The Future of Libraries and Technology: The Phoenix Rises from the Ashes

The Future of Libraries and Technology: The Phoenix Rising from the Ashes
Sarah Houghton-Jan Digital Futures Manager,
San Jose Public Library author of LibrarianInBlack.net

think about libraries and technology today .

what do you want libraries and technology to be, to mean?

what is changing in library technology?

what is changing in library user needs? your community’s

what is happening in other libraries? businesses

what is changing in what people do daily? you

reaffirm and reassert core library values
complete and balanced information
education, entertainment, self-improvement
research assistance ✆ ✉
freedom of information access
information privacy and security

your fragmented online life the web at large Entertainment Profession Facebook Twitter email YouTube Education Communication Netflix Hulu retail therapy school websites digital libraries ? intranet email Google Bing SEO promoted sites blogs Wikipedia eTextBooks retail eBooks blogs blogs Yahoo iTunes app stores IM VOIP podcasts videocasts casual gaming text messaging webinars LinkedIn Amazon digital periodicals video chat professional orgs ads © 2010 | Sarah Houghton-Jan

physical vs. virtual library use

why we rock
$6.50 return on every $1 invested
student performance increase of >20%
no politics ; no judgment
access to the world’s libraries, locally
we are really, really smart

this challenge is an opportunity

collections
digital vs. physical
budget choices
selection process
access while closed

explosion in digital use
...in the last year @ SJPL...
catalog use +140%
database use +17%
ebook downloads +43%
digital reference questions +450%
website use +25%
extended web presence use +12,000%

extended collections
digitize and webify unique local materials
support more than just text
loan out technology
work with non-traditional content producers

collection challenges
user awareness
formats
digital rights management
owning & leasing access models
device support
findability

digital content usage & vendor responsibility
require good marketing
market content’s open web access points
review your contracts!
calculate ROI & tell vendor you’ll cancel the contract for low use
from EBSCO’s Special Event toolkit ☹

information services
are we still committed?
key library competitive advantage ⚑
communication media
going to the user

programming
classes on computer skills, search, subject resources, privacy & security, social media
digital divide and the long tail
historical library focus on the ‘have nots’ at the expense of ‘haves’ or ‘sorta haves’

library catalogs
usability
interactivity
integration
federated searching’s limited success
serendipity

library websites
who are they for?
what do we emphasize?
what do we cut out? ✄
user-friendly language
focus on function, not brand or category

mobile services
mobile-compatible collections
support multiple OSs, devices, and carriers
location-based services

augmented reality
local history tours
library wayfinding
genealogy
what do you have that no one else does?

computing services
connection speed
hardware & software
open drives & ports
downloads & installs
multiple OS options
free, open wifi

computing spaces
tech support
ergonomic seating
encourage collaboration
comfortable lighting
# of computers

ask the people you serve what would make their lives easier.

Taking the Ass out of Assumption (Char Booth): slideshare.net/charbooth/local-user-research-taking-the-ass-out-of-assumption

“ Understanding local patron culture is essential to creating used and useful
technology services.”
- Char Booth

market services
marketing ≠ bookmarks
marketing ≠ press releases
use social media well
buy ads on Google, local sites, & FB
buy ads on apps
small group outreach is still best

assess services
survey users/staff : would you recommend this service to a friend? why or why not?
evaluate the library's follow-through : marketing, priority placement, training
assess stats : staff time and service use

acting on library values
community advocacy
net neutrality
light the dark fiber
freedom of information
personal privacy
expert research help

who are we and what do we do? we are the library and we democratize information and expertise.

and we are all freaking awesome

Don’t just stand there and shout it. Do something about it. ~ Depeche Mode

Questions? Sarah Houghton-Jan web: LibrarianInBlack.net twitter: twitter.com/TheLiB email: [email_address] im: LibrarianInBlack skype: LibrarianInBlack facebook: facebook.com/LibrarianInBlack

http://librarianinblack.net	601
http://enquire-uk.oclc.org	59
http://translate.googleusercontent.com	7
http://lonewolflibrarian.wordpress.com	5
http://www.univie.ac.at	2
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com	1

The Future of Libraries and Technology: The Phoenix Rises from the Ashes

by Sarah Houghton on Aug 02, 2010

Accessibility

Categories

Tags

Upload Details

Usage Rights

6 Embeds 675

Statistics

The Future of Libraries and Technology: The Phoenix Rises from the Ashes — Presentation Transcript