This document discusses the concept of participatory librarianship and moving beyond a focus on balance. It argues that libraries should facilitate participation in the community and engage patrons in conversations around topics like reading, media literacy, collections and spaces. Participatory librarians approach their work as facilitators of conversations rather than just providers of information. The document also discusses traits of participatory librarians, such as being curious, willing to take risks and embrace new ideas. It encourages librarians to ask how they can invite participation rather than just find balance.

1. beyond balance: participatory librarianship for creating, connecting, conversing, and contributingbuffy j. hamilton, ed.s.october 1, 2010minnesota educational media organization http://theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.com/CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcwathieu/2979581445/sizes/l/

2. balance?CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/nao-cha/285731505/sizes/o/

3. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisbrogan/5030495199/sizes/l/

4. what will bring balance to the profession?

5. advocacyCC Image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewordblog/4584662804/sizes/l/

6. achievement, standards, and school librariesCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/judybaxter/3525768387/sizes/l/

7. tablets and slatesCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/korosirego/4334862666/sizes/z/

8. ereaders and ebooksCC image used with written permission from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcordell/4974868503/sizes/l/

9. money and funding

10. social mediaImage used with written permission of http://www.flickr.com/photos/msstatelibraries/2604483260/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

11. timeCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/beth19/4721798240/sizes/l/

12. professional standards and roles

13. professional manifestos

14. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/teachernz/4804191216/sizes/l/

15. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/tz1_1zt/2504528025/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

16. balance is a matter of perspectiveCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_csuhai/3222427283/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

17. balance is tenuous, temporary, and illusoryCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/houseofcards/94935329/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

18. a desire for balance makes us tentative and hesitant because we fear falling downCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/talkingplant/142087807/sizes/z/in/faves-10557450@N04/

19. “No risk, no art. No art, no reward.”Seth GodinCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/pure9/2606460947/sizes/o/Seth Godin, September 2010 http://bit.ly/9Vkh1K

20. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/beth19/4627578764/sizes/l/

21. look at balance from a different perspective as a process, not a goalCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/dawnashley/3160034081/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

22. balance is a continuum, not an end resultCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/junkchest/154558081/sizes/l/

23. embrace the wobblesCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/one_and_only_me/577331758/sizes/l/

24. “The funis in the ups and downs.”Diane CordellCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/scarequotes/2244900272/sizes/l/

25. the elephant in the room to unpack is not balanceCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/paraflyer/386522877/sizes/o/

26. how do we facilitate participation in our community and how do we become more engaged participants in our profession and practice?CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/margolove/1810357551/sizes/l/

27. “I highly recommend needing ideasmore than things.”Heather McCormackCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/marlenek/2051394370/sizes/z/

28. focus on a bigger visionfor your library, your patrons, yourself andengaging participation to make the vision a reality

29. “No amount of ... promotion is going to make you relevant. Your vision for how the library can contribute...makes you relevant.”~Paul Gandel~CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/circulating/2154098422/in/faves-10557450@N04/

30. we need theory and frameworks to give us lenses to help us see the possibilities and context for a shared vision of our library

31. wheredoes the library live?

32. whatare the points oftransformation?

33. what do we mean by library?what are the possibilities for what “library” and “librarianship” can mean?

34. participatory librarianship and participatory learningCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidz/822970543/sizes/z/

36. “Participatory librarians approach their work as facilitators of conversation. Be it in practice, policies, programs and/or tools, participatory librarians seek to enrich, capture, store and disseminate the conversations of their communities.”Dr. David LankesSource: http://quartz.syr.edu/rdlankes/blog/?p=93

37. shared ownership of learning and conversations for learningCC image viahttp://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/1690071759/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

39. sparking and ignitingconversationscc licensed flickr photo by jurvetson: http://flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/2643699255/

40. knowledge construction and creationcc licensed flickr photo by Ian Muttoo: http://flickr.com/photos/imuttoo/2631466945/

41. inquiry and learning centered

42. “It’s all about learning…how is this going to fundamentally enrich a conversation? There isn’t a part of the library that isn’t about learning. Learning is a collaborative conversation.”Dr. David LankesCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcwathieu/2980385784/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/Participatory Librarianship and Change Agents: http://blip.tv/file/1566813

43. “conversation and learning are about change; therefore, libraries are in the change business”Dr. David LankesParticipatory Librarianship and Change Agents: http://blip.tv/file/1566813

44. knowledge as change and understanding=innovationParticipatory Librarianship and Change Agents: http://blip.tv/file/1566813CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcwathieu/2980385784/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

45. “innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat” william pollardImage used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/star-dust/709945164/sizes/o/

46. participation for learning and program building participation for transparency and advocacyparticipation for professional growth

47. build participation through instructional leadershipImage used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/alesk/356136498/sizes/l/

48. create conversations about multiple ways of reading and writing today’s world

49. “we have to make sure schools and libraries invite critical and active uses of media that strengthen our democratic potential.” Deborah Brandt

50. knight foundation recommendation 6: integrate digital and media literacy as critical elements for education at all levels through collaboration among federal, state, and local education officials

51. create conversations about closing the participation gap and equitable access to information

57. create conversations by rethinking and asking what “collection” meansImage used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/hams-caserotti/3432780140/

58. ebooks and mobile readers

59. mobile computing for learning

60. gamingImage used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanjoselibrary/3663348736/sizes/l/

61. digital equipmentImage used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/skokiepl/3521970447/sizes/l/

