Libraries 3.0
When a lot of people hear “3.0″ they immediately think “technology,” but really, where are we NOT thinking of technology these days?
However, the X.0 concept really just means “next generation.” What are our next gen users going to want? Expect? Find archaic? This is ultimately what Libraries 3.0 is attempting to get us to think about.
Anyone remember the conventional wisdom “Teens will only read paperbacks?” If you were still following that maxim, you wouldn’t have gotten New Moon in your collection til last summer. Or graphic novel collections that assumed all graphic novels were for teen collections? What are some outdated ideas that we might be holding onto RIGHT NOW just waiting for us to think our way through and overthrow?
I think one big misconception that libraries have is that the public just wants technology, and the interface on our databases doesn’t matter. “I mean its not like there is anything better out there anyway” is what I hear all to often. We must demand that our websites and the electronic services we pay thousands of dollars for are easy to access and navigate!
Teens are reading. Teens are reading books. The biggest misconception I see is that reading books aren’t important. When a survey goes out, “what do you think of libraries” and the answer is “books,” i see/hear l ibrarians shake their head and basically say, “that’s the wrong answer! you don’t know the new library!”. But our customers have told us what they think — why dismiss it? Why not build on that?
I couldn’t agree more with BOTH of these statements! I think libraries are starting to tell the database companies as much with their wallets, especially when budgets are tight and database usage is going down. I’ve been hearing some rumblings of some “changes” afoot that might address this.
As for Liz’s comment, this is the tallest soapbox I’ve ever been on! And one I hope we address in Libraries 3.0. Libraries HAVE to be about the books (or materials) first, it’s the one thing we do the best. It’s totally the RIGHT answer, especially because it’s what our customers think of us, even the ones who use all the other services.
Thanks guys!
Books are stable, strong technology! But we should be thinking about ways to tie physical collections to suites of online tools. QR Code (Kaywa, Semacode, etc.) is one way. RFID is a way. Libraries have to be about their users — then get the books, materials, tools, that those users will use — and try to anticipate how they may get adapted or mutate into new things and uses… Users and “user culture” first! The other stuff follows…