LibraryTechtonics

I had a really interesting conversation with Jim Storer over at Mzinga the other day. We were talking about Chris Brogan’s postulation of social networks for hotels, which bases the social network on the sheer geography of the hotel space. The post is the simple outline of possible bells/whistles/features/requirements for such a network, and spawns a very interesting conversation in the comments about the general potential of this and other “temporary social networks,” based on actual geographic space instead of by site, organization, type of media, conference/vacation/event, etc., bringing it all together for the duration of your stay. It’s good stuff, definitely take a look.

Jim asked, “Why aren’t libraries building social networks?” The major commonality for library patrons, he argued, is geography, and with the library moving to a more community center-living room space profile, it would make sense to link everyone together by their common geography to help them meet each other, using the library as a conduit.

Off the top of my head, my answers were:

• Libraries and librarians seem to be focusing entirely too much on specific, very library-oriented features, tasks, and applications. Instead of trying to find or develop a real go-to location or application online that patron would really want to use or naturally gravitate towards, libraries are doing things like trying to trick out the catalog, a piece of library machinery that so many patrons don’t really get or like to use in the first place.
  
  photo credit: Hans on Experience
• Librarians are still getting their heads around social networking, and haven’t quite reached a peace with the idea that because social networking and social media is about diverse community generated content, rules, and culture, the most successful way to execute social communities is to *let go of control*. (This assessment is based on my experience speaking to groups of librarians about social media, conversing with librarians in my travels, and talking to librarians who *really* get this).
• Even outside of grok gap between the buttons and levers of social sites and community culture, there is a deeper technology barrier, not only with using the software as a service sites that exist, but the ability, skills, and vision to build something fun and innovative from the ground up.

When I think of a library building a social network of its very own, I don’t see a library with a Facebook page, a MySpace page, a LibraryThing account, a Flickr account, a Twitter stream, and a designated Meebo chat room, all linked from the home page of the library site. I see single sign-on to a library web site that offers, all in one interface:

• standard access to the patron’s account (what’s checked out, online renewal and fine payment, requests)
• the ability to make lists, share lists (awesome for book groups), and keep lists private
• some sort of Netflixian queuing/scheduling of requests, and a way to move things from lists to the Libraryflix request queue
• the ability to see who else is signed on right now (if the user allows it), and even perhaps some PM (private messaging) feature
• a way to “friend” other people, and limit sharing to those friends only
• a general sidebar newsish feed that lets you see what people are searching for/requesting/checking out most (anonymized, naturally)
• a calendar feature that allows the patron to add library calendar events as well as other local events, and a way to share those events with other patrons and the outside world, and perhaps even the addition of public, locally-oriented Google Calendars
• a mini Meetup feature that allows people to arrange everything from meeting at the library via an official meeting room booking to something as simple as “studying for the trig test this week? I’ll be there, too.”
• some sort of connection to community events and organizations
• a way for patrons to add inward feeds to as many aggregations as they want to share, such as social bookmarking sites, photos, reviews of books/local establishments/events
• ADDED 8/1: A way for patrons to connect with each other to help answer questions, research issues, or explore interests in depth, sort of a mindshare between librarians and patrons helping to answer questions.  Kinda like Ask MetaFilter, but local.

But that’s just my short rough feature list.

photo credit: Will Lion

The common theme here is local community. It’s not a site that exists elsewhere built, hosted, and maintained by some other entity trying to meet the blanket needs of thousands of users, it’s customized and built for The Community, and allows the patrons in the community to connect with each other with the library as their conduit. Those connections can then inform the library on what’s important, what’s interesting, and what types of events, items, and services they should highlight or think about offering. Think Facebook for Library Patrons or Facebook Local, not Facebook for Libraries & Librarians. It’s not reinventing what’s out there, necessarily, it’s making it specific and relevant to the community, using the single sign-on of the library card account, as well as an enhancement to the library experience. At least, that’s what I see as the goal.

Is your library building anything like this? Thinking about it? How are you going about it? How would you do it, in your dream world?

Do you think this could work? Why or why not? What do you see as the barriers and quandaries? What would you do differently or better?

If you are a regular library patron, would you want this? Would you use it? What’s missing? What would you want instead? Would you be more likely to use the library if the library site were more like this? Why or why not?

