When the Tide Goes Out, Everyone Can See Who’s
Swimming Naked
October 20, 2011
Presented byJoan Frye Williams and George Needham
Remember us?
April 26 – Sustainable choices
Existential sustainability
How does our community see itselfand its future?
Operational sustainability
How well do ourservices match community expectations?
Political sustainability
Are we asking the right questions?Ask about things they
know and care aboutDon’t ask how to run
the libraryLet them dream big:
don’t point out constraints
Listen, don’t explain
Financial sustainability
How can we diversify?
April 27 – Sustainable practices
Don’t assume that libraries are the “go-to” place for information
Enticing, not explaining
Don’t assume that people can’t find the “good stuff” on their own
Sharing, not
guarding
Don’t assume that getting the books back is more important than
getting the people back
Relationships, not transactions
Don’t assume that there’s only one right or fair way to do everything
Tools, not rules
Don’t assume that your library is primarily a window on the outside world
Local, not generic
Don’t assume that information is an end in itself
Transformation, not information
Don’t assume that the way to stay safe is to be perfect
Efficiency, not
perfection
Work worth doing
How can we…?
So what’s up, Docs?
First, the good news…
Now, the not so good news…
Your challenges• Think of the challenges you need to overcome to
move your library forward• Focus on what you need to accomplish, rather than
how other people need to change.• Write each of your challenges on a separate Post-it
note (one per note), legibly please.• On the flip chart paper, work with your colleagues to
clump the Post-it notes into common themes• Circle and name the themes.• Prepare to report your results!
More than one route to success
Build on our strengths
Access
Organization and problem-solving
Content curation
Coaching
Co-creation
Community convening
Convergence
Narrative
Infiltration
Build capacity
Beyond inventory control
to support forlearning and
creativity
Beyond processes to results
Beyond rationing to abundance
Beyond anonymity to market knowledge
Beyond remedial advocacyto peer engagement
Howcan
we?How
canwe?we?can
How will we…?
Find your motivation
Stay connected
Move forward…together
Don’t give up: she hasn’t sung yet
Let’s continue the conversationhttp://[email protected]