62. student participation in collection development

63. information evaluation and social scholarship via research pathfinders

65. student participation in the creation and evaluation of research pathfinders

66. 1.2.5 Demonstrate adaptability by changing the inquiry focus, questions, resources, or strategies when necessary to achieve success. 1.1.9 Collaborate with others to broaden and deepen understanding. conversations via active reflection and metacognition

69. inquiry, engagement, and collective intelligence face to face

70. inquiry, engagement, and collective intelligence via virtual mediums

72. digital citizenship and ethical use of information

75. multigenre elements

76. research and learning portfolios

77. personal learning environments and learning artifacts

78. personal learning environments and learning artifacts

79. cloud computing: google docs

80. social bookmarking

81. social bookmarking and notetaking

82. creating conversations for assessment

85. http://theubiquitouslibrarian.typepad.com/the_ubiquitous_librarian/2010/09/applied-diplomacy-an-assessment-attempt-to-discover-what-people-know-dont-know-and-want-to-know.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheUbiquitousLibrarian+(The+Ubiquitous+Librarian)&utm_content=Google+Reader

86. create physical and virtual spaces for conversations about reading

92. incorporate student spaces into conversations for learning in the library

94. create conversations by sharing ownership and privileging student voices, expertise, and opinions

95. create conversations by sharing ownership and privileging student voices, expertise, and opinions

98. create conversations for the unorthodox and student passions

99. create conversations about passionsSource: http://web.me.com/amylking/Geek/Kid_Geek.html

101. facilitating conversations with physical space

104. make our practice transparentto the world

105. web-based mindmap

106. flickr

107. youtube

108. facebook

109. blog

110. transparency and data

111. transparency and data

112. transparency and data

113. transparency and data

114. energize your mind and spirit by plugging into the wisdom of the crowd and growing your personal learning networkImage used under a CC license http://www.flickr.com/photos/sookie/101363593/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

115. “Once you start doing, things become a lot more real. You make mistakes. You learn. You practice. Once you start doing, you can interact with others who have done. You suddenly join a fraternity of those who’ve done something similar. Once you start doing, you can measure your own abilities, and you can try to improve against yourself (not necessarily against others).”Chris BroganImage used under a CC license http://www.flickr.com/photos/sookie/101363593/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/Blog post via http://bit.ly/bI1ot8

118. youtube

119. slideshare rss

120. delicious rss

121. citation 2.0 rss

122. skype

123. face to faceconferences

124. cc licensed photo by The Shifted Librarian: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shifted/3360687295/

125. each path is unique and non-linearCC Image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/markybon/322649188/sizes/z/

126. willingness to grow and evolveCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/anandham/4499539060/sizes/z/

127. curious and inquisitiveCC image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/acorna/2933985763/sizes/l/

128. a sense of playcc licensed photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/larimdame/3630728238/sizes/l/in/set-72157619795765502/

129. take risksImage used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/sziszo/2592916753/sizes/o/

130. learn from failure and be resilientImage used under a cc license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dancingpoodle/247148086/sizes/z/in/faves-10557450@N04/

131. source of disruptionImage used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/4034124468/sizes/l/

132. embrace muddinesscc licensed flickr photo by harold.lloyd (won't somebody think of the bokeh?): http://flickr.com/photos/safetylast/4068790874/

133. connected to ideas, colleagues, ideas, and skills

134. team player and collaboratorcc licensed photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/3491286687/sizes/l/

135. lifelong learnerImage used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mymollypop/2646559132/sizes/l/

136. build on passionsCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/atbaker/53743882/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

137. dare to be differentCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/4549438383/sizes/l/in/photostream/

138. bold and fearless leadership

139. inquiry begins with ourselves: why am I doing this?

140. instead of “how do I find balance?”…CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/reway2007/3150906665/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

141. ask “how do I invite and engage participation?”CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/bibban/230126679/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

142. the strength and relevance of your library is in the community you and your patrons buildCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/acaben/1307746462/sizes/l/

143. participation and shared ownership will create a library that is THE participatory network in your learning communityCC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/willemvelthoven/2620761140/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

144. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/theunquietlibrary/3531429984/sizes/l/

145. If you build it [your library], they might come. If your community builds the library, people will most definitely come.CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/willemvelthoven/2620761140/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

147. today’s presentationwww.theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.com

148. contact informationbuffy.hamilton@gmail.comhttp://theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.comhttp://theunquietlibrarian.wikispaces.com

149. Works CitedBrogan, Chris. “Doing Is More Fun Than Planning.” Chris Brogan. N.p., 25 Sept. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://bit.ly/‌bI1ot8 >.Cordell, Diane. Videoconference interview. 19 Sept. 2010.The Information Institute of Syracuse and ALA OITP. “Introduction.” The Participatory Librarianship Starter Kit. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://ptbed.org/‌intro.php>.Lankes, R. David. “Extended Biography.” Virtual Dave. N.p., 11 Jan. 2006. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://quartz.syr.edu/‌rdlankes/‌blog/‌?p=93>.- -. “No amount of ... promotion is going to make you relevant. Your vision for how the library can contribute...makes you relevant. Paul Gandel.” Twitter. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://twitter.com/‌rdlankes/‌status/‌25022363506>.- -. “Participatory Librarianship and Change Agents.” BlipTV. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.blip.tv/‌file/‌1566813/>.McCormack, Heather. “I highly recommend needing ideas more than things.” Twitter. N.p., 25 Sept. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://twitter.com/‌hmccormack/‌status/‌25520615030#>.