As libraries face new technologies, shifting priorities, and ever-increasing competition for resources, they must learn to respond creatively to problems. You'll leave this active, hands-on session with activities and strategies you can take back to your library to make it a more creative organization (see handout for more).

1. OPEN YOUR MIND,
OPEN YOUR LIBRARY
M.J. D’Elia | TXLA2016
Photo: “Green on black/black on orange” by jurek d. (cc)

2. LEARNING
Creative Thinking Strategies
Photo: “Crayons” by Special (cc)

3. KNOW
THE
NOVICE
Learning
Photo: “Crayons I” by peppered jane (cc)

4. KNOW THE NOVICE: INTRO
Story source: Rod Judkins “find out how to find out” The Art of Creative Thinking, 2015, p. 77-80
Franklin Lloyd Wright - Guggenheim (NYC)

5. KNOW THE NOVICE: PRINCIPLES
view situations with fresh eyes
(like a tourist)
focus on learning like a beginner
(not knowing like an expert)

6. KNOW THE NOVICE: EXAMPLE
Photo: “juggle” by jes reynolds (cc)
Innovation Boot Camp - Juggling

7. KNOW THE NOVICE: TWO SUGGESTIONS
Play ‘secret
library
shopper’
and observe
Learn an
entirely new
skill (become
a novice)

8. “Sometimes incompetence
is useful. It helps you
keep an open mind.
Roberto Cavalli, Italian fashion designer

9. OBSERVE
OBSESSIVELY
Learning

10. OBSERVE OBSESSIVELY: INTRO
Story source: Daniel Buchner “Redefining Radical Innovation - CPSI 2010” [YouTube]
P&G : Swiffer : Continuum Design

11. OBSERVE OBSESSIVELY: PRINCIPLES
translate insights from outside
(steal like an artist)
explore broad adjacencies
(follow your curiosity)

12. OBSERVE OBSESSIVELY: EXAMPLE
Photo: “The Hero’s Journey mapping it out” by Lost in Scotland (cc)
User Experience Testing

13. OBSERVE OBSESSIVELY: TWO SUGGESTIONS
Sit in a public
place and
watch people
(20 mins)
Browse mags
that don’t
usually
interest you

14. “The cure for boredom is
curiosity. There is no cure
for curiosity.
Dorothy Parker, American author and poet

15. DROWN
DISTRACTION
Learning

16. DROWN DISTRACTION: INTRO
Story source: Rod Judkins “pause for thoughtlessness” The Art of Creative Thinking, 2015, p. 107-109
Claude Monet and “Black mirrors”

17. DROWN DISTRACTION: PRINCIPLES
pursue what you love to do
(find your flow state)
practice being present
(forget multi-tasking)

18. DROWN DISTRACTION: EXAMPLE
Photo: “2010-2011 Planner - Week” by Angela (cc)
The week of no meetings

19. DROWN DISTRACTION: TWO SUGGESTIONS
Create a
space for
daydreaming
Hold no-tech
meetings
(put phones
in ‘jail’)

20. “ There are always
distractions, if you
allow them.
Tony La Russa, Baseball manager

21. BRAINSTORMING
Creative Thinking Techniques
Photo: “Sticky note decorated elevator” by Pekka Nikrus (cc)

22. FREE
ASSOCIATION
GAME
Brainstorming

23. FREE ASSOCIATION GAME: INSTRUCTIONS
➤Paper and pen
➤Choose one of the following words:
➤Airport
➤Submarine
➤Police station
➤Tattoo parlour

24. FREE ASSOCIATION GAME: INSTRUCTIONS
➤Insert your word in the blank
➤How is a library like a(n) ___________?
➤Brainstorm ideas
➤Time: 3 minutes

25. FREE ASSOCIATION GAME: DEBRIEF
➤Reveals interesting connections
➤Surfaces novel insights
➤Forces us to look beyond libraries
➤Highlights stereotypes

26. ALTERNATIVE
USE
GAME
Brainstorming

27. ALTERNATIVE USE GAME: INSTRUCTIONS
➤Paper and pen
➤Choose one of the following objects:
➤Travel mug
➤Fly swatter
➤Sandals
➤Dinner plate

28. ALTERNATIVE USE GAME: INSTRUCTIONS
➤Brainstorm at least 12 alternative uses
for the object you selected
➤Time: 3 minutes

29. ALTERNATIVE USE GAME: DEBRIEF
➤Encourages examination of other
attributes (e.g. color, weight, shape)
➤Surfaces novel insights by forcing us to
think for non-traditional uses

30. BUILDING
Creative Thinking Strategies
Photo: “Red & Blue geometric (7)” by Michael Sauers (cc)

31. MAKE
IDEAS
TANGIBLE
Building

32. MAKE IDEAS TANGIBLE: INTRO
Story source: IDEO “Shopping Cart Concept” ABC Nightline (1999)
IDEO: Shopping Cart Challenge

33. MAKE IDEAS TANGIBLE: PRINCIPLES
build or sketch rough ideas
(think with your hands)
push for tactile experiences
(stay away from abstract concepts)

34. MAKE IDEAS TANGIBLE: EXAMPLE
Photo: “Learnies Cereal Box Strategic Plan” by M.J. D’Elia (c)
Learnies Cereal Box

35. MAKE IDEAS TANGIBLE: TWO SUGGESTIONS
Build a
prototype with
craft materials
Brainstorm by
drawing
‘napkin
solutions’

36. “Art is not what you see,
but what you make
others see.
Edgar Degas, Impressionist painter

37. GO
FOR
EMOTION
Building

38. GO FOR EMOTION: INTRO
Story source: Rod Judkins “leave an impression” The Art of Creative Thinking, 2015, p. 81-82
Maya Lin: Vietnam Veterans Memorial