What John said. And then some.

Set some fires this year . Tell me where they are, so I can keep myself warm by the glow. ;D

I kinda do. I kinda think that putting the right librarians in an intellectual pressure cooker for two days really could yield something wicked innovative.

I just came off the most intense two days of thinking in my life, and I did it for *fun*. I joined Codex Bodley, a team that regularly competes in the annual MIT Mystery Hunt, and spent the better part of 48 hours between two MIT classrooms full of really smart, creative, geeky people (there were a few bathroom breaks, a nap on a classroom floor, and a few trips for food). I must say, it was the most amazing time. I had never met most of these people (except Jessamyn, who was an awesome team ringleader/phone operator/wiki wrangler, and my husband), and yet we were all having a good time working towards a single purpose: solve the puzzle, and hopefully win the game. And boy were we productive, we came in 3rd place out of 37 teams!

So imagine something like Startup Weekend, a sort of MIT Mystery Hunt with practical market applications, but for librarians (yes, it’s selective and creative quoting, but it really brings the idea home):

Have you ever wondered what a group of highly talented and motivated people could accomplish in a weekend?… A unique three-day experience… brings the best and brightest people together in a local office space to select the concept, break into teams, and develop… come together and incubate… from concept to completion in just 54 hours.

I *love* it. This is one of the many ways to apply a mod or fix to our somewhat broken conference model, where only the people who can afford the travel, expenses, and time off get to attend large conferences that end up being circuses that are hard to really learn from. It’s got a local feel, which makes it perfect for library networks, state associations, or regional associations, and a great way to realize *and* tap into local talent. It’s not about politics, because, well, 54 hours is way too short a time to complete a project and worry about politics. And, while it’s an innovative model in and of itself, it forces innovation by limiting time and focusing concentration. I’d say throw in some new media people, tech geeks, and marketing people to work with the librarians, and it’s a golden prospect.

Can’t you just imagine how hot it would be to come out of a weekend with a fully-formed program (or, for the skeptical readers, a draft of one)? Or a ready-to-box marketing campaign? Or a pitch for money, or a plan for relationship building with the community? I think it could be fun as well as productive. Heck, if you could get a sponsor and a prize on this, it’d be even more enticing, but even the concept by itself is awesome.

How would you do it?

Innovation starts with fresh voices, fresh thinking, paradigm shifts, and other fun things like that. If you want to start innovating, you need to get out of your element, and look at things from new perspectives.

I have Nate Hill to thank for the link to Steven Bell’s post on how 2008 might actually be the Year of Innovation for libraries, and not, as Nate says, “not just the year of ‘innovation’ being the buzzword for business as usual.” I love that Steven points to articles in this post that aren’t in library journals or on library/librarian blogs, it’s out there in the nether-ether, that place from whence actually new things come. I spend at least half of my time playing out there, so it’s refreshing to see that stuff in here, inside the all-to-closed environtment of the library sphere.

Nate Hill (I have Linda Braun to thank for pointing me to Nate, he’s wicked smart, you should read him) puts forth a sort of charge to YALSA librarians in his post reflecting on ALA, but I believe there are other bits and pieces in his post that can serve as an Innovation Year charge to librarians everywhere, such as:

• “The patrons define public library services, not the librarians.” Remember that when you’re developing services, technology or otherwise. I add, “Get over yourselves, it’s not about you,” for emphasis
• “[O]rganizational structure must be consistent with policy for an institution to remain lean, agile, and adaptable to new ideas and change. ” Those of you who attended the RI continuing education event know that Linda, Casey, and I all emphasized being nimble and agile in many ways, and this is one of them.
• “[O]ffer the materials these patrons are interested in, in the format they prefer, and we will make our libraries convenient for them to access.” Stay in touch with your patrons, the way a small business would stay in touch with loyal customers, and bring new customers into the fold. It’s getting out there and really interacting with your patrons, and it isn’t waiting behind the desk for them to come to you.
• “[O]ffer programs, exhibitions, lectures, and concerts relevant to their interests.”

He summarizes brilliantly with:

Put as simply as possible: a 15 year old, a 27 year old and a 52 year old have strikingly different interests and needs, libraries need to recognize that and respond.

