Bookends Scenarios

url: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/public_libraries/publications/docs/bookendsscenarios.pdf

Alternative futures for the public library network in NSW in 2030.

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Joann Ransom
created Bookends Scenarios
on Dec 16th, 2009 at 3:24 PM
 

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Joann Ransom

 said Reflections on the Bookends Report.

Big Concepts

1. ROI on investment in Libraries.

We must define and articulate the social needs of our society and how we can add value thus demonstrating the social return on Council investment in libraries.

2. Collaboration.

I am more convinced than ever that open standards and open source is the way of the future. The LSynCNZ work on a nationwide library management system for NZ is hugely timely and important work. We must continue our commitment to Kete and Koha.

3. Staffing of Libraries.

As professional librarians we must reskill - constantly - in order to stay relevant to the society we serve. Professional registration is essential as it demonstartes an ongoing commitment to upskilling and remaining relevant in the profession. We need to 'audit' the skill-set of our staff, identifying gaps and move immediately to an ongoing training development plan to move staff to where we need them to be.

4. Service Models.

We need to completely redesign our service model for the future. Issuing books has not been our primary purpose for many years, and will become proportionately less significant over the years to come. We need to define the roles and programmes and services we will offer, and redefine these every few years to ensure we keep relevant in changing times.

5. Spaces.

We have 2 new buildings in the pipeline in Horowhenua and this is an excellent opportunity to ensure we design community spaces as "The Third Place" or "My Local" as hearts of the communities we serve.

6. Leadership.

Libraries must embrace the changes demanded in changing times - this is non negotiable. 'Servant leadership' of an exemplary standard will be required to lead Councils, communities and staff forward. Library managers will need to skillfully push, pull and drag 'old school' librarians into the 21st century librarianship and bravely know when to call it quits and let go those unable to change.

4 Scenarios

The report developed 4 scenarios or aternate futures from a matrix of whether technology is valued or not  on one axis, and whether libraries are valued or not on the other. Each quadrant is listed below whether the concepts or key thoughts from each one.

Silent Spring Buildings learn Neuromancers Fahrenheit 451
Electricty brown-outs Words as art supplies Electricty brown-outs Aged population
Digital nomads Visual thinking Internet rationing Skills shortage
Diversity of staff skills Co-creators Equity in access to info Outsourcing
       
Green buildings Technology coveted Peak water Immigration
Info overload Spikey - few big cities Peak oil ebooks
Living locally Polarisation Peak electricity Info everywhere - how to be relevant
Local history Physical media valued Scary times Libraries for leisure and pleasure
Local info Physical spaces valued Uncertainty Content creation
'Old' skills Quality info valued Quality info privatised Teleconferencing
Pillars of community Data overload Digital lifestyles  
Sanctuary People / community egovernment  
Social justice Social Commercial services to generate income  
Sustainable Knowledge navigators Knowledge navigators  
'Things' not just media Content creators Amalgamation / consortia
  
Trust

Local history

    
Values Fee based services    
  Quiet spaces    
  Gaming    
  Innovation centres for SMEs
    

Strategic Domains

The 4 scenaios are followed by some very sound and thought provoking work on strategic domains. below are my thoughts on the key areas and how they relate to HLT.

Resources

Relevance to HLT
Open access, open standards, shared databases, working collaboratively We are right to be committed to FOSS.
Local content creation Web 2.0 literacy for all staff, IT literacy programmes for patrons, Kete Horowhenua will become increasingly important.
Buildings as the 3rd place. With 2 new buildings planned for Foxton and Levin we have this wonderful, timely opportunity to ensure we design and build 'places', or people 'spaces' which will faciliate and support extended useage of library buildings as valued community spaces.
e govt - print on demand We witness already a move to 'print on demand' and online submission of governmental forms and services. This will extend to local government and will only increase. We need to address the very real risk of indiviuduals being marginalised through digital illiteracy. Print literacy must come first.
Authentic information The data overload is already making it very difficult to identify the nuggest of quality information. Knowledge navigators.
Digital nomads Transitional period with cloud computing where anyone can access anything online. Will move increasingly to portable handheld devices but a transitional phase with wireless being required for handheld devices and workstation access for public access.

