Making the profession work for you Broadening horizons, and learning everything that they didn’t teach you in library school. (From the perspective of a “young guy-brarian”) Andrew Finegan

The Journey ACT I ACT II ACT III Gartner’s Hype-Cycle productivity enlightenment inflated expectations disillusionment trigger

ACT I Inflated expectation and disillusionment “… a dynamic industry that’s constantly changing… …enjoy the challenge of new technology… …lots of opportunities to advance your career…” - http://destinationlibrary.pbwiki.com

“… a dynamic industry that’s constantly changing… …enjoy the challenge of new technology… …lots of opportunities to advance your career…”

- http://destinationlibrary.pbwiki.com

Barriers in Melbourne… http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/1576342039/

Darwin

Frustrations Professional isolation Technological shortcomings Social attitudes

Professional isolation

Technological shortcomings

Social attitudes

Revelation These issues are present everywhere – not just in Darwin! What exactly does it mean to be a librarian, if I can’t do these things? How do I “make it work”? http://icanhascheezburger.com

These issues are present everywhere – not just in Darwin!

What exactly does it mean to be a librarian, if I can’t do these things? How do I “make it work”?

ACT II - Enlightenment

Finding a voice http://www.flickr.com/photos/httpwwwflickrcomphotostopend/2265153122/

Australian Idol http://www.australianidol.com.au

Librarian Idol “ Tackling a world of sex, politics, nerds and pop song contests, Andrew Finegan attempts to dispel the stereotypes and prove that he has what it takes to be a… LIBRARIAN IDOL .”

“ Tackling a world of sex, politics, nerds and pop song contests, Andrew Finegan attempts to dispel the stereotypes and prove that he has what it takes to be a… LIBRARIAN IDOL .”

The Power of Branding Familiar brands, but Unfamiliar combination I’m intrigued and would pay money to see that. + LIBRARIAN http://www.tnt.tv/movies/librarian3/ IDOL =

Familiar brands, but

Unfamiliar combination

I’m intrigued and would pay money to see that.

Becoming a “local” Northern Territory News – 15/06/2007

Broadening Horizons

Connecting with the audience Break the fourth wall Share stories Avoid the Snark Find the pleasure http://www.flickr.com/photos/httpwwwflickrcomphotostopend/2264374009/

Break the fourth wall

Share stories

Avoid the Snark

Find the pleasure

Act III – plateau of productivity The Library Experience http://www.flickr.com/photos/_fabio/2545295581/

Audience Development “… to meet the needs of existing and potential audiences and to help arts organisations to develop ongoing relationships with audiences. ” - Arts Council of England http://www.flickr.com/photos/hytok/2919613700/

“… to meet the needs of existing and potential audiences and to help arts organisations to develop ongoing relationships with audiences. ”

- Arts Council of England

Finding pleasure in the library Pleasure in play Pleasure in stories Pleasure in lifelong learning http://www.flickr.com/photos/darienlibrary/3221923479/

Pleasure in play

Pleasure in stories

Pleasure in lifelong learning

Marketing the library Happiness is the new capital, and we are all in the happiness business. - Jane McGonigal Libraries are “Happiness Engines” - Liz Lawley http://www.flickr.com/photos/londonpubliclibrary/491220712/

Happiness is the new capital, and we are all in the happiness business.

- Jane McGonigal

Libraries are “Happiness Engines”

- Liz Lawley

It’s not about being cool… http://www.flickr.com/photos/hollandhoodie/862752649/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/beebe_library/1434873492/

Don’t fake it. Passion Empathy Pleasure YOU CAN’T FAKE THESE! (If you do, you’re only fooling yourself)

Passion

Empathy

Pleasure

YOU CAN’T FAKE THESE!

(If you do, you’re only fooling yourself)

Libraries should be less like… http://www.flickr.com/photos/21499556@N04/2088789137/

…and more like http://www.flickr.com/photos/tduong/417276690/

Lessons learnt…

Questions Andrew Finegan We can continue this conversation at: [email_address] http:// www.librarianidol.blogspot.com http://www.twitter.com/librarianidol These slides available at: http://www.slideshare.net/librarianidol http://www.flickr.com/photos/oberazzi/318947873/

Andrew Finegan

We can continue this conversation at:

[email_address]

http:// www.librarianidol.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/librarianidol

These slides available at:

http://www.slideshare.net/librarianidol