CIL2007: The Library of the Future

Louise Parker Berry

  • Three Principles
    • a covenant w/ our patrons
    • stay ahead of expectations
    • be the first of the new libraries, no the last of the old
  • Two Goals
    • design and build an absolutely fantastic new library
    • use tech wherever it will make us more efficient and effective and however is will meet our patron’s demand
  • One Rule
    • Tolerate Uncertainty
  • Continuing vision
    • eternal values
    • new technology

Alan Kirk Gray

  • Architect of the new library
  • [maps and plans of the new library]
  • Green building
  • .5 energy of typical building
  • using ground water for heating
  • [artists renditions]

Peter Gisolfi

  • The fine print
    • just a cute little library in SW CT
    • your mileage may vary
    • you may legitimately believe there is a good reason for you to do things differently
    • not going to slap a layer of tech over an existing plan
  • Four principles
    • it’s not our library
    • take real risks
    • failure IS an option
    • get it right, finally, ant then keep changing to stay ahead.
  • Planning horizon graphic (pyramid chart)
  • OODA
    • Observe
    • Orient
    • Decide
    • Act
  • Out library is a story
    • what is our voice?
    • “the good writer treats each unit individually, developing them one by one” -John Garndner
  • Tech layers
    • Infrastucture
    • Admin
    • staff
    • parton indirect
    • patron direct
    • p2p
  • RFID Materials Handling System

    • 3M &FKI
    • There are legit alternatives
  • Drive for show, putt for dough
    • self check works for the benefit of the patron
    • Materials handling can have….
  • get a good RFID system
    • Skip the RFP process
    • have each competitor deisgn to your needs
    • more important process = less valuable RFP is
  • if you do it right
    • no tech services or circ back office
    • no cataloging
    • workflow managers, not clerks
    • a small workspace to deal with expectations
  • in other words
    • outsource everything
  • thought experiment
    • what if no book trucks?
    • would it be full of knowledge workers?
  • metrics
    • active item back on shelf in 20 min
    • inventory turns per item doubled
    • cost per circ halved
    • time from order to first circ: 18 hours
    • annual circ per FTP: 40,000
  • long tail
    • we want a short (support) tail
  • it’s the supply chain stupid
    • fast second order
    • direct order and hip to patron
    • delivery from distributor same day
  • let’s not stop there
    • everyone in front of desks
    • circ staff become reader’s advisors
    • info staff are at remote ref points
    • tech staff work in partnership w/ patrons
    • we’ll have a virtual library too
  • Not ref desk, concierge desk
  • eveolution of ref services
    • IM
    • Video chat
    • WebEx
    • 24/7 local remote at off hours
  • Small office / mobile office
    • a.k.a. “small Kinkos”
  • collaborative spaces
    • smart study rooms
    • conference room
    • community room
    • MANY POWER OUTLETS!
  • Still needs some help
    • [list of things here]
  • no
    • security
    • gaming
    • “extra” patron data ports
    • no PCs in teen area
  • Coming not soon enough
    • VublQ

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