Innovative Libraries for the 4th Industrial Revolution

Peter Sidorko

The University of Hong Kong

Overview

• The 4th Industrial Revolution

• 21st Century Libraries and Librarians

• Evolving Physical Libraries

• Library Leadership and Change in an Uncertain Age

• Concluding remarks.

The fourth industrial

revolution is the current

and developing

environment in which

disruptive technologies

and trends such as the

Internet of Things (IoT),

robotics, virtual reality

(VR) and artificial

intelligence (AI) are

changing the way we live

and work.

www.Britannica.com

21st Century libraries and librarians

21st Century

Academic

Library Value

Questioning old ‘mantras’

• The library is a strong brand

• The library is neutral

• The library is trusted

• Library spaces are unique

• The library provides for discovery of information.

Pinfield, S, Cox, AM & Rutter, S (2017), Mapping the Future of Academic Libraries: A Report for SCONUL https://sconul.ac.uk/

Building new paradigms• The hybrid library

• The inside-out library

• The library in the life of the user

• The library as platform

• The library as infrastructure

• The computational library

• The service-oriented library

• The library as digital third space

• The globalised library

• The boundaryless library Pinfield, S, Cox, AM & Rutter, S (2017), Mapping the Future of Academic Libraries: A Report for SCONUL https://sconul.ac.uk/

The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Dempsey and Malpas: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-981-13-0194-0_4.pdf

The evolving physical library

Bad Libraries

• Build Collections

Good Libraries

• Build Services (of which collection is one)

Great Libraries

• Build Communities

R. David Lankes, Director, School of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina

“The Bad, The Good, and The Great” Keynote Academic Librarians 2012, Syracuse, NY.

Trends Accelerating Technology Adoption in

Academic and Research Libraries

Short-Term (1-2 years) Mid-term (3-5 years) Long term (5+ years)

Research Data

Management

Patrons as

Creators

Cross-Institution

Collaboration

Valuing the User

Experience

Rethinking Library

Spaces

Evolving Nature of

the Scholarly

Record

NMC Horizon Report: 2017 Library Edition

Key Trends Accelerating Higher Education

Technology Adoption

Short-Term (1-2 years) Mid-term (3-5 years) Long term (5+ years)

Redesigning

Learning Spaces

Advancing Cultures

of Innovation

Rethinking How

Institutions Work

Blended Learning

Designs

Growing Focus on

Measuring

Learning

Modularized and

Disaggregated

DegreesEDUCAUSE Horizon Report Preview: 2019 Higher Education Edition

Wiley: 2019 Librarian Aspirations Survey

Recent stages of evolving library spaces

The First Phase:Information Commons in the 90’s

“[A] cluster of network access points and associated IT tools situated in the context of physical, digital, human, and social resources organized in support of learning”Beagle et al. (2006, p. viii)

Beagle, D., Bailey, D. R., & Tierney, B. (2006). The information commons handbook. New York: Neal Schuman.

The Second Phase:Learning Commons in the 21st century

“The physical, digital, human, and social resources supporting IC that are “organized in collaboration with learning initiatives sponsored by other academic units, or aligned with learning outcomes defined through a cooperative process”Beagle et al. (2006, p. viii)

Maker movement, entrepreneurship & innovation

Space for

collaboration

connection

inspiration

innovation

“anyone can make… anyone can change the world.”Hatch, M (2014). The maker movement manifesto. McGraw-Hill. p. 10.

https://thenewstack.io/dynamicland-rethinks-computer-interfaces/NYU Tandon MakerSpace

The Third Phase:Makerspace/hackerspace, Innovation centre

Moving between phases: the HKUL experience

• Scan the environment (e.g. Performance gaps, emerging needs of the institution or patrons, space planning trends)

• Align with vision & mission of parent institution• Support the role and development strategies of the

library• Consult stakeholders• Draft planning brief• Estimate budget• Source funding• Project management

Planning a new library space

The planning process: The Architectural approach (Design work)

The planning process: Educational approach (Institution, library users and staff)

“What people say, what

people do, and what people

say they do are entirely

different things” (Margaret Mead, anthropologist)

Assessing library space needs

User Experience Research

“What Motivates Engagement with the Digital Information Environment?” (https://www.oclc.org/research/themes/user-studies/vandr.html)

