Library as Platform
David Weinberger Ph.D.
self@evident.com
www.JohoTheBlog.com
dweinberger@twitter
Harvard Library Innovation Lab
Co-Director
Harvard Berkman Center
for Internet & Society
Senior Researcher
Internet Librarian
Monterey, CA
October, 2012

Library as Platform
Hugh Rundle Barbara
John Fister
Palfrey Tim O’Reilly
Not an entirely new idea
But with some advantages

Library as Platform
But with some advantages
Unifying framework
Social networks taken
seriously
Increases the value of the
library

Platform vs...

SW Platform
App App
Tools Services
API
Data

SW Platform
People Works
ideas
Tools Services
Data

Networked knowledge
(cc) Striatic @ flickr.com

(cc) thomas23 @ flickr

Living things
Plants Animals
Invertebrates Vertebrates
Reptiles Birds Mammals

(c) Abelardo Morell

(cc) Howzey @ Flickr
Networked science

Agreement does not scale

Fur?
EGGS???
Four Bird
feet? beak??

Platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Watermole

Scientist Scientist Scientist
Platypus
watermole
Ornithorhynchus
paradoxus
Taxonomies
Names EOL.org

Social learning
(cc) mizzD @ flickr.com

Thesis
Software developers now live
in the fastest, most
efficient and effective
ecosystem for rapid learning
that ever existed

Lessons from Developers
Humility
Generosity
Iteration
Public learning

Photos: Abundance without order
cc steve kay @ flickr

Living things
Plants Animals
Invertebrates Vertebrates
Reptiles Birds Mammals

Red
1942
Rosie the
Riveter

Messiness
scales
meaning

It’s a real problem
Echo Echo
Echo
Echo
Echo
Echo
Echo
Echo
Echo
EchoEcho
Echo Echo
Echo

IAM A
IAMA ...

Echo

Library as platform
(cc) MandoLux @ flickr.com

Accumulates value
Enables unpredictable uses
Provides resources that let others create and
flourish

Think outward
Analog + Digital
Open it all
Social objects
Open Standards
Enable difference

To every user everywhere
Everything libraries know

Thank you.
David Weinberger
Blog: www . JohoTheBlog . Com
Email: self@evident . com
Twitter: dweinberger