Transforming with Technology

Better late than never? More notes from ALA2007, things I think are interesting in red.

Transforming Your Library, and Your Library's Future, with Technology
ALA GOVERNANCE
Track: Transformation & Innovations
Technology can transform your library and its services, as it is transforming the lives of your patrons. From do-it-now technology improvements to next-generation implementations, from software to SOPACs, from in-your-face competition to over-the-horizon transformations, three accomplished experts will instruct, enlighten and challenge you to use technology to make your library more relevant to your patrons -- today and tomorrow.

Lori Ayre, The Galecia Group: You need different spaces for different people and uses. She doesn’t understand why everyone isn’t using:

· An automated central sorting system-- it would save time and money

· Automated checkin (5 bin, sorted is approximately 100-150K)

· A self check system

· Compact shelving with autoretrieve

· Bookdrops all over town

Casey Bisson, Plymouth State University, NY:

· Our catalogs aren’t working, we need usability, findability, remixability. Facets provide a place at every search box for patron to ask a question. Could you bring in encyclopedia articles to provide context?

· Libraries should publicize themselves on their websites: for events, use google calendar, put on sidebar. It’s wrong to think of the website as there to bring people in your front door, no, it’s a service point!

· Should blog answers to good questions—this shows people what you do, is interesting. “Ask a Librarian” is last resort for users, who expect their web site to answer the questions.

· Show local history pictures—comments on them can enhance the local memory

Roy Tennant, California Digital Library:

· Technology is a tool; you don’t start with the tool and go looking for things to fix with it, start with goals.

· When considering technology, where does it fall on the curve (early adopters vs. trailing edge)

· Where do you go for support? Not always the vendors, often a list.

· “Learn where you breathe”

· Need project management, critical thinking skills and understanding of the problem you are solving; need to give it support; need to market new services

· How do you create an agile organization (or how do you stay agile yourself?):

o Committees can form communication basis and spawn task forces to solve particular issues identified by the committee with experts and workers on it.

o Reward risk-taking

o Give equipment

· Be a change agent but think cautiously and critically about technology, listen and empathize

· Learn only enough to get by: just in time learning.

· Use it, write things down