This is a Virtual Symposium project created by Christie Christophersen for INFO 287 The Hyperlinked Library with Michael Stephens, December 2015
Emerging trends are changing library services. Libraries need to respond to the changing demands and needs of the public and still remain grounded in libraries foundation and values. Such as providing knowledge & information, and protecting peoples freedom of information.
The hyperlinked library is creating a model for change that is transparent, participatory, playful, user centered, and has a heart. We need to continually look at the needs of our users by being open to user input, and constantly evaluating our services.
The library is everywhere. We want a library that is participatory, transparent, and reaches all people. Libraries need to rethink services that achieve these aims. We need to go out into the community and be part of things and use mobile technologies and social media to connect with people outside of the library space.
It is important to have the human connection. Ask how can we delight our users? What can we do to make things better for them? What can we provide for them that they haven’t even thought of? What innovations can we create? We want to be a social, emotionally engaged center for learning, & creating new experiences.
Libraries should have participatory services. The hyperlinked library is open, transparent and communicates with the community. Get the library community involved, seek out user input, and include them in conversations of what the library should provide. Base decisions on community enrichment and building connections with everyone.
Encourage interaction and engagement. Engage users by asking for their ideas and suggestions. Find activities that users can do at the library besides just coming in to pick something up and then leave. Have it be a place where learning and creating can occur.
Having transparency helps libraries to earn trust in the community. This trust breeds loyalty. Be open minded and adaptable when users and staff ask for change. Provide a means for open communication and encourage new ideas. Listen and leave your ego at the door. Support library staff by hearing their input, provide learning opportunities, and cross train staff.
Make people successful. When libraries remain focused on creating user driven policies, channeling resources to helping meet peoples needs and solve their problems, libraries will be successful by making people in their community successful. This includes the staff. Remember to be focused on creativity and empathy. Value everyone.
Try emerging technologies and look for trends, then create a plan to train the staff. Conduct beta tests and include everyone. This will help to create an atmosphere of learning and encourage an openness to trying new things. Let staff know it is ok to fail because we learn from this. Let the library be a lab to try out ideas. Help people learn for themselves. Look to the future and be ready for the next thing on the horizon.
Think beyond just books, remember its about people. Reinvent what your library provides. Can your reference desk be a technology help desk? Can everything in your library be mobile device friendly, especially your website? And are the staff cross trained to help in multiple capacities in the library?
Library as a classroom. Learning is continual and is for all ages. Look at your library as a classroom that provides its public with new things to learn and do. Have it be a space for creation and new ideas. Build hyperlinked communities within the library by reaching out and developing relationships, and creating bonds in your community.
Libraries = Learning and are places for people to grow and learn. Lets focus on continual learning and show our users new things. Create collaborative spaces where people can share and explore ideas. Let’s promote learning how to learn, and encourage a sense of wonder and curiosity. Promote play as a way to stimulate imagination and innovation, to enlighten and entertain.
Be curious and creative. Make becoming a hyperlinked library a fun, positive experience. Engage with the changing world and become part of the evolution of libraries.
The future of libraries is now! Let’s reflect on what we want our libraries to be, focus on the people we serve and the people who work with us. Our responsibility is to be mindful in this purpose and strive to make human centered decisions that will lead us to create viable and valued library spaces for our communities today and into the future.
