WE WERE GROUP NO 2

a summary of the discussion of group no 2 in the IFLA MLAS 2015 workshop in Athens, March 12, 2015, involving librarians (from all around the world), book palaces and … Canadian rock groups.

Our discussion began with this thought challenging statement:

http://mlas2015.eebep.gr

MOST LIBRARIES DON’T INSPIRE

(LET ALONE 24/7)

Eppo van Nispen >

AGREE?

NO NO

AND (some of us) DEFINITELY

NO

INSPIRE, YES! but what kind of inspiration?

NO SINGLE ANSWER we have to ask our users!

image source: museumwaalsdorp.nl

I WANT TO LISTEN TO MY USERS but I don’t know how and I am “ill-prepared”

ENTER ASSOCIATION

to survey, to prepare, to train

THE DUTCH PERSONAS prototypical figures of users in the Dutch public libraries [find the report at http://www.fobid.nl under Persona's > Persona’s en uitleg]

WE ARE INSPIRATIONAL PRE | DURING THE LIBRARY VISIT | POST

so not very much before and after

THE SPANISH VALUE ASSESSMENT TOOL

the library is not a cost thing; is an investment thing

< Mariano Rajoy, Prime Minister of Spain

* I have to substitute {my Finances Minister} with a Librarian

image source: telegraph.co.uk

DEBE SUSTITUIR A CRISTΟBAL MONTORO ROMERO

CON UN BIBLIOTECARIO*

BUT WHAT IS INSPIRATION?

Still I haven’t understand. Can you give me an example?

TOO MANY BOOKS DAD. I NEED TO LEARN READING TO CATCH AS MANY AS I

CAN.

I KNOW SWEETHEART. THAT’S WHY I ISSUED YOU

A LIBRARY CARD.

based on a true story image source: morguefile.com

IS A WALK TO THE LIBRARY, A TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY, A GIFTED BOOK…

WHAT ELSE CAN MY ASSOCIATION

DO FOR ME?

I AM DRINKING TO FORGET HOW UNINSPIRING I AM! DAMN THOSE

GUYS IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. THEY ARE SO GOOD AT IT!

TALK TO YOUR ASSOCIATION. THEY

UNDERSTAND. THEY ARE AFFECTIVE! AND THEY

KNOW!

image source: morguefile.com

but again, I don’t understand

HOW INSPIRATION WORKS?

from your library association to your members, … until you reach your users … and back.

Ad infinitum

image source: http://bitly.com/1BBhoil

SO WE CAN INSPIRE IN SO MANY WAYS;

OUR USERS OUR COLLEAGUES

OUR GOVERNING BODIES THE POLICY MAKERS.

THERE WILL BE LEADERS; THERE WILL BE FOLLOWERS

AND OUR ASSOCIATIONS CAN FACILITATE CHANGE OF ATTITUDES; PLANT AND FOSTER INSPIRATION.

Giannis Tsakonas, deputy director, Library & Information Center, University of Patras, Greece www.lis.upatras.gr/en/ john@lis.upatras.gr / @gtsakonas

the workshop was moderated (and much enjoyed) by