futureproofing your library
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Futureproofing Your Library, an "un-workshop" Joan Frye Williams and George Needham SEFLIN April 30, 2009TRANSCRIPT
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…
[email protected]@georgeneedham.com
Listen to our podcasts,“George and Joan: Thinking Out Loud,” at
http://feeds.feedburner.com/InfoblogGeorgeAndJoan