelesso GIS, GPS, etc.o Statistics and Measurementso Changes in Millennial Behaviourso Inter-disciplinary and Cross-Disciplinary
Researcho E-Bookso Repositories and Digital Vaultso Digitization (Google, OCA, etc.)o Budgeting, Finance and Fundraisingo Staff developmento Organization Development, Structure,
Governanceo E-learning and Distance Educationo Copyright, DRM, Licensing, etc.o Learning Management Systems o Scholarly publishingo Open Access / Linked Datao Technology / Open Source / SaaS/ etc.o Space Design
o Portals / Websiteso Information Commons, Computer Commons.
Learning Commons, Knowledge Commonso Search – federated and nicheo Metadata – taxonomies, ontologies, MARC, etc.o Flexibility and Nimblenesso Transliteracy, Information Literacy, Scholar training,
research skillso Lecturer engagement and liaison roleso The roles of Social networking, Facebooko Measurement and statistics – especially value of e-
resourceso Managing the format mix transition – print/digital
and serials/book, etc.o Differentiation services to undergrads and post-
grads, students and professors, admino Privacy, Confidentiality, and research ethicso Bookstores, Textbooks, POD, etco Buildings and Greeno Partnerships
What Would You Attempt If You Knew You Would Not Fail?
Don’t Rest on Your Laurels.
Reintermediation: Personalize the Service
Stand Out!
Trust Yourself to Make Difference and Have an Impact
Save the User!
Tie Your Messages to the Voter!
Context is King,Contact trumps Culture Content is a Foundation
Community
Stories
Conversations
Stories
Relationships
Stories
Community Networks
The Social
Life of
Information
Stories
Life
Stories
Connection
Stories
Personalization
Stories
Simplicity
What Are Libraries Really For?
• Community• Learning• Training the researchers of today & tomorrow• Discovery & Invention• Progress• Research (Applied and Theoretical)• Cultural & Knowledge Custody & Curation • Economic Impact &n Infrastructure
6 Things To Do
Must do, actually
1. Align communication with political agenda.2. Know what your users are doing and why (analyze your
data, choose the top 5… & focus).3. Focus on the user psycho-graphics – their goals from
their point of view.4. Invest in Knowledge Portals that support your user’s
goals (in person and virtually).5. Rise above Collecting and truly Support Reading and
Research. Build on the foundation toward sense-making.6. Be aware of the competitive framework and new
business models. Understand devices.
CooperateCollaborate
Consort20
The power of libraries
Good Luck
Join the Revolution
Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLAVP strategic partnerships and markets
Cengage Learning (Gale)Cel: 416-669-4855
[email protected]’s Lighthouse Blog
http://stephenslighthouse.comFacebook: Stephen Abram
LinkedIn / Plaxo: Stephen AbramTwitter: sabram
SlideShare: StephenAbram1
Frankenbooks?FrankenSearch?
Stephen Abram, MLSCLA OttawaApril 5, 2011
Is this graphic correct? What’s wrong?
Is the book in your head?
Frankenbooks? Emotion? Morality?
The Physical Act of Reading
Think harder about book components!
Whose needs are met by e-books and e-libraries?
Welcome
Questions for Today:
1. What is REALLY happening with eBooks?2. Where is all this change taking us?3. Do people still value the book? 4. What’s next?5. What is the role for librarians in our info-
future?
Books
Fiction
Non-Fiction
Encyclopedia
Reference
Directories
Dictionaries
Textbooks
Scholarly
Kiddy Lit
E-Learning
How would you reinvent the book?
Mobility
What are thegood and badthings about
e-books?
GOOG
What does all this mean?
The Article level universe The Chapter and Paragraph Universe Integrated with Visuals – graphics and charts Integrated with ‘video’ Integrated with Sound and Speech Integrated with social web Integrated with interaction and not just
interactivity How would you enhance a book?
Device Issues
Borders Kobo, B&N Nook, Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad, Sony, etc. . . .
Mobility
Broadband
You must clearly understand the latest US FCC Whitespace Broadband Decision – THIS IS TRANSFORMATIONAL and going global
Local wired, mobile access ‘everywhere’ to the home and workplace
Geo-awareness: GIS, GPS, GEO-IP, etc. Wireless as a business strategy (Starbucks) Mobile dominates Largest generation
FrankenSearch
Need to know, Need to teach
SEO SMO Content Farms / Mills AOL, Demand Media White Hat / Black Hat Ads Geo-coding, Geotagging
People
My son: Zachary
My son: Zachary
Discovery & Ideas
Has the future changed?Has our future changed?
The Future Discovered
• Stem Cells• fMRI and The Brain• Cloning• Trucking and GPS• Wind and other energy• Nanotechnology• Robotics• Massive Book Digitization• Music• Translation• Streaming Media• Seed Bank
InterdisciplinaryCross-disciplinaryIntegrated
A 1965 iPhone
Can libraries keep up with change?
Can you recall buying a 45? Can you recall dials on TVs? Can you recall dialling?
Can we frame the e-book issue so that it can be addressed rationally?
MindMap: What is a book?
1. Reading2. Learning3. Pedagogy4. Research5. Exploration6. Reference7. Engagement8. Enjoyment9. Evaluation
My Conclusions
Content acquisition needs to move up the chain
Mobile will be dominant device eBook formats will be e-reader
dependent for a short time eBook format to watch is web-based
and involves HTML5 Ads vs no ads in books? Social reading behaviours are
primary Federated search is evolving
Serve Everyone!
Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLAVP strategic partnerships and markets
Cengage Learning (Gale)Cel: 416-669-4855
[email protected]’s Lighthouse Blog
http://stephenslighthouse.comFacebook: Stephen Abram
LinkedIn / Plaxo: Stephen AbramTwitter: sabram
SlideShare: StephenAbram1