The document discusses how libraries must adapt to changing user needs and technologies over the next 500 years. It notes that users, resources, and the concept of libraries have changed significantly with the rise of the internet, mobile devices, ebooks, and streaming media. It argues that libraries need to reinvent themselves by focusing on trans-literacy skills, virtual services, blended learning, and community engagement rather than physical collections in order to remain relevant in the future.

1. Leah Krevit Rice University The Rest of Us Stephen Abram, MLS, Gale Cengage Learning Emerging Technology Forum Geelong, Australia Oct. 2010 Future Ready

2. GOOG

3. 6 Things have Changed . . . A LOT! Cardholders, Users, Members, Patrons, Clients, Customers, Learners, Students, Scholars, Researchers, Teachers, Professors Books Media Mobility Collections Libraries The History of Unintended Consequences & Unpredictability

4. “ The Internet has now progressed to its infancy”

5. “ Choose . . . To be a victim and feel these changes are fated and blame storm OR Create the future we need and take collective responsibility for the conversation and development.” Find Reasons not Excuses.

7. How can I lead my library and my communities or institution to be ready for 500 years?

8. People

10. A 1965 iPhone

11. Can libraries keep up with change? Can you recall buying a 45? Can you recall dials on TVs? Can you recall dialling?

12. What We Never Really Knew Before (US/Canada) 27% of our users are under 18. 59% are female. 29% are college students. 5% are professors and 6% are teachers. On any given day, 35% of our users are there for the very first time ! Only 29% found the databases via the library website. 59% found what they were looking for on their first search. 72% trusted our content more than what they found on Google. But, 81% still use Google. We often believe a lot that isn’t true.

13. People are Changing Demographic– Millennial, Boomer, Seniors IQ Increases Increased educational attainment & engagement eBooks outsell hard cover books, and will outsell paperbacks soon (2011) Some libraries are crediting most cardholder growth to e-book accessibility Personal device proliferation Some sectors are very tech-dominated (farming, cattle, trucking, natural resources…)

14. People Have Changed Twitter & Facebook are dominated by the middle aged Gaming too. . . Mothers in their 30’s Social networks fastest growing populations are seniors and will be more international and less urban and English. eBooks usage is largely middle-aged. Mobile data usage is growing beyond youth very quickly, workplace use is huge

15. Have Students Changed?

18. NextGen Differences Increase in IQ - 15-20 Points Brain & Developmental Changes Eye Movement Changes Massive Behavioural Changes Major Decline in Crime Rates – 65%+ But still a 70% behavior overlap with Boomers (see my book chapter)

19. Discovery & Ideas

20. Has the future changed? Has our future changed?

22. COWS, etc.

26. The Future Discovered Stem Cells fMRI and The Brain Cloning Trucking and GPS Wind and other energy Nanotechnology Robotics Massive Book Digitization Music Translation Streaming Media Seed Bank

28. Books

29. Pay Real Attention To Google Editions & Google Settlement Amazon Gutenberg Etc.

30. Is Our Focus On Books And Public Image Limiting Our Future Success?

31. A window of opportunity

36. Do we really care about containers? Stone – Wax – Scrolls – Books – Next... Paper -- Schmpaper Digital – Schmidgital Holograph . . . Pffft! Transmogrifying Containers

37. Will Libraries be Device Agnostic? iPads, Kobos, Kindles, Nooks, eDGe, and Mobile Phones?

38. Borders Kobo, B&N Nook, Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad, Sony, etc. . . .

41. Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance eBooks and Books Concept of place Privacy Colour & Animation Chapters and Paragraph (anthologies, poems, short stories) Video Wireless opportunity Tracking Pedagogy Boundarylessness Connect to the author or team Added features and commentary Connect to book clubs, discussions, etc.

