Library projects

LIBRARY PROJECTS

Scalable Projects
and Ideas For
Public Libraries

Libraries: Scalable Projects and Ideas Updated
1 © 2012 Webbmedia Group, LLC http://www.webbmediagroup.com 1.5.2012

INTRODUCTION
Webbmedia Group worked with the Chicago Public Library to re-imagine a
library for the future. One of our tasks was to develop a broad list of projects
that could be implemented using a range of resources and time. Our goal was
to harness technology for the purpose of:

• enabling libraries to have greater impact on their communities
• engage with a wider range of patrons
• cross-collaborate with other city/ county departments
• bringing a more diverse group of people back in to the physical library
space for a variety of purposes
• expanding the number of library supporters and sustainers
• readying the libraries for change as the media landscape continues to
evolve

We developed an initial set of 70 different projects. The CPL staff selected 20 of
those projects for us to outline. We drafted project descriptions using the
following template:

• Description: short explanation of what the project is
• Recommendations: why we advocate this project
• Objectives: what a library can achieve with this project
• Task Description: what steps need to be taken for this project
• Beneﬁciaries: who, besides the library, will beneﬁt from the project
• Challenges: what known or potential obstacles are there
• Partners: who could the library partner with to make this project work
• Rating: how much time will the project take to plan and launch, how
much will it cost, and how many people will it impact

This report includes three of those projects. The can be scaled and replicated by
any library.


Project: Adopt a Librarian
Proposal Description
Libraries are not places to get books; they are places to get information. In
recent years, as more and more people get information through technology, and
expect that their librarians are experiences with information technology.
Furthermore, as Americans struggle in a down economy, many people look to
the library as their only connection to technology.

However, decreased budgets and staff have led to a workforce that is
unprepared to provide patrons with guidance around accessing and using
technology.

The Adopt-a-Librarian program will pair technology whizzes with branch
librarians in a program that will keep librarians up to date on emerging
technology trends.

Recommendations
Libraries should create a program where patrons who have experience with
technology can “adopt” a librarian and mentor them on emerging technology
trends. It is something of a reverse reference, giving librarians access to
information they might otherwise not have.

The technology mentors could visit the library once per month to meet with
their adopted librarian in an “office hours” like setting, demoing new products
and tools, and answering questions that the librarian might have.

Objectives
• Keep librarians up-to-date on emerging tech trends, giving them the tools
they need to serve their patron’s needs
• Create a broad community of technologists who are invested in and
become strong supporters of the library

Rationale
Librarians need to stay up to date with emerging tech trends. It is a ﬁeld that is
always changing and adapting, and Libraries needs a systematic way of keeping
librarians engaged in this world.

Furthermore, Libraries need to build advocates and proxies within their local
communities, and giving technologists a way to give back creates a strong bond
between the individual and the agency.


Task Descriptions
Program Development
• Develop program timeline
• Prospective adoptive technologists enters the program each year
• Adoptive technologists (ATs) are provided with a packet of information about
the library and its challenges
• ATs come into the library at least once a month to have an “office hours”
session with their librarian
• After each session ATs and librarians complete a feedback form

Beneﬁciaries
• Librarians who will better understand technology
• The patrons who they serve
• Libraries would have increased brand and fundraising potential

Challenges
• Volunteer organizing takes at least a part time staff person, which might be
difficult to allocate given recent budget cuts
• Libraries may mitigate this challenge by creating an “adopt-a-librarian” kit
that is distributed to branches that might want to take on the challenge

Partners
• Local technology ﬁrms
• Google (local representative)
• Facebook (local representative)
• Twitter (local representative)
• Microsoft
• Local universities

Rating
Cost: $10k - $50k initially, then minimal
Time: 3 months
Community Impact: 3000+


Project: Backstage Tours
Most library patrons engage with the things we want them to see: our public
buildings, books, records, computers, and workspaces. However, there is a
whole other side to libraries that remains hidden to the general public, but which
is of upmost interest to many. The library’s “backstage,” where books are stored
and sorted is endlessly fascinating to many, particularly those in the technology
and information sectors.

Libraries should create a backstage tour to bring in high-profile technology and
information leaders throughout their regions. This type of activity would help
them better understand the complexities, challenges, and opportunities in
running a large library system, provide them with networking opportunities with
peers, and potentially turn them into library advocates.

Recommendations
Libraries should organize quarterly tours for members of the local technology
elite. These tours will take approximately two hours, and end with a mini-
reception in a big space within the library. The mini-reception will be a place to
discuss what was learned as well as some of the challenges that Libraries face in
implementing technology projects. These tours will have an element of
exclusivity and intimacy, and build up a community of library proxies within the
community’s technology elite.

