Futureproofing Your Library Association for Rural and Small Libraries Annual Conference September 19, 2008 Joan Frye Williams and George Needham
Futureproofing (no hyphen…) ARSL is ahead of the curve!
Introducing…
Beloit College Mindset List, 2008
Who cares?
OCLC Reports Reports available for free download at:
Why this study now?
Its More Fun to Rethink than to Retrench
The support pyramid Chronic Nonvoters Super Supporters Greater Good Kid- Driven Library as Office Just for Fun Look to Librar- ians Financially Strapped Detached The Web Wins Nonvoters Probable Supporters Super Supporters Barriers to Support From Awareness to Funding (OCLC, 2008).
Supporters Users!
The basics Hang in there Work cooperatively Identify our supporters Mine the latent support Competition will only increase
Institution Infrastructure
Emphasize Mainstream Convenience
Engines, Not OPACs
Fewer Barriers Minimal gate-keeping Fast delivery Simple rules Presumption of innocence
Members and Guests
Frill Necessity
Emphasize Efficiency
Simplified Wayfinding Less clutter Civilian terminology Situational directions Power paths & nodes Layout by activity, not collection
Green Buildings and Practices
Past Future
Emphasize Participation
Connected Readers
Social Information Discovery
Real-Time Activities Buzz Live circulation activity, e.g. Yorba Linda PL book feed Todays hot topics Live program excerpts New titles just in Wireless strength
Altruism ROI
Emphasize Results
Evidence-Based Planning and Marketing
This Isnt About Whos Right But About What Works
Information Transformation
Emphasize Self-Actualization
Participatory Reference Users in control Its ALL about learning Collaborative conversations
The best way to predict the future is to create it. Alan Kay
Changing your point of view
Passionate Librarians
Thanks! Lets continue the discussion at: or