Horizon Report 2012: libraries a challenge, how will tech advances help?

One of the 5 “significant challenges” that serves as the framework for the Horizon Report 2012 is the effect that social networks, new publishing paradigms, and out of date business models have on the library’s traditional “role as curator”. However I didn’t see any discussion of how the 6 technologies discussed would impact that issue in significant ways. People want to have access to everything in digital format and tablets and mobile apps certainly make viewing those things available that way more convenient, they mentioned some museum projects with RFID to control inventory, but the only other mention I saw of the library specifically was the cite of the Chronicle blog post about having libraries responsible for collecting, arranging, preserving and making available a wide selection of games. Which seems to be going the wrong direction?

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