39. GO FOR EMOTION: PRINCIPLES
design how people should feel
(set policies and procedures aside)
turn ordinary into extraordinary
(push for more than functionality)

40. GO FOR EMOTION: EXAMPLE
Photo: “The Simpsons Movie - Trailer #2” by Michael Sauers (cc)
Shooting a “course trailer”

41. GO FOR EMOTION: TWO SUGGESTIONS
Discuss an
emotionally
relevant video
Share
extraordinary
experiences

42. “Better to be without
logic than without
feeling.
Charlotte Bronte, English novelist and poet

43. FLATTEN
THE
HIERARCHY
Building

44. FLATTEN THE HIERARCHY: INTRO
Story source: Rod Judkins “open your mind” The Art of Creative Thinking, 2015, p. 103-106
Andy Warhol and his Open Studio

45. FLATTEN THE HIERARCHY: PRINCIPLES
consider all ideas
(regardless of the source)
germinate ideas at all levels
(ideas can come from anywhere)

46. FLATTEN THE HIERARCHY: EXAMPLE
HatchFest

47. FLATTEN THE HIERARCHY: TWO SUGGESTIONS
Open projects
to the entire
staff for
comment
Use questions
to invite
suggestions

48. “The world needs dreamers
and the world needs doers.
But above all, the world
needs dreamers who do.
Sarah Ban Breathnach, American author

49. VISUALIZING
Creative Thinking Techniques
Photo: “ported my finance review into playdoh” by James Burke (cc)

50. OBSERVATION
GAME
Visualizing

51. OBSERVATION GAME: INSTRUCTIONS
➤Paper and pen
➤Look at the following photo
➤Record at least 10 observations
➤Time: 3 mins

53. OBSERVATION GAME: DEBRIEF
➤Distinguish between facts and
interpretation
➤Encourages slowing down and paying
attention to detail
➤Reveals larger patterns

54. ORGANIZATION
GAME
Visualizing

55. ORGANIZATION GAME: INSTRUCTIONS
➤Paper and pen
➤Think of your library
➤What is your role?
➤Who do you interact with?
➤How do you relate to leadership?

56. ORGANIZATION GAME: INSTRUCTIONS
➤Draw a picture of the library’s
organization as you see it in your head.
Put yourself in the picture.
➤Time: 3 mins

57. ORGANIZATION GAME: DEBRIEF
➤Surfaces patterns and perceptions
➤Visualizes relationship dynamics
➤Reflects on informal organizational
structures

58. PRACTICING
Creative Thinking Strategies
Photo: “Kids bicycle” by 5th Luna (cc)

59. BREAK
ROUTINES
Practicing

60. BREAK ROUTINES: INTRO
Story source: Rod Judkins “go from A to B via Z” The Art of Creative Thinking, 2015, p. 232-234
Andy Warhol and his Open Studio

61. BREAK ROUTINES: PRINCIPLES
take the long route
(efficiency is not your friend)
alter your personal patterns
(all habits are bad)

62. BREAK ROUTINES: EXAMPLE
Photo: “untitled” by JohnBFenn3 (cc)
Standing meetings

63. BREAK ROUTINES: TWO SUGGESTIONS
Do standing
(or walking)
meetings
Shift your
work hours
(or work
location)

64. “If you want to change
your art, change your
habits.
Clement Greenberg, American essayist

65. MAINTAIN
MOMENTUM
Practicing

66. MAINTAIN MOMENTUM: INTRO
Story source: Open IDEO “The Story of Doug Dietz: Creative Confidence in the MRI Suite” (2013)
Doug Dietz and his MRI Design

67. MAINTAIN MOMENTUM: PRINCIPLES
push things forward
(small steps matter)
make challenges as opportunities
(more chances to be creative)

68. MAINTAIN MOMENTUM: EXAMPLE

69. MAINTAIN MOMENTUM: TWO SUGGESTIONS
Impose
constraints
and micro-
deadlines
Frame
obstacles as
new creative
challenges

70. “You might not write well
every day, but you can
always edit a bad page. You
can’t edit a blank page.
Jodi Picot, American author

71. BE POSITIVE
ABOUT
NEGATIVES
Practicing

72. BE POSITIVE ABOUT NEGATIVES: INTRO
Story source: Rod Judkins “be positive about negatives” The Art of Creative Thinking, 2015, p. 29-30
Roy Liechtenstein

73. BE POSITIVE ABOUT NEGATIVES: PRINCIPLES
turn adversity into attention
(the status quo is not a story)
find truth in the criticism
(criticism really can be constructive)

74. BE POSITIVE ABOUT NEGATIVES: EXAMPLE
LibGuides

75. BE POSITIVE ABOUT NEGATIVES: TWO SUGGESTIONS
Post negative
comments up
on the wall
Share and
celebrate
failure
regularly

76. “Success is the ability to go
from failure to failure
without losing your
enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill, British politician

77. Photo: “Green on black/black on orange” by jurek d. (cc)
KNOW THE
NOVICE
OBSERVE
OBSESSIVELY
DROWN
DISTRACTION
MAKE IDEAS
TANGIBLE
GO FOR
EMOTION
FLATTEN THE
HIERARCHY
BREAK
ROUTINES
MAINTAIN
MOMENTUM
BE
POSITIVE

78. Photo: “Green on black/black on orange” by jurek d. (cc)
If you aren’t in over your
head, how do you know
how tall you are?
T.S. Eliot

79. Photo: “Green on black/black on orange” by jurek d. (cc)
OPEN YOUR MIND,
OPEN YOUR LIBRARY
M.J. D’Elia | TXLA2016
mdelia@uoguelph.ca
@mjdelia