1. Idea Generator Stephen Abram May 24, 2006

2. Lens Does the idea build capacity? Does it improve our positioning? Is it scalable – system, branch, temporal? Is it repeatable – daily, weekly, monthly, annual? Is it affordable? Is it cheap, exciting, cheerful? Does it align with a community goal? Will it offend or excite someone or group?

3. Just an idea to consider Local History – Flickr, Blog, Teens and Seniors Flickr, Podcast, Vodcast – Author Readings and Blog Music night Listen Buffalo – Overdrive audio-book aimed at commuters like ListenIllinois Teen nights: gaming, DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) YouTube Gallery, Rock the Shelves, GarageBand, iTunes, content creation by library card holders Big events: e.g. Book Lovers Ball Review CPL strategic plan and others

4. Just an idea to consider New forms of LibraryTourism an ArtTourism: partner with art galleries, museums, science centre, local artists and private galleries Tourism: Genealogy, Mark Twain, Frank Llloyd Wright, architecture tours, Falls, presidential assassinations, canal, boats, trains, … Homework Helpers: School Board partnerships, teacher collaboration (See CPL, TPL and MLS models) One City, One Book (ALA and Nancy Pearl plans – add blog, Wiki, etc. Instant messaging pilot to specific group.

5. Just an idea to consider Newspaper alliance (beyond book reviews, best borrowed) PBS Alliance TV Station alliances (Why Guy, 2,4,7,29,etc.) Book TV Talk to advertising and editorial (Compare your number of library cards to their circulation – Patricia Martin from Litlamp) Podcasts – teen reviews, senior reviews, mother reviews, story time. Teddy bear night tied to CE support

6. Just an idea to consider Know your top 10 questions (genealogy, consumer health, cooking Know your recreational reading (including non- fiction) Understand the impact of viewing and language DVD etc.) Know your hobbies Know what is over-circulating (spiritual, myths, language, etc. Know the long tail and manage it.

7. Just an idea to consider Understand your markets (NDP and Christie Koontz)) Mine your circulation data (DS) Predict mutations in user behaviors Restore the branch relationship Allow for staff (and team) play and pilots Plan a new launch every month and gear up your operations to support each. Don’t study things to death Plan, Do, Evaluate

8. Key Learnings Lead vs. Manage Vision vs. Operations Motivation Environment Building a healthy ecology Politics is good – economic impact (value studies) Target (personas?) Build commitment to a new culture and future – don’t repair the current one. Follow change resisters… Support library staff play – micro-training nuggets

9. Questions to address Culture, Morale Union Decide your “Brand” (not about logos really) Energy (not just age) Staff capacity – attitude, aptitude, gaps Organization and governance Investment orientation and budget Productivity vs. the User Experience Partnerships – current and needed Foundation