futureproofing your library

Welcome! To get started…

1. Write on an index card: 3 questions or issues you want to tackle today

2. Write on the banner paper: the best library advice anyone ever gave you

Futureproofing Your Libraryan “un-workshop”

Joan Frye Williams and George Needham

SEFLINApril 30, 2009

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Alan Kay

What future do you want to create?

Your communityYour libraryYour team/work groupPersonally/professionally

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Time is scarce.

Information is everywhere.

You carry your work with you.

Learning and play are two sides of the same coin.

Collaboration can make you smarter.

Planning, decision-making, andcommunication

take placein real time.Cooperatively.

Innovation is everyone‘s job.

We only get one Earth,

so we’d better take good care

of it.

Failure to keep up with the times is embarrassing.

So what?

The challenge: modernizing our techniques without sacrificing our principles

Principle or technique?

Which library principles matter most to you?

“Clump” and name your principles

Table talks…

What do civilians expect of us in this area?Which techniques are already working well?What do we do now that confuses non-

librarians?What else might we try?What might we stop doing entirely?What do we need to learn more about?

Think of a favorite book, movie, play, poem, or piece of music…

What is it?Why is it important

to you?How has that

affected your life?

Strategic positioning:Five approaches that work

From exception…

…to mainstream

Bottom lineLess gate-keeping, more convenience

From altruism to…

…return on investment

Bottom lineLess perfectionism, more efficiency

From a focus on the past …

…to a focus on the future

Bottom lineLess caution, more flexibility

From frill…

…to necessity

Bottom lineLess modesty…

…more urgency

From information

to transformation

Bottom line Relationships trump transactions

Do you have a problem with that?

“How can we…”

Evaluate your choices: Will it show?

Evaluate your choices: Can it grow?

Evaluate your choices: Does it flow?

Evaluate your choices:Is it time for it to go?

Show the passion!

Let’s continue the conversation…

joan@jfwilliams.comgeorge@georgeneedham.com

Listen to our podcasts,“George and Joan: Thinking Out Loud,” at

http://feeds.feedburner.com/InfoblogGeorgeAndJoan