42. Media

44. The Move to Streaming Like wax, vinyl and tape before it CD and DVD will decline to very small niche markets Blockbuster’s bankruptcy and the decline of local independent rental stores is a canary in the mine Many PL’s confuse the current uptick with a LT trend. Music and Video entertainment vs. programs related to learning, hobbies, children, etc. Educational video is an emerging sector integrated very tightly into content

45. Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance Streaming Media on demand Definition of ‘use’. Concept of place Concept of News and Entertainment End of physical format (DVD, tape, etc.) Self published animation & video Commentary, Reviews and Collectors Wireless opportunity Tracking Pedagogy Boundarylessness End of collections as we know them Beginning of media bibliography

46. Mobility

47. Broadband You must clearly understand the latest US FCC Whitespace Broadband Decision – THIS IS TRANSFORMATIONAL and going global Local wired, mobile access ‘everywhere’ To the home and workplace Wireless as a business strategy (Starbucks) Mobile dominates Largest generation

52. & AMAZON

53. Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance Mobility Concept of place – Adopt a hybrid mindset Social animation and Sharing Convergence on steroids Wireless opportunity Tracking Pedagogy and Learning Extreme demand

54. Collections

55. An New Emerging Model Just in case, Just in time, just for me models are now ripe for replacement with Fit for Purpose Community Learning Entertainment Social / Clubs Research Beginning of the end for the dominance of out-of-context Megadatabases – Think meals vs. grocery stores

56. Emerging Tech that Drives Users to the Library Encyclopedia.com HighBeam & Questia WorldCat AccessMyLibrary iPhone App for public, school and higher ed – iPhone, iPad, iTouch and Droid! Geo-IP features and measures Watch for more . . .

60. What Grows Virtual Use? Being ready before the user Experience Models Social web 2.0 API’s, Widgets, Social presence Understanding Use: SEO, SMO, Google Analytics. Geo-IP, ForeSee Satisfaction data AND Statistics – Measure too

61. Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance Collections Concept of place and space Ownership mutates Personal curation and celebrity curators Wireless opportunity Tracking Targeting collections Portalization: Knowledge Portals, Learning portals

62. Libraries Approaching the End Game of this Renaissance Build it or buy it?

64. I  my customers

65. NOT ENOUGH

66. What is the top strategic positioning for libraries Hint – not collections

67. Trans-Literacy Move beyond reading & PC skills Reading literacy Numeracy Critical literacy Social literacy Computer literacy Web literacy Content literacy Written literacy News literacy Technology literacy Information literacy Media literacy Adaptive literacy Research literacy Academic literacy Reputation, Etc.

69. Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance Libraries Concept of place Improving the quality of questions Partnering in design of experiences Programs predominate Community involvement Re-balancing needs Addressing the divides Promoting the talent – professional service and programs

70. Strategic Thinking for Libraries Choosing a Future Setting Phased Priorities Making Choices Taking Action Doing the Next Step Adjusting Tactics with Experience Seeking Feedback and Adjusting Measuring Progress

71. Framework for Choosing Top Priorities Suppose that in three years : Majority of library use will be virtual – yes even rural! Majority of Non-fiction Book circulation will be e-books and Fiction will split 50/50 – digital/print All learning will be blended and continuous DVD is circulation is dead and most other [physical formats in decline. Majority of questions will be virtual Use will be 20 / 40 / 40 (in house, virtual, mobile) Every user will be socially networked, connected and engaged

72. What do we need to know? What are we going to do next?

73. What do we need to know? How do library databases and virtual services compare with other web experiences? Who are our core virtual users? Are there gaps? Does learning happen? What are user expectations for true satisfaction? How does library search compare to consumer search like Google and retail or government? How do people find and connect with library virtual services? Are end users being successful in their POV? Are they happy? Will they come back? Tell a friend?

75. Community Stories

76. Relationships Stories

77. Personalization Differentiate

78. Comfort

79. Serve Everyone!

80. The power of libraries

82. Stephen Abram , MLS, FSLA VP strategic partnerships and markets Cengage Learning (Gale) Cel: 416-669-4855 [email_address] Stephen’s Lighthouse Blog http://stephenslighthouse.com Facebook: Stephen Abram LinkedIn / Plaxo: Stephen Abram Twitter: sabram SlideShare: StephenAbram1