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Successful Libraries in Uncertain Times
The document presents a discussion on the characteristics of successful libraries in uncertain times, emphasizing the importance of aligning with community needs, questioning existing norms, and effectively managing their messaging. It highlights tenets such as being local, adaptable, and focused while making mindful choices about staffing and policies. Ultimately, it encourages libraries to foster relationships and engage in continuous community conversation to thrive.
Successful Libraries in Uncertain Times
- 1. Successful Libraries in UncertainTimes Presented by George Needham for the New Hampshire Library Trustees Association May 18, 2015
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- 3. “There is noreason for any individual to have a computer in his home.” KEN OLSEN FOUNDER OF DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION (DEC) QUOTED IN 1977
- 4. “No one willneed more than 637 kb of memory for a personal computer. 640K ought to be enough for anybody.” BILL GATES FOUNDER OF MICROSOFT QUOTED IN 1981 – PERHAPS APOCHRYPHALLY
- 5. “… the Internetwill soon go spectacularly supernova and in 1996 catastrophically collapse.” ROBERT METCALFE INVENTOR OF ETHERNET AND 3COM FOUNDER QUOTED IN 1995
- 6. “There's no chancethat the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance.” STEVE BALLMER MICROSOFT CEO QUOTED IN 2007
- 7. “Nice, but aslong as there are readers, there will be scrolls.”
- 8. “Never make predictions, especiallyabout the future.” CASEY STENGEL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME UNDATED, POSSIBLY APOCRYPHAL, QUOTE
- 9. So how dowe plan for the future?
- 10. Successful libraries… • Alignwith their communities • Question the orthodoxy • Manage their message effectively • Stay focused • Make mindful choices
- 11. Successful libraries align with theircommunities.
- 12. Are relentlessly local Successfullibraries…
- 13. Know the community’sself-image Successful libraries…
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- 15. Join the communityconversation Successful libraries…
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- 17. Then apply libraryskills liberally Successful libraries…
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- 20. Can adapt toany future Successful libraries…
- 21. Experiment with newservices Successful libraries…
- 22. Experiment with presentation Successfullibraries…
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- 25. Let customers takethe lead Successful libraries…
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- 27. Evangelize reading andlearning Successful libraries…
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- 29. Rethink the elevatorspeech Successful libraries…
- 30. Have a clear,shareable vision Successful libraries…
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- 33. Avoid “mission dilution” Successfullibraries…
- 34. Define their desiredoutcomes Successful libraries…
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- 36. Leave the “twiddlybits” alone Successful libraries…
- 37. Focus on relationships Successfullibraries…
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- 39. Choose their peoplecarefully Successful libraries…
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- 47. Let’s continue theconversation… George Needham http://www.georgeneedham.net georgeneedham@yahoo.com