2. I would prefer more examination in implementing changes like that. You could get away with simply throwing some things out there, but a ton of variables really need to be addressed. Ideally, before it is released, it examine patron need/desire and how to bring staff on board or generate staff awareness. During the release, how is it being marketed advertised? What do staff need to know (word of mouth, training, simple awareness)? You really want to give something the best chance if you are going to put time/money/energy into it.

And, if it doesn’t work, why didn’t it work? Is there a autopsy? You want to know whether or not something is worthwhile in the future (bad timing), whether it is something that should never be attempted again, or even whether it was just simply a bad implementation.

3. Agreed. It reminds me of the Ed Koch campaign commercial “How am I doing?”.

4. I think I have this well covered. And I forward stuff to staff as I find it. =D

5. I think when it comes to design, reactionary is certainly the safer strategy. With the constant evaluation that you are advocating, it might keep things in step. I don’t think anyone really anticipates the library being in step with most trends; it’s not that we can’t, we just have our focus on what we are doing right now to serve the community.

Insofar as less computers and less books, I think there is certainly a caveat “your mileage may vary”. Libraries serving poorer communities will have computers and wide selection as their bread and butter. Laptops and downloadable content will be available to the patrons and the libraries that can afford it.

1. Have a long term strategy, but short term goals. The library’s true mission hasn’t really changed. (Connecting people to information, knowledge, reading, each other and enjoyment of the materials and services we offer.) The what, why and how we deliver those services changes all the time. Short term goals allow us to offer services that address the needs of “now.”

2. Set up structures that allow for quick, seamless implementations. The old library way of spending a year on a committee talking about a change just doesn’t work anymore. Put it out there. If it doesn’t work, try something else. My library recently changed our reserve notification and renewal system. The system wasn’t providing due dates. Believe me, we heard from our customers right away. Our Digital Strategy department was able to work with the vendor and fix the issue in less than a week. I believe we were able to do this because we asked the right questions at the beginning. Questions such as, “How quickly can/will this vendor respond to our needs and make changes?” If we can’t work in a way that allows us to implement and make changes quickly, we will always be behind the curve.

3. Set up structures that create the forum for timely review of what you are doing. “Just because we were doing this 6 months ago, is it still relevant?” If you don’t have a structure for taking another look at things pretty regularly, you are going to miss the opportunity to replace what you were doing with something better or to change the way you do it to make it more relevant.

4. Stay connected and listen. Spend time where other professionals and your customers are talking about what’s new, what’s next, what they are learning, how they are using technology, what is important to them and how they are using or providing services. It is worth the time it takes to do this, but it can be a challenge. Use the talent of passionate people who love to be in the conversation. Have different people spend time in different places and then find a way to bring that knowledge together and share it.

5. Think in the temporary instead of the permanent when designing spaces and selecting furniture and fixtures. You might need 35 stations for a desktop PC today, but a few years from now, it is likely that laptops or other devices will be the norm. Maybe your fiction collection needs 10 ranges today, but a few years from now more people are downloading books and the browsing collection is smaller. Selecting items that can easily be adapted to changing needs is just smart planning.

I have seen a lot of success taking this approach. Your thoughts?

This post was mentioned on Twitter by wawoodworth: Blogged: Tues Night Deep Thought: Information Future? Do librarians have a clue? http://bit.ly/aVCYTv #librarian…