Surviving & thriving in libraries

Nick Poole, CEO, CILIPJoint LAI/CILIP Ireland Conference 2016Killarney

Are you an optimist, a pessimist or a realist about the future of libraries?

Introducing the ‘tardigrade’ – the most resilient creature on earth

Can survive in SPACE for 10 days without oxygen or

heat

Can withstand temperatures between -273 and 150 degrees!

Can survive without food & water for 100 years by

losing 66% of its body mass & entering a cryptobiotic state!

Grass – one of the most prolific, adaptable organisms in the world

Mutates freely to adapt to any climate conditions

Is a viable food source for everything, which helps it

to propagate

Survives through aggressive adaptation &

growth

Species that survive and thrive use common strategies:

• Will to live – they want to survive at all costs

• Toughness – they are engineered to withstand change

• Diversity – they diversify to overcome localised differences

• Pro-activity – they proactively propagate to ensure survival

• Adaptability – they constantly adapt to changes in the environment

• Dormancy – they can get smaller & subsist on less without dying

Libraries:

• Will to live – know we need to survive & thrive for our users

• Toughness – have withstood immense social, economic & technological change

• Diversity – are a strongly diversified sector (librarians/knowledge/information)

• Pro-activity – aren’t waiting around for our destiny to happen

• Adaptability – are fine-tuned to the needs of their users/community/company

• Dormancy – have learnt to make a little go a very long way

The world’s most resilient companies...

Hotel

Brewery Wine

Pub

Confectionery

Constructi

on

Restau

rant

Religio

us goods

Foundry Mill

Machinery

Paper

bags

Woodworking

Harbour

Sake Tea

Metalw

orking

Salt

Cognac

Paper

Glass

Herbs

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

60 organisations older than 700 years (by activity)

Booze Shelter Food Manufacture Religion0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

60 organisations older than 700 years (by human need)

In continuous operation for 1436 years (until sadly bought out in 2013!) – 36

generations

Invested in replanting forests to ensure

sustainable supply of raw materials

A specialist service for a long-term customer – expert carpentry for

Bhuddist temples

Adapted to electrification by diversifying into Church

candles & luxury gifts

Became the leading supplier of street lighting in Dublin & surrounds in

the 1700’s

Companies that survive and thrive use common strategies:

• Value - they produce something people need & want

• Prudence - they don’t grow faster than the market demands

• Adaptability – when change comes, they embrace it

• Symbiosis – they exist in a balanced relationship with their community

• Geography – their activity is optimised to their location

• Pride – they take pride in their longevity

• Heritage – they have a sense of cumulative investment & value

Libraries

• Value - we produce something people need & want

• Prudence – we aren’t greedy organisations

• Adaptability – are learning to embrace change

• Symbiosis – exist in a balanced relationship with their community/users

• Geography – optimised to our location

• Pride – we take pride in our longevity

• Heritage – believe in cumulative investment & value

RESILIENT

OPTIMISED

NETWORKED ADAPTABLE

Delivers value

Optimised to location/ situation

Clear about core role/ purpose

Engaged with audience

Connected to profession

Can shrink without dying

Has good governance

Able to access influence

Proactive not passive

Meets standards

Has a positive working culture

So what can we do to survive and thrive...

• Personally?• As organisations?• As a sector?

Personally...

• Be optimistic• Be generous • Keep focused on the customer• Stay connected• Be opportunistic• Embrace change• Look after yourself

Public librarians

contribute to...

Economic ROI

Improved education

Improved health

Improved employment

Stronger communities

Improved literacy

Health librarians

contribute to...

Better clinical decisions

Improved patient care

Risk management

& safety

Service development

Efficiency

Improved CPD for

clinical staff

School librarians

contribute to...

Student achievement

Pupil engagement

Student learning

Reading skills

Advanced literacy

Staff CPD

Academic librarians

contribute to...

Improved retention

Better grades

Improved skills

Better research

Economic ROI

KPI

As organisations...

• Be optimistic• Continue to develop & innovate• Be opportunistic• Build local influence• Shout about our achievements• Do the basics well • Focus on core strengths • Stay focused on the customer• Look after our people

As a sector...

• Be optimistic• Join our voices together• Advocate for our profession• Build influence• Create compelling evidence• Resist poor decisions• Support our community• Attract and celebrate talent• Enthuse employers & create opportunity• Be welcoming & inclusive• Be opportunistic• Build new partnerships

There has been something like a library for nearly 4,000 years. We are one of the most resilient ideas on earth.

Our environment is changing – socially, technologically, economically. And libraries have adapted to these changes.

We have the services and skills people need to succeed in today’s complex, information-rich world.

We need to make sure they know it.

Thank you!

Nick PooleChief ExecutiveCILIP

@NickPoole1@CILIPinfo

www.cilip.org.uk