1. What activities are users engaged in and also how they are engaged?

2. How do users engage with technology (visitor vs. resident, personal vs. institutional)?

OCLC Digital Visitors and Residents Study

Faculty member

OCLC DIGITAL VISITORS & RESIDENTS

Behavioural Mapping Non-Participant Observation

Mapping how users move

through and use library

spaces

Observing and noting how

users behave in the library

User observation studies

Library performance assessment by user surveys

Demographics

• User group

• Faculty

• Library used most

Organization

• Communication

• Service Delivery

• Facilities & Equipment

• Information Resources

• Extra questions

Application of survey results

• Annual, biennial, every few years

• User perceptions measurement

• Importance vs Performance

• Gap analysis

• Freeform comments

• Benchmarking tool

• Performance improvement tracking

Library performance assessment by user surveys

• Literature review on learning spaces such as Learning Commons

• Usage analysis since 2012

• User surveys

Past surveys conducted by the Libraries

Online survey for Level 3 review conducted in 2016

• Focus group meetings in 2016

• Comments and suggestions from patrons since 2012

• User observation studies

• Other documents for planning, operations and daily maintenance

Targeted review of library resources/facilities/services: Level 3 Learning Commons

• Learning space design and quality

Computer workstations

Study carrels

Discussion rooms

Overnight facilities

• Technology and tools

Computing equipment

WiFi network

Audiovisual equipment

Printers and copiers

Scanners

Scope of the review

Facility/Service Importance Performance Performance Gap

Wifi network 1 12 1

Washrooms 2 6 2

Printers/copiers 3 8 3

Online booking system 4 4 6

Power sockets 5 1 8

Study tables 6 2 12

Drinking fountains 7 5 7

Discussion rooms 8 11 5

Furniture 9 7 11

Computer workstations 10 15 4

Assistance to patrons 11 3 18

Overnight facilities 12 13 10

Scanners 13 14 14

Stationeries 14 9 17

Research carrels 15 16 9

Importance and performance gap

Popular features

• Zones for different types of learning behaviours

• Customized noise, food & drink policy

• Better acoustics for group & social activities

• Round-the-clock facilities

• Flexible furniture & partitions for routine activies & events

• Efficient WiFi connection and coverage

• Wireless services and online booking

• Learning technologies

• Effective directional and instructional signage

• Counter supported by roving service

HKUL’s Phase 3: Ingenium

Ingenium, 2/F Main Library, HKU (1,457 sq.m.)Design intent: A centrepiece of HKU to support and showcase the interdisciplinary learning, teaching and research of students and staff with library resources, innovative technology and inspirational environment.

INSPIRATIONCONCEPTUALIZATIONVISUALIZATIONPRODUCTIONEXPOSITION

An exhibition and event space featuring a hanging virtual reality dome with high end projection systems to display normal and 360 degree videos/images under a three-storey tall atrium

Flexible space that can be used for study on normal days and transformed into a large venue for conferences, seminars, book talks and other events with the help of foldable sound proof partitions

Recent additions of e-resources (info kiosk) and print books (bookshelves), plus self-service stations to check out/in library materials and process express print jobs.

Tech@Ingenium for users to experience and conceptualize creative ideas with workstations equipped with artificial intelligence and virtual reality software Library Innovation Centre (LIC): A

space managed by the Media Services

Digital Interactive Lab with foldable partitions and a large visualization wall comprised of twelve 55” LCD TV that can support data visualization and presentation of high definition images for digital scholarly research and knowledge exchange in meetings, seminars, workshops, instructional classes, etc. It can also be converted into a discussion area with the provision of a portable digital whiteboard system and whiteboard tables for idea/concept generation.

One button studio and two editing rooms for creating, recording and editing digital audio/visual files. Users can produce audiovisual materials/assignments for blended learning and different kinds of campus activities. Students can also use the studio as a means to improve their public speaking and presentation skills.

PC/MAC workstations with design software to test out and visualize ideas in 2D format

3D scanners to facilitate data collection for constructing digital 3D models; 3D printers, vinyl cutter and laser cutter to produce actual prototypes.

