Competition for Library Services

For the Inspiration, Innovation, and Celebration Conference for Librarians

Dr. Larry Nash WhiteEast Carolina University

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Learning Walkabout

• Is there competition for library services

• Examples of competitors and their impacts

• How do we respond?

•

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Is there competition for library services?

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A Networked World

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It’s a flat World

High tech, High touch, Individualization

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The public’s perception of libraries…

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We offer quality services…

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The latest technology applications…

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We are change agents and proactive responders to challenges and problems…

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Time for a reality √ from

a customer’s viewpoint

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√ You are not the ONLY provider of library and information services in your area.

√ You may not even be the BEST provider of library and information services in your area.

√ You may not even be the FIRST provider that your customers think of when obtaining library and information services.

√ Someone would take YOUR customers from you in a New York minute if YOU let them! And THEY are trying!

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The Competitors…

• We have seen the enemy and it is us…

• What we can see coming… the tangible competitors

• What we can’t see that is already here… the intangible competitors

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Libraries compete with other libraries and government agencies…

Libraries compete for:

Staffing Resources Collaborators Partners

Opportunities Appreciation Support

Technology Market Share Existing Customers

New Customers Finances ???

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The Tangibles…

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New book technologies…

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Social networking

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The 800 hundred pound gorilla in the room…

What if … Articles and book chapters as 99¢ downloads / rentals?Google Docs and Spreadsheets - Google Calendar - Google Base - Google Maps - Google Wallet /Cart - G-Mail – GTalk – Google Scholar – Google Phone - IGoogle -

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Search Engines galore…

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A few more library service competitors…

Abrams, Steven. “Social Libraries and Librarians: Collaboration, Cooperation, Sharing, Storytelling, and Networking.” SLIS Johannesburg: August 24, 2007.

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Did I say there were a few more?

Abrams, Steven. “Social Libraries and Librarians: Collaboration, Cooperation, Sharing, Storytelling, and Networking.” SLIS Johannesburg: August 24, 2007.

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There are more than a few…

Abrams, Steven. “Social Libraries and Librarians: Collaboration, Cooperation, Sharing, Storytelling, and Networking.” SLIS Johannesburg: August 24, 2007.

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More detailed information and access…

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Flexibility of access…

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Books-by-demand printing…

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The Potentials…

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The Hidden Competitors…

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A dome scratcher…

What is the most valuable thing in this room?

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A dome scratcher…

What is the most valuable thing in this room?

Well, …

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A dome scratcher…

What is the most valuable thing in this room?

Well, …

Imagine if …

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The Hidden… In your town

After-school programs

???

Bookstores ???

Compact Disc Retail ???

Internet Products / Services

???

Libraries ???

Reading Programs/Support

???

Schools (All types) ???

Video Retailers ???

Youth Programs ???

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Library Closures

• 2008 Public Library Closure Study (Koontz, et.al)– Study of library closures 2003 - 2007 years– Over 500 closures noted– 4 types of closures

• Temporary (Short term)• Temporary (Long term)• Swaps• Permanent closures

– Approximately 125 permanent closures

• Of the permanent closures....

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Academic libraries are not immune…

Academic• Academic librarians answer 72.8 million reference questions each year—

almost twice the attendance at college football games. (down from 97 million in 2002)

• College libraries receive less than two cents of every dollar spent on higher education.

• The number of librarians per 1,000 students enrolled in 2 and 4-year colleges and universities in the US dropped from 2.4 in 2000 to less than .5 in 2004.

72% of college student respondents said the search engine would be their first choice the next time they need a source for information. College students rank the library a distant second with 14%...

Sources: ALA Office for Research & Statistics, OCLC Reports

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Competitor facts…

• Reference questions answered by public libraries: 7,000,000 / week (1 million / day). Google searches: approximately 1.28 billion / day.

• Second Life’s library gets 5,000 registered visitors a day in the library

• Unique pages added to the web per day: 7.3 million• SirsiDynix purchase: $1 billion +• $226,182,000 for the Library Services and Technology

Act (LSTA)2008

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So how do we compete?

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Stop being comfortable…

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And do something!

“We librarians must learn that when we study something to death, … Death was not our original goal.”

Steven Abram, Vice President, Innovation, Sirsi Dynix

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Be proactive!

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Competitive Responses

•Respond like a business!

•Expand your performance assessment scope and effectiveness

• Include competitive scanning / intelligence with your performance assessment

• Use research to your advantage!

•Expand your knowledge and innovative skills

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Competitive Responses

Develop new strategic competitive responses:

• “Know” your service environment

• Innovate your library’s services and service delivery methods

• Increase access, accountability and alignment to the service environment

• Delivery service impact, cost effectiveness / value, more access/less time, and more options for the customer

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A Flat World Library

Biblioteca de Santiago

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Pending research on competition

• Pending study of library administrator’s perceptions of competition and their actual competitive practices– Competitive resources and activities inventory

• Library as a whole / Library leaders • Resources committed to competing in library service

environment– Where are our most competitive libraries? – What are they doing?– How are they doing it?– What difference is it making?

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Being a librarian in a competitive economy is not too bad…

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The end of the walkabout…

• I am happy to take your questions!

• Thank you for coming today!

• Available to speak / work with your libraries

• To contact Dr. White: whitel@ecu.edu 252-328-2315