This document summarizes a presentation by Stephen Abram on the future of libraries in the 21st century. The presentation addresses several challenges facing libraries, including books, containers for content like DVDs, how to position libraries, searching for information, and content spam. It also discusses the evolving roles of libraries in areas like literacy, the local economy, answering questions, and mobility as patrons access services wherever they are. The presentation argues that libraries must adapt to remain relevant by focusing on community, learning, discovery, and their roles as cultural institutions.

1. The Community Library in
the 21st Century
Stephen Abram, MLS
Cengage Learning [Gale]
These slides will be available on Stephen’s Lighthouse blog Jan. 12, 2012

2. Is there still life in
libraries in a web world?
Yes, but . . .

3. Change: Are libraries
Future Ready?

4. News Flash
News Flash
Shift Happens

5. Strategic Choice
Are there too many choices?

6. 7 Gifts to Libraries, Publishers & Booksellers
1. The book isn’t dead or dying. It is evolving.
2. Our users/customers are improving.
3. Technology is going social and can support social
acts.
4. The PC isn’t dead, but, again, it’s evolving and more
mobile.
5. We know more about our information use than
ever before.
6. Talent, Insight, Community, have social value.
7. Opportunities always exist more in times of change

7. Can Libraries Stand Out in a Crowd?

14. Questions for Libraries & Publishers Today:
1. Are our priorities right?
2. Are learning, research, discovery changing
materially and what is actually changing?
3. Books. Meh.
4. What is the role of information and
recreational reading in the real future (that is
not an extension of the past)?
5. Are we ready for the 21st Century world that
will be or the 20th Century one that was?

15. What Are Libraries Really For?
• Community
• Learning
• Discovery
• Progress
• Research (Applied and Theoretical)
• Cultural & Knowledge Custody / Conservation
• Economic Impact

16. Challenge 1
Books

17. Fiction
NonFiction
Reading

18. The Book Comet
 Harper Collins fiasco
Amazon “authors”
 Google Bookstore
 Amazon Subscriptions and Lending
 24Symbols
 Bookish
 Pottermore
 Recommendation Engines
 Apple . . . iStore, iBooks

19. READING
Why do people read?

20. Why do people read?
1. To learn
2. To engage in hearing other’s opinions (to agree or disagree or understand)
3. To develop more knowledge about myself and develop as a whole person
4. To be entertained and laugh, to engage and interact
5. To address boredom and the inexorable progress of time
6. To research and keep up-to-date
7. To participate well in civil society (everything from news to voting)
8. To be informed (and maybe smarter)
9. To understand others (individually and culturally)
10. To escape our day-to-day lives
11. To stimulate the imagination and be inspired or spiritual
12. To write and communicate better through reading others
13. To teach
14. To have something to talk about
15. To connect with like-minded people

22. Challenge 2
Containers

23. Challenge 2
DVD/CDRO

24. Challenge 3
Positioning

25. Kids Today
IQ, Rates, Scores, Gaming, Reading,
Gender . . .

26. Smelly Or
Yellow Sex
Liquid Appeal?

27. Challenge 4
Schools

28. Challenge 5
Distance Ed

30. Challenge 6
Search

32. Content Spam

33. List of content farms and general spammy
user generated content sites:
 All Experts (allexperts.com)  Experts Exchange (experts-exchange.com)
 Answers (answers.com)  eZine Articles (ezinearticles.com)
 Answer Bag (answerbag.com)  Find Articles (findarticles.com)
 Articles Base (articlesbase.com)  FixYa (fixya.com Helium (helium.com)
 Ask (ask.com)  Hub Pages (hubpages.com)
 Associated Content (associatedcontent.com)  InfoBarrel (infobarrel.com)
 BizRate (bizrate.com)  Livestrong (livestrong.com)
 Buzle (buzzle.com)  Mahalo (mahalo.com)
 Brothersoft (brothersoft.com)  Mail Archive (mail-archive.com)
 Bytes (bytes.com)  Question Hub (questionhub.com)
 ChaCha (chacha.com)  Squidoo (squidoo.com)
 eFreedom (efreedom.com)  Suite101 (suite101.com)
 eHow (ehow.com)  Twenga (twenga.com)
 Essortment (essortment.com)  WiseGeek (wisegeek.com)
 Examiner (examiner.com)  Wonder How To (wonderhowto.com)
 Expert Village (expertvillage.com)  Yahoo! Answers (answers.yahoo.com)
 )  Xomba (xomba.com)

35. Challenge 7
Experiences

36. The Baker’s Dozen: LVA Top 13
1. Health and Wellness / Community Health / Nutrition / Diet /
Recovery
2. DIY Do It Yourself Activities and Car Repair
3. Genealogy
4. Test prep (SAT, ACT, occupational tests, etc. etc.)
5. Legal Questions (including family law, divorce, adoption, etc)
6. Hobbies, Games and Gardening
7. Local History
8. Consumer reviews (Choosing a car, appliance, etc.)
9. Homework Help (grade school)
10. Technology Skills (software, hardware, web)
11. Government Programs, Services and Taxation
12. Self-help/personal development
13. Careers (jobs, counselling, etc.)
14. Readers Advisory was 14th

37. The new
bibliography and
collection
development
KNOWLEDGE
PORTALS
KNOWLEDGE,
LEARNING,
INFORMATION &
RESEARCH
COMMONS

40. Challenge 8
Literacy

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

43. Challenge 9
Economy

49. Challenge
11

50. The Evolution
of Answers

51. Sensemaking: Too much choice

52. Why do people ask questions?

53. Why do people ask questions?
Who, What, When, Where
How & Why
Data – Information – Knowledge - Behavior
To Learn or to Know
To Acquire Information, Clarify, Tune
To Decide, to Solve, to Choose, to Delay
To Interview, Delve, Interact, Progress
To Entertain or Socialize
To Reduce Fear
To Help, Aid, Cure, Be a Friend
To Win A Bet

54. Grocery Stores

55. Grocery Stores

56. Grocery Stores

57. Cookbooks, Chefs . . .

58. Cookbooks, Chefs . . .

59. Meals

60. Why do people ask questions?

61. What are your top 10-20 questions?
What is the service portfolio model
that goes with those?

63. Challenge
12

64. Mobility: Where
the Patron Is

66. Challenge
13

69. Take back
the Strategy:
Rebalance

72. The Essential Definitions

76. Ask Yourself . . .
How do libraries differ as an issue?
From the listeners point of view and
experience.

78. Selling Ideas

79. Essentials for Advocacy
 Someone who needs to care
 Courage
 Trustworthy
 Passion
 Belief
 Proofs
 Stories and Knowledge
 Respect for whom you need to influence
 Understanding beyond caricature (e.g.
Politicians, the “Boss”, Teachers, Teens, Seniors,
The “Public”, Vendors...)

87. Speak Up!

88. Libraries
Are Social
Institutions

92. The Virtual Handout
The Value of Public Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/06/the-value-of-
public-libraries/
The Value of School Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/06/the-value-of-
school-libraries/
The Value of Academic and College Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/07/value-of-
academic-and-college-libraries/
The Value of Special Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/07/value-of-special-
libraries/
Library Advocacy: Save the Library Campaigns
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/01/save-the-library-
campaigns/

98. Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLA
VP strategic partnerships and markets
Cengage Learning (Gale)
Cel: 416-669-4855
stephen.abram@cengage.com
Stephen’s Lighthouse Blog
http://stephenslighthouse.com
Facebook or Google+: Stephen Abram
LinkedIn / Plaxo: Stephen Abram
Twitter: sabram
SlideShare: StephenAbram1