Public Library Strategies CyberTour

Stephen Abram, MLSComputers in Libraries Washington, DCApril 8, 2013

Librarian Magic

SmellyYellowLiquid

OrSex

Appeal?

The Complex Value Proposition

Grocery Stores

Cookbooks, Chefs . . .

Cookbooks, Chefs . . .

Meals

So What Should Our Library Priorities Be?Remaining Relevant and Having a Positive Impact

1. Community Focus?Or Engagement?Up Your Game• Know your local community demographics• Focus on needs assessment and social assessments• Outreach versus engagement and partnerships• Prioritize: Love all, Serve all, Save the World means nothing gets

done• Priorities are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, &

Time bound• Look for partnerships that add value

AmazonChapters/IndigoBarnes & NobleBN BookBrowser

BordersSuggestica

Inside a Dog (teens)MySpace BooksBooks We Like

OCLC's FictionFinderAll ConsumingLibraryThingNext Favorite

StoryCodeRating Zone

Hypatia and AlexLitWhichBook.netAllReaders.comReader's Robot

gnooks

2. Programs --- More, more, moreUp Your Game• Align with Collections – every collection must be justified by programs

and strategic alignment• Force strategic investment budgeting• Look for partnerships that add value• Don’t go it alone. Focus on large scale sustainable programs• Connect to the longer process not just events - Virtual and in-person• Programs that aren’t text first – Arduino, Makerspaces, music, media…• In the Library and reaching out with partners

What are the real issues?

• Craft versus Industrial Strength• Personal service only when there’s impact• Pilot, Project, Initiative versus Portfolio Strategy• Hand-knitted prototypes versus Production• e.g. Information Literacy and Fluency initiatives• Discovery versus Search versus Deep Search• eLearning units and program dissemination • Citation and information ethics• Content and repository archipelagos

• Strategic Analytics• Value & Impact Measures• Behaviours, Satisfaction• Economic and strategic alignment

3. Experience PortalsThe Virtual ‘Branch’ or ClassUp Your Game• Align with Collections – But add virtual experiences• Start being Mobile in the extreme• Look for partnerships that add value• Focus on relationship management / liaisons• Ensure the program delivery person is embedded including

librarians• What are your top 20 question domains? Start there.• Don’t go it alone. Build scalability and sustainability.• Look for replicability – every neighbourhood

The new bibliography and

collection development

Ask Us, KNOWLEDGE

PORTALSKNOWLEDGE,

LEARNING,INFORMATION &

RESEARCHCOMMONS

4. Learning StrategiesUp Your Game• Start offering diplomas and certificates• The Non-credit Course• Look for partnerships that add value• Offer real educational opportunities not just adjacencies• What does your community need for economic advantage?• What courses to you offer or recommend? (TED, Khan Academy,

etc.)• Play and connect yourself

5. Get real about homework

Up Your Game• Understand the new Common Curriculum (esp. 6-8 and 9-12)• Understand Pedagogy in the context of student experiences

and educational goals• Understand human development from early years through

teens and adult learning• Understand the projects• Connect across developmental stages, link to schools• Consider partnerships to put teachers in the library• Consider coaches and tutoring partnerships

6. Take Branding to the Next LevelUp Your Game• Take the strong ‘library’ brand and add dimension• Personal branding – Who are your stars? Promote them.• Program branding• Take risks for attention (AIDA)• Embed your brand beyond the library walls and virtually• Go beyond the information brand to informing, creating, and

social

7. Collections Alignment

Up Your Game• Grow collections investments in strategic areas (for example

economic impact, jobs, early years, hobbies, political alignment, homework, curriculum, degrees…)

• Develop hybrid strategies that are consistent and integrated for digital and print and programs

• Be obsessive about consultation, recommendations and advice• Integrate virtual and physical – hybridize• Social alignment rules

8. Uncomfortable Bonus: SacrificeUp Your Game• Dog, Star, Cow, Problem Child/?• Reduce investment in successes• Increase investment• Look at TCO• Look at all costs incurred and not just hard costs• Do NOT value your time at zero• Review opportunity costs in soft costs

Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLAConsultant, Dysart & Jones/Lighthouse Partners

Cel: 416-669-4855stephen.abram@gmail.comStephen’s Lighthouse Blog

http://stephenslighthouse.comFacebook, Pinterest, Tumblr: Stephen Abram

LinkedIn / Plaxo: Stephen AbramTwitter: @sabram

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