vexing problems, radical transformations
TRANSCRIPT
VexingProblems,Radical
TransformationsNELINET Annual Meeting
Executive Director’s Report11 May 2007
Arnold Hirshon
Today’s Challenges
Demonstrate Vision Serve as Effective Stewards of Resources
Cope with Exploding Content
Respond to Shifts in Personnel
Incorporate New Technologies and
Respond to Environmental Changes
Improve and Demonstrate Service Performance
Provide Strong Advocacyand Communications
Update Library Facilities to Meet Constantly
Changing User Needs
To fly past our woes and ascend to new heights
Today’s Challenges:
• Demonstrate Vision– Strong strategic plans + seize unanticipated opportunities
• Serve as Effective Stewards of Resources– Costs continually increase without commensurate budget
increases– Demonstrate value in accreditation reports– Optimize workflows to ensure effective operations
• Cope with Exploding Content– Inadequate time and ineffective tools to evaluate e-content
value– Shifting balance of electronic and traditional print content– Creating and maintaining local digitization programs
• Respond to Shifts in Personnel– Staff turnover and retirements result in loss of expertise– Staff require constant training to update their skills
To fly past our woes and ascend to new heights
Today’s Challenges:
• Incorporate New Technologies and Respond to Environmental Changes– Difficult to stay abreast of changes and how to respond– New technology requires re-evaluation of workflows
• Improve and Demonstrate Service Performance– Users, sponsors, and accreditors seek demonstrable and
measurable results
• Provide Strong Advocacy and Communications– Web sites, Second Life islands, publications, meetings,
focus groups, surveys
• Update Library Facilities to Meet Constantly Changing User Needs – Group study areas, cafes, quiet space
To fly past our woes and ascend to new heights
Radical Transformative Trends in the Changing Information Universe
The New Equation+ Radical Transparency: users have a heightened awareness of
the internal operations of organizations from which they obtain services
+ Technology infrastructure democratization: the network is the platform – customers and users no longer need to purchase hardware and software to accomplish their work
+ User Centered Innovation: Users can employ gaming and simulation technologies to create customized solutions that meetpersonal or mass market needs
= A seismic shift what we do and how we do it
Radical Transparency of Organizations: Naked Executives
• A cultural shift, a redrawing of the lines between what's private and what's public
• Absolute corporate secrecy is dying• Customers and staff are going to blab, so why not turn
everyone into a partner and invite them to do so?• Post everything on the web that customers really want
to know• Once people are interested in you, they're interested
in helping you out and becoming your working partners
• You can't go “halfway naked” – once you promise to be open you must stay open or else the implied social compact of transparency will crumble
Clive Thompson. “The See-Through CEO.” Wired (April 2007) http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.04/wired40_ceo.html
“Google is not a search engine.
Google is a reputation-
management system. …
Online, your rep is quantifiable, findable, and
totally unavoidable.”
“Google is not a search engine.
Google is a reputation-
management system. …
Online, your rep is quantifiable, findable, and
totally unavoidable.”
A generation has grown up blogging, posting a daily phonecam picture on Flickr and listing its geographic position in real time on Dodgeball and Google
Maps. For them, authenticity comes from online exposure. It's hard to trust anyone who doesn't list their dreams and fears on Facebook.
A generation has grown up blogging, posting a daily phonecam picture on Flickr and listing its geographic position in real time on Dodgeball and Google
Maps. For them, authenticity comes from online exposure. It's hard to trust anyone who doesn't list their dreams and fears on Facebook.
Infrastructure Democratization and User-Centered Innovation
• Web 2.0 and open source software are enabling the creation of a new level playing field
• Businesses can no longer do all things in secret, lock things down, or restrict customer choices
• Competition and rapid development requires collaboration to get things done that no one can do alone
• Innovation communities are forming through web 2.0• Users no longer must rely upon providers to develop
solutions• Users want customized solutions and will innovate by
themselves to develop what they want• Can leverage the power of innovation communities
because users “freely reveal” their ideas• This democratized innovation process can apply to both
information and physical products and solutionsSources include James Surowiecki (Wise Crowds), Eric Von Hippel (Democratizing Innovation), and Dan Tapscott (Wikinomics)
Radical Transformations and
Since Last YearWhen we introduced the subscription plan, we
announced that we would undertake a multi-year process to transform NELINET to respond to your
rapidly-changing needs
The Transformation of NELINETFrom solely the traditional roles as
broker, e-resource licensor, educatorTo an evolving role as an innovation
enabler
The Value of NELINET• Local touch
– NELINET has a broad and deep understanding of our members
• Objective Information– We provide an objective and broad perspective to help you see
and respond to trends– We provide solutions, not sell you products
• Innovation– We work with you to identify effective and innovative solutions
• Collaboration– We coordinate your collaborative efforts, and thereby share the
load and the risk
The Value of Regional ofNetwork Partnerships
What challenges await you today?
