This document discusses the core purpose of libraries and how they can remain relevant. It argues that libraries should focus on addressing user needs and problems, not just library needs. Libraries must understand users' goals to provide services like learning opportunities, community building, access to information, and literacy development. Technologies should enhance these purposes by solving user problems simply and contextually. The document stresses that libraries represent community, learning, and progress, so they must continue innovating while honoring their traditional roles.

1. Wrapping It UpWhat is at the Heart of Libraries? Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLA COSUGI: Disney World Florida March 5, 2010

2. These slides available Monday at Stephen’s Lighthouse blog

13. Equity (digital divide, integrating population growth, generations, etc.)

14. Student Performance (up to 25 point increase)

15. Competitive Advantage (Canada, EC, India, China, etc.)

16. Social Glue

17. Community

18. Learning

21. How Do You Capture Ideas? And Cultivate and Nurture Them?

23. You can’t wait for everyone to change at once.

24. Bricks, Clicks and Tricks

25. 5 Tricks You Can Do Right Away Number One: What are your top reference questions?

26. 5 Tricks You Can Do Right Away Number Two: Do a Signage Audit

27. 5 Tricks You Can Do Right Away Number Three: Get Some Widgets (Hint: API)

28. 5 Tricks You Can Do Right Away Number Four: Get Jiggy with GIS.

29. 5 Tricks You Can Do Right Away Number Five: Go Beyond Statistics Google Analytics Foresee

30. 5 Tricks You Can Do Right Away Little Gale Cengage Ad: Double Your Usage EVERY 18 months! Ask Us. We know how. We have a huge and growing widget library (hundreds and all Facebook enabled) We’ll build websites and landing pages for free (over 1,000 so far) We’ll install Google Analytics and Foresee for free AccessMyLibrary iPhone app free (Hope Droid…) Ask me about strategic partnerships (examples)

31. Are we going to a totally build it yourself world? Imagine IKEA merging with GM...

34. Newspapers: Assemble them yourself. Re-imagine the textbook, coursepack, etc.

35. Yes, this is ancient marketing/sales wisdom: they aren't buying your hammer, they are buying the deck of their dreams. Help them build it.

36. Will Reading Matter?Are your staff confusing books and reading? Audiobooks, Cengage and eBooks . . . And Google

37. http://www.flickr.com/photos/keeping-it-real/160822516/

38. What does your best borrowed report look like? Is your Community different? http://www.flickr.com/photos/blu_blue/262096844/in/pool-booksandportraits

39. What does your book and article or website recommendation blog/RSS feed look like? Who is your star recommender? http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthk/2054262239/

40. How do your community content reviews do? Who is your best teen reviewer? http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjanebuy/340249608/in/pool-booksandportraits

41. How are your web based communities doing? How many dozen are there? http://www.flickr.com/photos/mthiesson/176153663/

42. Do your users like your video author interviews? Your YouTube DVD trailers? http://www.flickr.com/photos/lori_an/319433801/

43. Do you offer podcasts? Do you record every story time? Every lecture?

45. ChiliFresh

46. LibraryThing for Libraries

47. SOPAC, VuFind, Endeca, etc.

48. Delicious

49. Digg

50. YouTubehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/lori_an/319433802/in/photostream/

51. Can you circulate books from anywhere? Like the parking lot, lecture hall, classroom, sidewalk sale, or nursing home? http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_mistress/525385533/

52. http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_mistress/525385511/

53. The thing about success, is that it’s not about things. Or 2.0 Technology

54. Make a list of your last 10 projects. Now describe them in terms that they only solved an end user problem – NOT a library problem. By any chance do you prioritize your needs over end users?

55. What problems do you solve?Are they librarian or end user problems?

56. Draw a 1 to 7 scale.1___2___3___4___5___6___7Plot all initiatives on it.One: Solves end-user problems from the end user’s perspectiveSeven: Solves library staff problems and pain points?

57. What do libraries want? Relevance Making a Difference

59. Can you describe end user pain points and dreams and desires in their terms?What are their real goals?

60. Observe Your Users

62. NO

63. OK – Now let’s ask ourselves what our users really, REALLY want.

64. Self-Service Web Portal

65. NO

66. Context is King, not Content.

67. Do we truly understand their goals?

68. Can we at least agree that they don’t want whiz bang widgets, gadgets, shiny new tools or any other raw technology? Let’s address the human condition.

70. Eye Movement Changes

71. Learning Styles Visual/Spatial (Picture Smart) Verbal/Linguistic (Word Smart) Musical/Rhythmic (Music Smart) Logical/Mathematical (Number Smart) Bodily/Kinesthetic (Body Smart) Interpersonal (People Smart) Intrapersonal (Self Smart) Piaget, Bloom, Gardner, etc.

74. Diabetes Online Yes, Stephen did just say Lizard Spit

75. Luck / Opportunity

76. Community

77. Conversations

78. Relationships

79. Community Networks

80. Life

81. Alerts

82. Connection

83. Personalization

84. Personalization

85. Personalization

86. I am unique.Understand me. It’s personal.

87. Don’t limit me!Who are you to limit me?

88. How many dead ends in your library? On your website? In your OPAC?

90. Comfort

91. Simplicity

92. Learning

93. Literacy News literacy Technology literacy Information literacy Media literacy Adaptive literacy Research literacy Academic literacy Etc. Reading literacy Numeracy Critical literacy Social literacy Computer literacy Web literacy Content literacy Written literacy

94. Play

96. Growing up from books, Extending the experience

97. Where and When They Want It

101. Who Are Your Staff Stars? Do Your Users Know Their Names?

102. Culture Conservation and Protection

103. Progress

105. These are exciting times. Choose between achieving a dynamic and exciting future vision or longing for a nostalgic past.

106. What is at the heart of libraries? Learning Interaction Community Innovation Passion Progress

107. No Quick Fixes

111. Is it Frozen in Time?

112. The BIG Assumption “The Internet has now progressed to its infancy” Search, Social Networks, Learning, Commerce

113. LibrariesCreating the Third Path…

114. What is the scariest scenario for libraries?I have an archaeology background . . .

116. Re-Energizing Libraries

118. What is at the heart of libraries? Is it you?

119. Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLA VP strategic partnerships and markets Gale Cengage Learning Cel: 416-669-4855 stephen.abram@cengage.com Stephen’s Lighthouse Blog http://stephenslighthouse.com