Difference Between Search & Browse Methods in Odoo 17
All Together Now: Keynote for NJLA Adult Services Forum 2010
1. NJLA Adult Services Forum
All Together Now: Celebrating Collaboration Among
Libraries and Communities
Peter Bromberg, Assistant Director, Princeton Public Library
peterbromberg@gmail.com | peterbromberg.com
CC 2.0: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2137737248/sizes/l/in/photostream/
38. “There are many rich virtual
communities. But it remains the truth
that human beings are wired for
physical community. The library has
a role to play as neutral and
common ground, public space in
which free inquiry, lifelong learning,
and simply hanging out with each
other are not just allowed, but
encouraged.”
- Jamie LaRue, Director, Douglas County (CO) Library
39. “Innovation doesn’t
come just from giving
people incentives. It
comes from creating
environments where
ideas can connect.”
- Steven Johnson, Author of “Where Good Ideas
Come From: The Natural History of Innovation
40. Coherent Strategy
2. Get out of the library
CC 2.0: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/2212546989/sizes/m/in/photostream/
44. “Books and materials are
secondary in a public library.
The most important aspect is the
human interaction. The library
experience cannot be viewed as
just an information transaction,
but rather as an opportunity to
touch and connect lives.”
- Cheryl Napsha, Director, Westland Public Library
46. “The most important
element of a sustainable
library is engagement
with the community at
multiple levels.”
- Christopher Jowaisis, Texas State Library
48. Thank you!
Peter Bromberg, Assistant Director, Princeton Public Library
peterbromberg@gmail.com | peterbromberg.com
CC 2.0: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2137737248/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Notas do Editor
Thank you to Michael for inviting me to be here today.
Fabulous day planned
A seemingly simple question, and one I try to continually ask and answer. Every day
Take a moment, and think about the question. Why are we here today at the Adult Services Forum in Manalapan, NJ
Why are YOU here?
A story I heard recently on NPR has caused me to think a little differently about the question.
It was a story about the Hohokam. A civilization that lived from about 2000 years ago until about 500 years ago in what is now Phoenix
[click]
They were a fully formed civilization with art, culture, organized sports--- they’ve uncovered gaming courts…
They thrived for 1500 years and then disappeared. Here’s a picture of what’s left of their great civilization that spanned 1500 years (or about 6 ½ times longer than the US has been around.)
What happened? It’s unclear. Might have been flood, might have been drought.
Might have been they started cutting funding for libraries and it was quickly downhill from there…
[click]
Here’s an artists rendering of what their civilization looked like
And, to be fair,… A thousand year’s from now, an artist may render their interpretation of our Casa Grande visitor center…
[click]
(perhaps they’ll wonder what ancient civilization this slightly less ancient civilization was honoring.
Let’s further define some terms….
What do we mean by “here”
For a little more perspective…
Well, who are WE?
Of the 106 billion people who have ever lived, we get to interact with a few hundred, maybe a few thousand
Look around you, these are the people you get to spend time with
Our time here
So I will ask again: Why are we here today? Because
Life is short (Hohokam)
Our time together is precious
We want to use my time here to make a difference
I want to be awake and fully present
Enrich my life and the lives of those around me.
More traditional conceptions of Adult Services on the left
{click}
More progressive conceptions of Adult Services on the right
Any others? (transliteracy?) (Transliteracy is the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks.)
I’m glad to see that we’re expanding our thinking of adult services beyond reference and RA and preservation.
I’m thrilled to see some of the topics on the schedule today
Gaming
Ebooks (digitial content)
Social Media
Policies (this is fantastic – who’s idea was that?)
Marketing to the community
Multimedia
Advocacy
Screencasting
Emerging Technologies!
Again, I’m glad to see that we’re expanding our thinking of adult services beyond reference and RA and preservation. [click]
I think our challenge, as we continue to expand our offerings is to ensure that they are not simply a laundry list.
As you move forward throughout the day, and after you leave here and begin applying some of the wonderful ideas you will hear about today, I’d like you to think about how we can offer them In a coherent way. Specifically, we need to do 3 things
You may have noticed… it’s been a tough year
Engage in the Library
We need to passionately extend ourselves OUT into the community.
We must continually market ourselves, connecting what we do and what we offer, to the value and impact we have in the lives of our community members.
Proactively partner with members, orgs, agencies in our community.
Engage in the Library. Make the library HIGHLY engaging.
