okla2013 ardmore
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Be The Change . . .
Stephen Abram, MLSOklahoma Library AssociationArdmore, OKMarch 28, 2013
Libraries core skill is not delivering information
Libraries improve the quality of the question
and the user experience
Libraries are about learning and building communities
Libraries Have Seasons
Librarian Magic
SmellyYellowLiquid
OrSex
Appeal?
The Complex Value Proposition
•What are your goals?
•What are their goals?
•Is there a difference?
What are the goals?
NounsBooks, eBooksMagazinesWebsitesBuildings, BranchesRoomsDesksProgramsNouns can be warehoused and ‘cut’
VerbsServe and ChangeAnswer and DecideEngage and DiscussLink and LearnEntertain and PlayTell a storyDoAction verbs imply dynamism and impact
Are you locked into an old library mindset?
A Verb . . . an Experience, enlivened for an audience
A Noun . . . A foundation but not sufficient with professional animation
Grocery Stores
Cookbooks, Chefs . . .
Cookbooks, Chefs . . .
Meals
So What Should Our Library Priorities Be?Remaining Relevant and Having a Positive Impact
1. Community Focus?Or Engagement?Up Your Game• Know your local community demographics• Focus on needs assessment and social assessments• Prioritize: Love all, Serve all, Save the World means nothing
gets done• Priorities are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable,
Relevant, & Time bound• Look for partnerships that add value
AmazonChapters/IndigoBarnes & NobleBN BookBrowser
BordersSuggestica
Inside a Dog (teens)MySpace BooksBooks We Like
OCLC's FictionFinderAll ConsumingLibraryThingNext Favorite
StoryCodeRating Zone
Hypatia and AlexLitWhichBook.netAllReaders.comReader's Robot
gnooks
2. Programs --- More, more, moreUp Your Game• Align with Collections – every collection must be justified by
programs and strategic alignment• Force strategic investment budgeting• Look for partnerships that add value• Don’t go it alone. Focus on large scale sustainable programs• Connect to the longer process not just events• Virtual and in-person• In the Library and reaching out with partners
What are the real issues?
• Craft versus Industrial Strength• Personal service only when there’s impact• Pilot, Project, Initiative versus Portfolio Strategy• Hand-knitted prototypes versus Production• e.g. Information Literacy and Fluency initiatives• Discovery versus Search versus Deep Search• eLearning units and program dissemination • Citation and information ethics• Content and repository archipelagos
• Strategic Analytics• Value & Impact Measures• Behaviours, Satisfaction• Economic and strategic alignment
3. Experience PortalsThe Virtual ‘Branch’ or ClassUp Your Game• Align with Collections – But add virtual experiences• Start being Mobile in the extreme• Look for partnerships that add value• Focus on relationship management / liaisons• Ensure the program delivery person is embedded including
librarians• What are your top 20 question domains? Start there.• Don’t go it alone. Build scalability and sustainability.• Look for replicability – every neighbourhood
The new bibliography and
collection development
Ask Us, KNOWLEDGE
PORTALSKNOWLEDGE,
LEARNING,INFORMATION &
RESEARCHCOMMONS
4. Learning StrategiesUp Your Game• Start offering diplomas and certificates• The Non-credit Course• Look for partnerships that add value• Offer real educational opportunities not just adjacencies• What does your community need for economic advantage?• What courses to you offer or recommend? (TED, Khan Academy,
etc.)• Play and connect yourself
5. Get real about homework
Up Your Game• Understand the new Common Curriculum (esp. 6-8 and 9-12)• Understand Pedagogy in the context of student experiences
and educational goals• Understand human development from early years through
teens and adult learning• Understand the projects• Connect across developmental stages, link to schools• Consider partnerships to put teachers in the library• Consider coaches and tutoring partnerships
6. Take Branding to the Next LevelUp Your Game• Take the strong ‘library’ brand and add dimension• Personal branding – Who are your stars? Promote them.• Program branding• Take risks for attention (AIDA)• Embed your brand beyond the library walls and virtually• Go beyond the information brand to informing, creating, and
social
7. Collections Alignment
Up Your Game• Grow collections investments in strategic areas (for example
economic impact, jobs, early years, hobbies, political alignment, homework, curriculum, degrees…)
• Develop hybrid strategies that are consistent and integrated for digital and print and programs
• Be obsessive about consultation, recommendations and advice• Integrate virtual and physical – hybridize• Social alignment rules
8. Uncomfortable Bonus: SacrificeUp Your Game• Dog, Star, Cow, Problem Child/?• Reduce investment in successes• Increase investment• Look at TCO• Look at all costs incurred and not just hard costs• Do NOT value your time at zero• Review opportunity costs in soft costs
Being More Open to Comment
Be the Change We Want to See
Being More Open to Criticism and Feedback
Be the Change We Want to See
Being More Open to Recommendations
Be the Change We Want to See
Support Aspiration
Be the Change We Want to See
Be Creative and AttractBe the Change We Want to See
Being More Open to Change
Be the Change We Want to See
The Library as Sandbox
Be the Change We Want to See
‘New’ Library CulturesSupport Your Team
Be the Change We Want to See
Being More Open Experimentation, Pilots and Innovation
Be the Change We Want to See
Being More Flexible
Be the Change We Want to See
Being More Open to Risk
Be the Change We Want to See
Being Open to a Mosaic of Solutions
Be the Change We Want to See
Being Open to Ambiguity
Be the Change We Want to See
BeMoreOpen to SocialTechnologiesand UnintendedConsequences
Be the Change We Want to See
Being Comfortable with Speed
Be the Change We Want to See
Being Open to New Ideas
Be the Change We Want to See
Letting Go of Control
Be the Change We Want to See
Remove the Borders Inside Libraries
Be the Change We Want to See
Remove the Borders In the Library Community
Be the Change We Want to See
Remove theBorders Between
Libraries and Users
Be the Change We Want to See
Be Inspirational
Be the Change We Want to See
Know What Makes Us Different
Be the Change We Want to See
Finding Our Voice and Using It
Be the Change We Want to See
Tell Your Story: Until lions learn to write their own story,
the story will always be from the perspective of the hunter not the hunted.
The power of answers
Honest to G*d – Let’s Encourage Some Fun!
Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLAConsultant, Dysart & Jones/Lighthouse Partners
Cel: [email protected]’s Lighthouse Blog
http://stephenslighthouse.comFacebook, Pinterest, Tumblr: Stephen Abram
LinkedIn / Plaxo: Stephen AbramTwitter: @sabram
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