Wednesday, December 14, 2005
The Big Picture
Last week, OCLC released their mind-blowing study on Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources. While the report (portions of which were telegraphed early from the It's All Good blog) is careful to say that it doesn't offer any surprises, only confirmation of conclusions from the 2003 OCLC Environmental Scan: Pattern Recognition, it has some stark facts to offer:
I think this drops at an interesting time, when so many library-related blogs are talking about "Library 2.0," a way to think about new users and new information behaviors, and the ways that libraries can leverage new tools to re-imagine their services and integrate them into users' lives.
I listened this week to a podcast conversation between Talis's "technology evangelist" Paul Miller and OCLC's George Needham. My favorite part happens 30 minutes into the conversation, when Paul asks how do we take the next step and start driving changes in the library sector? George suggests that we need to promote new practices, not "best" practices because we don't know what those are yet. He says the big center of the bell-shaped curve wants to hear about new ideas and the experiences of how they've been implemented. This gives us all ideas of what we might be able to do in our own institutions.
- The library brand is "books." There is no runner-up.
- People do not begin searching for information with the library.
- Younger people recognize no value that librarians add to searches.
- People do not trust paid-for information more than free information.
I think this drops at an interesting time, when so many library-related blogs are talking about "Library 2.0," a way to think about new users and new information behaviors, and the ways that libraries can leverage new tools to re-imagine their services and integrate them into users' lives.
I listened this week to a podcast conversation between Talis's "technology evangelist" Paul Miller and OCLC's George Needham. My favorite part happens 30 minutes into the conversation, when Paul asks how do we take the next step and start driving changes in the library sector? George suggests that we need to promote new practices, not "best" practices because we don't know what those are yet. He says the big center of the bell-shaped curve wants to hear about new ideas and the experiences of how they've been implemented. This gives us all ideas of what we might be able to do in our own institutions.
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My idea of having a great book-related experience is to go to a bookstore, browse the stacks by genre, find something interesting to read, take it to the coffee counter, buy a cappuccino and take the coffee & book to a comfortable chair, sit down and read. If I like the book and want to keep it, I’ll purchase it on my way out. I’ll quietly socialize with others around me and make an afternoon of it.
Now then, apply this same model to public libraries and never mind the “they’re competing with my local book store” complaint. Some public libraries, other than the “buying the book” part, are close to being this inviting. Put a “for sale” sticker on the spine of books that have been weeded but leave them on the shelves. Make the used book sales an all-year-long event. What an adventure it would be to browse the stacks for something interesting to read and, at the same time, realize a bargain if I purchase it.
Rearrange the public spaces in the library so that there is significantly more space to sit comfortably and read. Put the food & beverage concession in a space that will muffle the noise of the milk steamer. Dramatically increase the lighting.
Regularly offer classes led by members of the community in such things that are of interest to the community. As Columbus Public Schools are looking toward what The Graham School is doing as a charter school, the Ohio library community might want to look at what the Upper Arlington Parks & Recreation department or what the University of Missouri at Kansas City is doing: UMKC Communiversity
If we wish to promote reading and encourage lifelong learning, as many of our mission statements say, then I believe it is time to sweep away the older, more established models of library service and seriously move into the world of “library as community center” and do so not in little steps but in gigantic strides. OCLC’s 2005 Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources suggests that if we move more in the direction of what bookstores offer while keeping our own identity, the demand for what the public library has to offer will increase dramatically and so too, will taxpayer support for levy requests to fund library operations.
Have the library’s public spaces open from 11:00 AM to11:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday and closed on Sunday and Monday. As most libraries are already open 12 hours a day, there wouldn’t be any significant increase in operating costs. The extra hours Tue-Sat would likely draw a younger crowd and would go further toward making the space a more lively community center.
As to the “they’re competing with my local bookstore” crowd, I would say that we do that all the time when we sell weeded books. The market research that has gone into the success of bookstores should serve as a guide to public libraries everywhere. Give them an inviting place to read and socialize and they will come.
Now then, apply this same model to public libraries and never mind the “they’re competing with my local book store” complaint. Some public libraries, other than the “buying the book” part, are close to being this inviting. Put a “for sale” sticker on the spine of books that have been weeded but leave them on the shelves. Make the used book sales an all-year-long event. What an adventure it would be to browse the stacks for something interesting to read and, at the same time, realize a bargain if I purchase it.
Rearrange the public spaces in the library so that there is significantly more space to sit comfortably and read. Put the food & beverage concession in a space that will muffle the noise of the milk steamer. Dramatically increase the lighting.
Regularly offer classes led by members of the community in such things that are of interest to the community. As Columbus Public Schools are looking toward what The Graham School is doing as a charter school, the Ohio library community might want to look at what the Upper Arlington Parks & Recreation department or what the University of Missouri at Kansas City is doing: UMKC Communiversity
If we wish to promote reading and encourage lifelong learning, as many of our mission statements say, then I believe it is time to sweep away the older, more established models of library service and seriously move into the world of “library as community center” and do so not in little steps but in gigantic strides. OCLC’s 2005 Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources suggests that if we move more in the direction of what bookstores offer while keeping our own identity, the demand for what the public library has to offer will increase dramatically and so too, will taxpayer support for levy requests to fund library operations.
Have the library’s public spaces open from 11:00 AM to11:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday and closed on Sunday and Monday. As most libraries are already open 12 hours a day, there wouldn’t be any significant increase in operating costs. The extra hours Tue-Sat would likely draw a younger crowd and would go further toward making the space a more lively community center.
As to the “they’re competing with my local bookstore” crowd, I would say that we do that all the time when we sell weeded books. The market research that has gone into the success of bookstores should serve as a guide to public libraries everywhere. Give them an inviting place to read and socialize and they will come.
Wayne Wiegand (professor at Florida State) says that we're making a mistake to think of libraries as part of the world of information because we can't win that battle. Instead, he says, we should think of information as part of the larger world of libraries, and that leaves us room for reading, books, story hours, cultural programs, databases, the library as destination--either electronically or physically--or whatever role we need to take in the future to adapt.
This also seems like a perfect opportunity to embrace the "brand" and implement readers' advisory service and training. Cindy O
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This also seems like a perfect opportunity to embrace the "brand" and implement readers' advisory service and training. Cindy O
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