How is this innovative? How is this different from the Library 2.0 of 2007? Essentially, there needs to be less “playing at” it, talking about it, and faking it, and *way* more actually doing it. It also means that if you know how to do it, you get out there and help those who don’t know how, and diversifying your methods.

This year should be about getting outside the way we’ve always done it, for n00bs and seasoned techies alike, no one is exempt. Don’t just blog or go to conferences, make lunch dates, present (for free, even!) to local library organization committees or even just nearby colleagues, make the effort at face-to-face interaction and/or online audio/visual interaction that applications like Skype, TalkShoe, and Mogulus have to offer. Reach those people who don’t read “The Blogs,” and get to know them so that you can help them get to know the patrons.

If nothing else, bring in new players from other industries. I learned, and continue to learn, so much from my Boston Media Makers, Social Media Club Boston, Social Media Breakfast, and Twitter peeps. Imagine what can you learn from your local non-librarian groups! Heck, if you don’t have one, start one, because, well, it’s innovative.

Last, but not least, pay attention to those who play, especially if they’re new at it, and they’re not just there for the job. Isabelle Fetherston recently started a new blog called Play 2.0, on the cusp of the new year. Her professional focus is on providing services to older adults, but she’s also in it for the play factor, and from my experiences communicating with her, she’s really coming at it from the perspective of the user *first*, then from the library perspective, which is a super thing to observe. Keep an eye on her, I think it’ll be a fun learning experience to watch and share in via the blog.

Innovators are like sharks, they’re always hungry and they just keep going. There is no getting comfortable and talking the same thing over and over. No more second-hand knockoffs or bad implementations. Get out there and build something new and relevent: Innovate in 2008!

I’m really glad to see library associations and groups seeking the observations and guidance of people outside of the library sphere. Libraries have a lot to learn from other industries, especially from new media, the crew that really gets the culture, and can look at our profession with a fresh outlook.

My friend Bryan Person, a force of new media in the Boston area, sent me a link to What I’ll tell the Librarians, a blog post by Shel Israel over at his blog Global Neighbourhoods, about the talk he’s developing to deliver to the California Library Association. This co-author of Naked Conversations: how blogs are changing the way businesses talk with customers (co-written with Robert Scoble) is soliciting feedback on his talking notes from librarians and social media people. Take a look at the post, it’s a good read, and I envy the California librarians who will see his presentation! Here’s my favorite bit:

8. To Engage the Online Generation

• Use social media to join conversations
• Become expert resources on how to use the tools
• Use social media to eliminate physical boundaries
• Librarians as Internet knowledge guides
• Infinite bookshelf is hear.
• Virtual books? The content is what’s relevant
• Use real places to explore digital spaces
• Bridge the digital divide
• Go multimedia

Surprised, right ;D? The only thing I’d add is “don’t be afraid to go beta.” It’s the engage and conversations parts that are important here. Don’t just start an account and hang out with the other librarians. Get in there with the other communities, and do the outreach.

Jeanne Kramer-Smyth, a friend of mine from college and now a student in the archives program at University of Maryland (check out her blog, Spellbound Blog, it’s awesome!), sent me a link to an announcement from the IMLS (for my non-library readers out there, the Institute of Museum and Library Services) about a presentation by Robert L. Dilenschneider, the nationally-known communications strategist and author at the IMLS inaugural Leadership Lecture. The author of Power and influence: the rules have changed, was noted as saying:

“the paradigm is rapidly shifting in your world and you must prepare for a great leap forward using technology as a teaching tool.”

Warning that libraries and museums dealing with the new technology and multi-media applications “must accept, adapt, and accelerate their use, or simply atrophy,” Dilenschneider stressed that those technologies can also be an invaluable tool in attracting new patrons and volunteers as well as additional financial support.

I’m not sure who at these organizations requested these speakers, but I commend them for their smarts. Also, it’s nice to see that people who specialize in using technology for success are thinking about what libraries can do to be successful, too. I’d recommend everyone give these two books at least a once over, to get a sense of where they’re coming from. And, the next time you need a speaker on technology success and progress, consider looking to your local new media community for a nearby, non-librarian speaker to help bring a fresh perspective to libraries, librarians, and technology.