Make your regional network the first place you will call
From technology and workflow consulting, to research on new services
on timely topics, to discounts on databases and other products, to creating
a community for help and support. Whether planning ahead or facing a
crisis, your network is there.
Your independentRegional network
TransformingLibraries through
Collaborationwww.librarynetworks.org
AmigosBCR
FEDLINKILLINET
INCOLSAMINITEX
MLCMLNC
NEBASENELINET
NylinkOHIONETPALINETSOLINET
WiLS
Radical TransformationsWe’re there for you
Services:
Building Upon the Past to Create an Exciting Future
FY2007: Board GoalsProvide libraries with information services within a highly collaborative environment to enable members to contain their costs and improve the quality of their services
• Develop more collaborative programs (e.g., interest groups, summit meetings)
• Listen more to our members (e.g., site visits, surveys)• Ensure delivery of the highest quality programs and
services (e.g., evaluations and online logs)• Develop new business models to
serve as facilitators or enablers of member activity host technology services, not just broker the services of others
We’re Working to Meet Your Daily Needs • Reducing OCLC expenses
– OCLC Direct prices for all members– Up to 4.5% interest on deposit accounts
• Enhancing continuing education opportunities– Strong general and custom-education programs – Free unlimited attendance at live and online courses– Low cost seminars, institutes and conferences
• Lower e-resource prices– A robust list of resources available at direct prices
Our feedback sessions today will help uslearn how we may better serve you
Transforming How NELINET Helps You
Increasing Participation,Increasing Value
increasing visibilityensuring access
encouraging advocacy
identifying solutionsachieving results
sharing ideas
fostering communicationsforming connections
uniting members
implementing technologiescreating opportunities
promoting best practices
Forming Connections and Sharing IdeasMIntZ: Member Interest Zones
• Current MIntz and online forums – Ground Delivery Services– Assessment and Accreditation– Digital Repositories
• Current Forums– Library 2.0– Technology Sandbox (one forum per application)
• Forthcoming– Information Literacy– Intellectual Property– Last Copy Repository– The Future of Cataloging– Contact us if you are interested in joining or starting a MIntZ
Increasing Library Visibility and Encouraging Advocacy
“The Long, Slow Climb”
• NELINET Academic Library Advocacy Summit held in December 2006
• Discussed the unique nature of academic library advocacy and the different relationships of the library to its constituencies
• Accreditation is a key advocacy opportunity
– NELINET is providing an expanded array of consulting and educational opportunities regarding accreditation
The unique nature of academic library advocacy
Implementing TechnologiesNELINET Trend Awareness Services
TrendGauge– Thought-provoking ideas for libraries– Contribute your ideas through blog entries – Expert panel members sought!
Technology Sandbox – A safe place for library staff to experiment with
new technologies
As a TrendGaugeBlogger!
Creating Opportunities• Seeking development and implementation
partners for a free trial
• Testbed to develop standards, guidelines and best practices
• You provide– Digitized objects and appropriate metadata– Willingness to contribute your energy and ideas
• We provide– A DSpace instance to load your objects– Metadata consulting, technical support, and
implementation services– Export of your objects and metadata – One year discounts after testbed period if
NELINET hosts services
• Begin July 1, finish December 31, 2007
Achieving Results
• An opportunity for you to get help at no cost, and to share best practice information with your colleagues after the consultation is over
• Proposals due by June 15• NELINET Consulting is also available on a wide array
topics, e.g., – strategic and technology planning– digitization– workflow analysis– facilities renovations
Identifying SolutionsAsk NELINET! Support Services
• A known, trusted and personalized information source for library staff
• You get fast and complete answers to your questions– Telephone and email support– Consulting services
• Call for support well beyond OCLC topics– General support– Information technology solutions– Library information services and options– Managerial and administrative issues
• Consulting services available– Workflow analysis
a reliable service that is there when you need it
Encouraging Best Practices
• The first NELINET Trend Report
• Seminars and institutes coming this fall about optimization of technical services operations
• More reports and seminars will be developed based upon consulting, MIntZ, and other shared membership experiences
Encouraging Best PracticesMember Education
• The subscription model is working for members• More topics than ever before• Courses taught at more regional locations• Higher attendance• Increased participation by a larger number of members• More online courses, including through the regional
Network Education Exchange
“The IT conference as a whole was energizing and invigorating, giving me an outstanding view of the current state of digital
services and the possibilities of the future.”
Ensuring Access
• New England Regional Depository• Digital Repository Services
What’s Next?Encouraging Advocacy
and Fostering Communications
NELINET Branding, Advocacy and Marketing Service
Late fall 2007
What’s Next?Creating Opportunities
Are You Troubled by Vexing Problems?Do You Feel the Need for a Radical
Transformation?
Let Us Simplify Your Life