The reinvention of the public library

THRIVING ON DISRUPTION: THE RE-INVENTION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Liz McGettigan BA MCILIP ACMI FRSADirector of Digital Library Experiences

SOLUS@lizmcgettigan

liz@sol.us

“ Changes enabled by digital technologies that occur at a pace and magnitude that disrupt established ways of value creation,

social interactions, doing business and more generally our thinking”

Riemer 2013

More than 150 million people will be born this year…

….they will be born into a technological and information led

economy

Building block - Mobile

Building block - staff out on the floor

EXPERIENCE

EXPECTATIONS

LISTENING

TALKING

A FEW TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMERS

Learning is changing

What have you got for me in 1/2 years time?

Interactivity

Interactivity

Touch, contribute, learn

3d printing

1. THE AR GAME2. 3D PRINTER3. THE CHARACTERS4. THE BOOK

12

3

4

GAMING

Augmented Reality

Robotics

Occulus Rift

”We are in a technology tsunami. Whether you love it or hate it, ultimately we have to figure out

how to survive it and make it work for us”

Courte Courtesy Ned y Ned Potter

…we can handle disruption can’t we?I believe we can become the launchpad for a new futureCourtesy ned potter

The Drive-In Library

…makerspaces, fablabs, digilabs, do it zones…?

Spaces for young people

The new people’s network

I-Beacon technology

NFC

……….more disruption

Mobile payment

Artificial intelligence

Library service platform

It is clear that librarianship of the future is not for those who seek

a quiet refuge or who won’t embrace ongoing

change in the information, technology,

and community needs landscapes.

“the greatest threat to librarianship is a lack of imagination.”

RD LANKES

Get closer to customers- gain knowledge and engage - Build digital bridges to them

Identify a list of the next things your customers want and quickly give them the few that are easiest for you to deliver

Take advantage of new free platforms, tools and relationships - Make your customers feel part of a community

ENGAGE CUSTOMERS

Reassess your spend and innovate in the right places Create your own digital transformation vision and plan

Create digital leadership, change the culture everyone a disruptor

TO DO

Incremental change will not be enough, radical transformation is required if we are to meet these

challenges

Liz McGettigan @lizmcgettigan liz@sol.us