1. Evidence-Based Innovation
Presented by Kim Silk
Data Librarian, Martin Prosperity
Institute
Rotman School of Management at the
University of Toronto

2. Thinking About Innovation
• R. David Lankes –
The Atlas of New
Librarianship (2011)
• Pew Research
Internet Life Project

3. Some Assumptions
• Innovation = doing something new.
• There is always change, and therefore
always something new;
• Our communities are constantly changing;
• Libraries are the heart of our communities,
therefore we must innovate to anticipate and
adapt to change;
• Libraries are both a community, and an
organization; we serve internal and external
stakeholders.

4. Questions to Consider
(hint: there are no “right” answers)

5. Lankes Asks: Why Innovate?
Source: Lankes, 2011

6. Innovation sounds great, but it’s
hard…
• How can we avoid the creativity-killing
anxiety that arises
surrounding being told to innovate?
• Is there ever a time when something
is going so well that we should stop
innovating for a while?
• How can we tell?
Source: Lankes, 2011

7. Community Research Can Help
Source: Innovative library services ‘in the wild’ by Kathryn Zickuhr, Pew Research

8. Self-Study Can Help
(Economic) Impact Study
Audit of Activities
Evidence of Change
Knowledge Strategic Planning

10. What do we need? More
research 
Over to you, Stephen!