 

Governance / Regulation

 Relevance to HLT
Amalgamation and consortia LSynCNZ in the inevitable ultimate result of local consortia and shared services across territorial authority boundaries.
National standards Centralised cataloguing and copy cataloguing are an efficiency we must take advantage of. 90% of our collections are standard. We should be taking responsibility for the local content - and doing it to national standards.
National IT structure LSynCNZ is the sensible way forward.
Align to local and central government strategic and policy objectives. HLT could be the service delivery arm for HDC in terms of Community wellbeing and development. Need to develop close working relationships from a planning and strategy stage right through to delivery. Lobbying and and political skill is going to be incresaingly important.

 

Community Engagement

Relevance to HLT
"People like us" - we need to be adept at using digital technologies relevant to our community.
 Staff with high levels of IT literacy.
The socio-economic / technology divide. ICT literacy programmes,including working with schools.
Library as social networking hub, community hub.
 Promotions, programmes, activities, networking, relationship building with schools and corporates.
Library as a trusted brand.
 150 years otrust.
Sustainability  Lead by example in sustainable living, especially with building renovation and energy use.

 

Resourcing

 Relevance to HLT
Funding will not become any easier. We need to find cleverer, less labour intensive ways of working, ie RFID, self issue, use of volunteers etc. Also looking at fee based services.
Purchasing collectives. LSynCNZ, consortia, co-tenants in buildings.
Integrated community and library services Supporting and collaborating with like-minded community groups, co-tenants in new building.
Local content  Kete deeply embedded into the community, creating quality local content and encouraging multiple uses.
Staffing.
  Aging populations and current state of declining quality and number of trained librarians will increasingly become a problem. Upskilling, cross training and retention strategies.

 

Leadership and influence

 Relevance to HLT
Librarians and libraries are still important. Staff with diverse range of skills who capitilise on the concept of libraries as Trusted advocates in terms of advocacy of social wellness and equality of access to resources.
Advocates for community needs. Converting community aspirations into actions. Leading through collaboration, lobbying crucial.. fighting for community good, free access - not user pays. promoting social stability and wellness over chaos and uncertainty.
Servant leadership. We are public servants, working for not only our local communities but local and central political masters too.
Developing local 'culture'. Community development, using Kete and community 'space' as some of the tools to build and develop community 'spirit' or culture in terms of how we define ourselves.
An island of sanity.  Creating buildings which accomodate a variety of uses from fast paced highly technical and vibrant places to slow, enclosing, sanctuaries in the hustle and bustle of life. The quality of the experience.

 

Strategy

 Relevance to HLT
Branding and identity Library as "The 3rd Place", "My Local" or community centre.
Demonstrating our value.  We need to articulate how we add value to our communities and society, what is the social role we fulfil?  What therefore is the return on investment by local councils in libraries.
Relevance to our political masters. We need to structure or form our work in terms of central and local government strategies and policy.
Libraries are a niche market.
 We cannot compete with Google, Twitter or Youtube. We need to define and market our niche market. an experience, playground and learning, centre for consumers as citizens to enjoy and participate in their community.
Promote local history and culture  The 'deeply local' approach to building collections and resources and designing activities and programmes.
Librarians as professionals with skills: futurists, marketers, curators. We need to 'deliver' as professionals. Entry point for MLIS now is an honours degree! Professionalism always and no false modesty.
Posted on December 28th, 2009 at 4:46 PM
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Joann Ransom

 said To Do List

In response to the thinking I have done in response to the Bookends report, I now have a TO DO list:

 

The Bookends Scenario report givjkghl;

 

To Do List Comment
Define key services and areas of activity leading us towards 2030 HDC strategic goals, central Govt strategey, 
   
Resources audit: media, equipment, buildings and staff:  
Internal Organisation chart  
Staff development plan web 2.0, digital literacy, data retrieval, eresources, teaching,
ICT Asset management plan network: public and inhouse
Building brief sustainability, sanctuary, connectivity, versatility
Collections development policy Digital collections, databases
Relationships plan Tangata whenua, HDC, community groups, co-tenants, education sector, egovt, LSynCNZ, Horizons consortia
Technology plan extend commitment to FOSS, Koha 3.2, RFID, 
Programme and activities Plan IT literacy programmes, community development programmes, Kete
Posted on January 19th, 2010 at 12:02 PM

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