Programming
Merchandising
Even Java and Visual Basic can be engaging…
CC 2.0 Peter Bromberg (photo taken at Mount Laurel Library)
Listening Station at Princeton Public Library
Audiobooks and Movies signs at Princeton Public Library
Movies neon sign at Mount Laurel Library
Allen County Public Library
Aquarium at Princeton Public Library
Café at: Princeton Public Library
FOOD!!! Vending Machines at Mount Laurel Library
CC 2.0 Peter Bromberg (photo taken at Mount Laurel Library)
World cup
http://www.flickr.com/photos/princetonpubliclibrary/sets/72157624352026487/
World cup
Community
Social
Emotion
http://www.flickr.com/photos/princetonpubliclibrary/4755242266/in/set-72157624352026487/
More ideas abound..
(this is my Janie Hermann CASE study)
The importance of Library as Place.
Giving people a neutral place just to BE
Make it a place that feels good to BE
Steven Johnson blows the idea of the “lone inventor” out of the water.
People need conducive environments to innovate
They need serendipity
They need browsing and stimulation
They need other people.
We need to passionately extend ourselves OUT into the community.
This means getting out into our communities.
This might mean getting away from the reference desk!
changing our staffing patterns.
Using our time better
“Reprofessionalizing (Jo McCausland)
Do more “by appointment”
Liaise with community groups. Go to meetings, sit on Boards.
Don’t wait for them to come to you
Go to them, listen for what they are doing, find ways the library can support them
Information services, training, meeting, etc.
See if there are partnership opportunities… (i.e. Princeton Futures)
We must continually market ourselves, connecting what we do and what we offer, to the value and impact we have in the lives of our community members.
So we don’t offer a class in Searching RefUSA, we offer a series on Taking your business to the next level through information mastery. (offer certificates?)
In our marketing and advocacy, we must focus less on what we do, and how great we are and focus more on how what our offerings and services help people live better lives. Help our communities to be better communities.
More connected,
more educated,
more empowered.
The Difference between
[click] superlibrarian and
[click] super patron (Edward Vielmetti)
We exist to serve and strengthen our communities and the members of our communities. We exist for them.
OCLC “From Awareness to Funding” report suggests that strong library support is strongly tied to perceptions that we are transformational and empowering.
Tailor our programming, merchandising, and marketing to reinforcing these ideas.
When we hit the sweet spot, of offering something that is truly empowering, and then marketing it that way
Something like, oh say, QandAN
Which generates this kind of response from customers.
“Books and materials are secondary in a public library. The most important aspect is the human interaction. The library experience cannot be viewed as just an information transaction, but rather as an opportunity to touch and connect lives.”
- Cheryl Napsha, Director, Westland Public Library
Proactively partner with members, orgs, agencies in our community.
Why Partner?
You may have noticed… it’s been a tough year
While usage is up (good thing!) OCLC’s “From Awareness to Funding” report (2008) reveals that
People who use the library “just for fun” are our HEAVIEST USERS—AND LEAST LIKELY OF OUR ‘PROBABLY SUPPORTERS” TO SAY THEY WOULD DEFINITELY VOTE TO FUND THE LIBRARY.
By partnering broadly across the community
Theaters, Museums
Restaurants
Professors/teachers
Hobbyists (knitters, scrapbookers, computer clubs)
Community Clubs
Business clubs and networking
Organizations
Business people and networking groups (linkedin)
Writers and writing groups
Artists
You shift your perception and theirs--- from it being your library, to it being OUR library– a co-created entity that they will feel ownership of and love for. THAT translates into support.
“The most important element of a sustainable library is engagement with the community at multiple levels.”
Christopher Jowaisis, Texas State Library
Libraries have a long, proud, and successful history of collaboration, resources sharing and partnerships
We have the skills. Perhaps more importantly, we have the DNA
We invented resource sharing. We invented shared records and collections.
Let’s take that ethos, let’s take what’s in our library DNA and magnify it.
Let’s take everything we’ve learned about working well with each other, with other libraries redirect that to our communities.
At every turn, let’s look for and nurture partnerships in our communities. Build off of those relationships we already have.
Now more than ever we need to have not just satisfied customers, but strong advocates.
And the only way to create that kind of advocacy and support is to engage our customer and invite them to co-create the library with us.
When we do that, advocating for the library becomes the same as advocating for themselves, for their children, and for their community.
In this way we will strengthen our libraries as we strengthen our communities.
I have the greatest faith that in spite of the temporary economic dip, (and in some ways, because of it) we will emerge stronger and sounder, and well-positioned to play a vital role in the lives of those that we serve.
Have a wonderful day!