unc - reflection on libraries of the future
DESCRIPTION
Presentation made to the University of North Carolina Librarianship Summer School at University College London, 24th May 2010TRANSCRIPT
Libraries of the FutureChris Batt
“If we did not have libraries, would someone invent
them?”
Who was I?
Once upon a time, a librarian
Director of Cultural Services
Libraries
Museum and archive
Performing arts and cinema
Parks and open spaces
Sport
1991 - First public access to the Internet
1991 - First public access to the Internet
Who was I?
Once upon a time, a librarian
Director of Cultural Services
4,300 public libraries
20,000 terminals ($150m)
30,000 library staff trained ($30m)
$75m to create digital services
www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk
Director of People’s Network Programme
Who was I?
Once upon a time, a librarian
Director of Cultural Services
New strategic government agency
www.mla.gov.uk
Director of People’s Network Programme
Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Who am I now?
Occasional consultant
Who am I now?
Occasional consultant
PhD student
Modelling the value of public knowledge in a networked worldChrisbatt.wordpress.com/
Knowledge Institutions in
2050
Libraries, Museums, Archives
Universities, colleges, schools
Roles and responsibilities
Relationships
Architectures
Value flows
Status in public policy
Public service broadcastersGovernment agencies
Third sector
Knowledge Institutions in
2050
Describe the current ecology
What are external factors?
Model public knowledge ecosystemUse future studies techniques to develop shared view of future possibilities
What should the world you will inhabit look
like?
Is there a problem?Yes and no
Looking forward, not backwards
Willing to try new ideas
Adopted and adapted to technology
UK public libraries
Widely accessible
Highly successful
Valued by the public
Good track record of technological innovation
UK public libraries
BUT
SkylineSkyline
STATUS QUO PLUSSTATUS QUO PLUS
CompetitionAmazon/Abe
iTunesOn demand
WikipediaGoogle
TechnologyOn the moveSocial networkingeBooksBandwidthAggregation
Public PolicyLearning
Knowledge economyGlobalisation
Funding pressures
SocietyFragmentationWhat is culture?Web has the answer24/7
STATUS QUO 2.0STATUS QUO 2.0
Digital determinism
PRIVATE SECTORmedia, retail, music
industryPUBLIC SECTOR
Reports, pipes, institutional juggernauts
THIRD SECTORsocial networking and
influence
Digital determinism
“We cannot be sure that someone born at the beginning of the 21st century will have any particular nostalgia for a paper book”
Digital determinism
Fragmentation
Disintermediation
Participatory culture
Digital determinism
“Megaphones of informal learning”
Martin Bean
Knowledge sector competition
Public policy
When were libraries last a big ticket issue?
What is the public value?
What is the elevator pitch?
Always depends on political choices and
prioritiesMoney plus incentive DIGITAL BRITAIN
Technology for all
Fast broadband
Job done
End of story
The future value of libraries depends on much more than their relationship with
technology
Citizens and technology
Other knowledge institutions
Status within information society policy
Public good value not recognisedLack of national coherencePrivate sector creep
Failure to plan for change
Immediate risks
“If we did not have libraries, would someone invent
them?”
Tipping pointor
tripping point?
Public policy
priorities
Long-term social value
Sustainable model
Skills and competenci
es
www.aabk.dk
From evolution to revolution
1. From technician to strategist
Networked library
Community place of
encounter
Developmentagency
X
From evolution to revolution
1. From technician to strategist2. Define the current strengths
Knowledge and creativity
Learning for life
Network and brand potential
Knowledge management
Community interface
From evolution to revolution
1. From technician to strategist2. Define the current strengths
3. New partners, new approaches
NEW PARTNERSHIPSNEW PARTNERSHIPS
Your PaintingsYour Paintings
Public Catalogue Foundation
From evolution to revolution
1. From technician to strategist2. Define the current strengths
3. New partners, new approaches
4. USP – serious, but sexy
A collective narrative
Melding new relationships
Social change and social need
Has status within public policy
A collective narrative
1. KNOWLEDGE: the raw material of the future
Economy development
Personal well-being/happiness
Creativity and imagination
Social capital
Discovery and understanding
A collective narrative
1. KNOWLEDGE: the raw material of the future
Education is not enough
Informal learning is lifelong
Learning to cope and survive
Learning just for fun
2. LEARNING: the engine of progress
A collective narrative
1. KNOWLEDGE: the raw material of the future
Content first, institution second
New approaches to delivery
Inclusion and special needs
2. LEARNING the engine of progress
3. Knowledge must be presented to meet people’s learning needs
From librarian to knowledge
warrior
Leaders of the wider knowledge sectorA mission break down barriers to accessDefining, managing, mediating
Integrating knowledge and learning into everyday life, everyday!
THE POST-DIGITAL WORLDTHE POST-DIGITAL WORLD
The technology is invisibleThe technology is invisible
The barefoot knowledge warrior
Wisdom/madness of the crowdKnowledge policy driving
government
IMAGINING THE POST-DIGITAL FUTURE
Shared mission and values
Inter-institutional architectures
Thank [email protected]
www.chrisbattconsulting.com/resourceshttp://www.slideshare.net/Chris_Batt
chrisbatt.wordpress.com