Two SEN rooms for individual learning of students with visual impairment or other special education needs

Five sound proof Concept & Creation rooms for brainstorming new concepts and ideas

All facultiesAnimal AsiaCentre for Applied English Studies (CAES)Centre for Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS)Centre for Sports and Exercise (CSE)Common CoreInformation Technology Services (ITS)Mingde ProjectStudent UnionTechnology-Enriched Learning Initiative (TELI)

Partners and collaborators

New teaching and learning spaces at HKULin Main Library Location Purposes Optimal capacity

Seminar Room, G/F Workshops, seminars, talks, etc. 15 to 60

Ingenium

Library Innovation

Centre – Open

classroom

Workshops and classes teaching multimedia

skillsAround 15

Library Innovation

Centre – Digital

Interactive Lab

Seminars, workshops, classes, events and

activities requiring high quality visualization

system

40 to 80

Tech@Ingenium Classes and activities using VR or AI facilities 20 to 40

Exhibition Area Exhibitions, events and activities with large

exhibitsAround 150

Multipurpose Area Seminars, workshops, flipped classes and

activities requiring audiovisual aidsAround 150

Classes from

Faculties of

Education &

Engineering

Activities & Events@Ingenium

AI/VR Demo @

Ingenium Opening

Common Core

Student Learning Festival

Asia Symposium for Engineering

Education

Centre for IT in

Education

Research

Symposium

CITERS

Library leadership and change in an age of

uncertainty

Change

LEADERSHIP

Transformational

Transactional

Participative

The

Future(s)

What are the primary constraints on your ability to make desired changes in your library?

Issues for library leadership: some views

• Continuing print–electronic balance nexus (emphasis and articulation)

• Greater strategic influence – eg research, community, learning practices, policy

• Strategic alignment => demonstrating impact

• “Inside” vs “outside” roles

• De-emphasise physical vs emphasise partner, leader

• Greater understanding of users – not just what they say (Henry Ford)

• Experimentation and risk

• Rapid change requires rapid response

• Meaningful and impactful collaboration and partnerships across boundaries

• Multiple “personality” (ages, professions, etc) library staff

• Integrity

Recent library advertisements• lead and manage

• lead evidence based business planning

• strategic development

• leading, motivating and developing staff

• strategic leader

• project management skills

• budget and contract management skills

• innovative and strategic thinker

• strong business acumen

• Influencer

• relationship building skills

• excited by positive change and driven by innovation

• balance the political environment

• delivering inspiring community architecture

• Anticipatory thinkers.

• Risk tolerant and supportive of creativity and innovation.

• Effective conveners/brokers/

facilitators.

• Courageous decision makers.

• Resilient and able to “bounce forward” after a crisis or setback.

Developing library leaders

HKU Annual Library Leadership Institute

2020 HKUL Leadership Institute

April 19-23

The University of Hong Konghttps://lib.hku.hk/leadership/2020.html

“Library Leadership in the 4th

Industrial Revolution”

What role for LIS schools?

Conclusions and Takeaways

• Demands on academic libraries are rapidly evolving/escalating

• The physical library space is still important but needs to evolve

• This evolution must be attuned to users needs

• Evolution requires change in order for libraries to remain impactful

• Change requires evolving styles of leadership

• Libraries must continuously evolve in order to maximise their impact.

• Boyce, G., Greenwood, A., Haworth, A. et al. (5 more authors) (2019) Visions of value : leading the development of a view of the University Library in the 21st century. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 45 (5). 102046. ISSN 0099-1333, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2019.102046 (accessed October 2, 2019).

• Dempsey L., Malpas C. (2018) Academic Library Futures in a Diversified University System. In: Gleason N. (eds) Higher Education in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore.

• Meister, J. (2010), 5 new skills needed for leadership in 2020, available at: www.humanresourcesiq.com/business-strategies/articles/5-new-skills-needed-for-leadership-in-2020/#.UUw93lvtg4Q (accessed November 1, 2018).

• Mrig, A. & Sanaghan, P. (2017), The Skills Future Higher-Ed Leaders Need to Succeed, Academic Impressions, available at https://www.academicimpressions.com/PDF/future-skillset.pdf (accessed October 2, 2019).

• Pinfield, S, Cox, AM & Rutter, S (2017), Mapping the Future of Academic Libraries: A Report for SCONUL (Society of College, National & University Libraries), (2017), available at https://sconul.ac.uk/ (accessed November 1, 2018).

• Wolff-Eisenberg, Christine. US Library Survey 2016. Ithaka S+R. 3 April 2017. Web. 1 November 2018. https://doi.org/10.18665/sr.303066.

• Yang, TT, Sidorko, PE & Woo, EMW (2016),Cultivating leadership in Asian libraries: a longitudinal impact study, Library Management, Vol. 37 Iss 4/5 pp. 243 – 264 http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/LM-02-2016-0012 (accessed October 2, 2019).

Thank You!!