Objectives
Turn members of the technology community into library advocates, proxies, and
financial supporters.

Rationale
Internet entrepreneurs and librarians are in the same business: connecting
people to information they want and need. Technologists are also very active
online, and tend to have their own audiences. Building up supporters in this
community could lead to advocacy for library services and direct and indirect
financial support.


Task Description
Program Development
• Develop tour content
• 2-3 hours
• Experts describing the most interesting elements of “Backstage at the
Library”
• Designate a staff person to be a historian who can record and take
photos during the tours (doesn’t need to be a professional)
• Designate a hashtag for the event
• Create tour handouts
• Develop mini-reception talking points
• Develop training session for tour guides

Participation guidelines:
• Each participant needs to write a blog post or tweet or take photos or
develop some kind of content related to their experience
• Each participants should bring a guest – someone who is similarly awesome
in the technology space

Logistics:
• Develop tour calendar (quarterly tours for a select group)
• Develop Eventbrite to manage registration
• Each person invited can come, but has to bring someone else in the tech
community with them
• Develop form to collect feedback (use library computers so that participants
can get a sense of tech)

Marketing:
• Develop press packet and social media content to promote the series of
Backstage Tours
• Reach out to partners to promote the event (universities, etc)
• At the end of the year, create a video using the content captured during the
tours

Beneﬁciaries
!Your budget
!Technology community
!Senior leadership


Challenges
Outreach to this community might be difficult at the beginning of the project.

Partners
• Librarians
• Other local city/county/university departments

Rating
Cost: $500 - $10k
Time: 3 months
Community Impact: 3000+


Project: Geeks in Residence
Provide access to shared workspace to local geeks and start up technology
entrepreneurs in exchange for time volunteered to train staff and engage with
patrons.

Recommendations
• Identify available space. Identify a library branch with available space that
can be dedicated to co-working for a selection of geeks. Start with one
branch with the view to scale based on success.
• Identify geeks for the program. Create a nomination form where geeks
can nominate themselves and others - requires references/
recommendations. Use a digital platform to source nominations (eg.
Google Doc and Forms). Cross promote with local media/social media.

Objectives
Engages a new audience of tech savvy, entrepreneurial geeks to spend time in
the library
• Creates a reciprocal arrangement of mentoring
• Positions the library as a hub for ideas and engagement

Rationale
As information needs shift, it is important to start to position the library as a hub
for geeks.

Task Descriptions
• Identify available space. Identify a library branch with available space that
can be dedicated to co-working for a selection of geeks. Start with one
branch with the view to scale based on success.
• Identify geeks for the program. Create a nomination form where geeks
can nominate themselves and others - requires references/
recommendations. Use a digital platform to source nominations (eg.
Google Docs and Forms). Cross promote with local media/social media.


Beneﬁciaries
• Libraries staff
• Libraries patrons
• Geeks and local tech entrepreneurs

Challenges
• Identifying space
• Sourcing geeks
• Policing volunteering

Partners
• Offices of entrepreneurship/employment/labor
• Local CTO office
• Local Universities

Rating
Cost: $500 - $10k
Time: 3 months
Community Impact: 500 - 1000 people


Key Company Info Contact Us
• Webbmedia Group launched January
2006. Site:
• We’ve worked with Fortune 500 and http://www.webbmediagroup.com
Global 1000 companies, foundations,
Tel:
media organizations, governments,
(267) 342.4300
universities and tech startups worldwide.
• We offer strategy and training services. Email:
• Webbmedia Group staff are fluent in info@webbmediagroup.com
Japanese, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish,
French and English. Twitter:
• All of our research, client work and @webbmediagroup
training is personalized for each
individual group.

About Webbmedia Group
Webbmedia Group, LLC is an international digital strategy consultancy that
advises Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies, media organizations, law firms,
foundations, associations, governments, startups and universities worldwide. We
study disruptive technologies and track the emerging digital trends that will
prove most game-changing in the near and mid-future. We advise our clients on
how to take best advantage of what's next, giving them critical insights and
points of view to push them far ahead of their competition. The company is
directed by Amy Webb, CEO.

Webbmedia Group includes specialists and experts in technology trends, mobile,
tablets, technology/ law, gaming, social media, SEO/metrics, digital media
business development, product development and digital media training.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Webbmedia Group has team members in more than
a dozen cities, including Miami, NYC and Kyiv (Ukraine). We also partner with
BYO Consulting and iStrategy, community engagement firms that specialize in
gaming and high-profile participatory events. Our virtualized office and
distributed platform allows Webbmedia Group to draw on a wide variety of
disciplines to serve our worldwide client base. Members of our staff are fluent in
Spanish, Russian, Japanese, French and English.


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