Librarychat with Corin Haines

Even though we were halfway around the world from each other, the conversation felt like we were sitting in the same room together.

In related news, a study I conducted for the State of Arizona to investigate current “library as publisher” eBook models has been released.  The working name for the Arizona effort is “DAZL” – for Digital Arizona Library.

If you are curious about some of the technical details of the “Douglas County Model” ) for library eBook publishing (pioneered by DCL, Marmot Libraries, and others in Colorado) I think you will find the report worthwhile.  You can download the environmental scan report (including an analysis of technology configurations, estimated project costs and recommendations) or browse related project files (including other reports, including overall DAZL program recommendations) here.

We have a nice preview write-up on the Razorfish blog.

And check out the lineup at a brand-new library thing called the #ideadrophouse.

Yowsa — libraries loud & proud at SXSW!

As we embrace the new I’m thankful for so much — and especially all of the excellent people I’ve been fortunate enough to work with.  The projects have been stimulating and satisfying — from facilities master planning, technology planning, tech assessments, coaching, keynote speeches at conferences, teaching, and other activities.  But the real joy has been working with so many outstanding people, all across the country.

As libraries face some of the greatest challenges in their histories, they are also in some very good hands.

Experienced librarians are using their wisdom and knowledge to navigate through the murky waters of eMaterials and remind us that although formats change, the core mission of the public library – connecting people to information, ideas and enrichment as a public-funded good — endures.

New generations of librarians are entering the profession with a native understanding of digital formats, multiple modes of communication and the power of customer service.  These librarians are asking all of the right questions — and with the  spirit and energy to “make it happen” or #mih.

The combination of these elements makes me feel very lucky indeed.

Here’s to you, and to all the best in 2013!

The day was full of excellent presentations – go to the TEDx FoCo site to see them all!

Have you heard of the Digital Public Library of America?  If not, this is a great time to get acquainted.  As a member of the Audience & Participation workstream, I attended two days of DPLA meetings in Chicago on October 11-12.

One goal of the DPLA is to take content that already exists - especially rich archives of local history that have been digitized across the country — and make it easy to discover and use for people all over the world, whether they are using a computer or a mobile device.

The DPLA is also creating a structure that will make it easier for libraries, museums and other cultural heritage groups across the country — both big and small — to make their unique and historic treasures available to the world.

With a major new funding grant from the Knight Foundation , a newly seated board of directors, and hundreds of highly-energized volunteers, the DPLA is on track to release a  the first version of the DPLA platform in Spring 2012.

The  DPLA is also looking for its first Executive Director.  As one participant put it, someone who wants to get up every morning and ask themselves “How will I help change the world *today*?”  Are you as excited about this as I am?  If so, please submit your suggestions to the DPLA! 

It was great to spend time with the Marmot User’s Group annual meeting in Grand Junction, Colorado on 9/20 — what a great group!  I gave the Thursday keynote – “The Great Library Swindle: Your Rights Are At Risk”

The CoPLA  eMedia Smackdown (simultaneous live event at five locations in Colorado, hooked together by technology but with a focus on the in-person event via excellent facilitators) on 9/21 was off the hook!  I was live in Durango, Colorado (as speaker/facitator/host/tech :0), and the level of engagement from the participants was outstanding!  We are planning to make all of the content from the day available soon, but in the meantime  you can see my kick-off for the day here, followed by a presentation from the leader of the Colorado Independent Publisher’s Association:  http://www.spreecast.com/events/emedia-smackdown-morning-session-1.html

Finally, on 9/22 I was honored to be among some most excellent speakers at TEDx FoCo in Fort Collins, Colorado – presenting the “Swindle” talk to advocate for libraries.  Video from all of the TEDx FoCo talks should be available by November!

The opportunities and challenges of digital materials continue to loom large over libraries.  While we’ve been mostly reactive to changes, the time has come to “smackdown” eMedia (eBooks, eReaders, video and audio) and become proactive in molding the future of library content to benefit patrons everywhere.

This event is designed to spur dialog among participants to create understanding of the issues and identify strategies they can can use in their own libraries.

Five speakers will frame the most compelling eContent topics today, and excellent facilitators will help guide the discussion in five locations throughout Colorado for a compelling, fun-filled day!

More about the event.

Speaking is always a blast, but I love working directly with clients even more! Library Facility Master Planning (tech) has been so much fun, and working with other libraries on technology reviews and improvement plans has been just as great. When doing the tech reviews/audits, the IT pieces are often the simplest, and what really needs the most attention are the people who make it all happen, and the communication structures that connect everyone. There’s also been lots of action on the eBook and eMaterials front — it’s on everyone’s minds and libraries are beginning to take action!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — I love my work!

Other talks include TEDx FoCo (yowsa!), the Marmot User’s Group meeting (another yowsa!), Internet Librarian (Yowsa yowsa!), The New York Library Association (yowsa yowsa yowsa!), and more!

I have a mid-year’s resolution is to blog more frequently. Wish me luck!

Having clear goals is powerful — sometimes in ways we cannot imagine.  I had hoped to reach one new, non-library person at the South by Southwest Interactive conference. That one person happens to write for Time Magazine!

There’s no need for me to introduce the piece — Harry McCracken captured everything, perfectly:

http://techland.time.com/2012/03/11/sxsw-the-fate-of-libraries/

The session was great — 50 folks attended in a room set up for about 330.  At SXSW, where the competition for attendance is intense,  I was thrilled to have 50 people attend a session about library advocacy!

Want to see the slides?   Head over to the Resources page!

**New 4/2/2012**  A podcast of the talk is available here.  Yowsa!

**New 5/16/2012**  Library Journal has a nice article about SXSW here.

**New 5/25/2012**  A video from a 5-minute version (For Ignite Fort Collins) is available here.

“I was blown away by ‘If Books are Our Brand,’ by Carson Block.  It is an outstanding article.  It’s everything I would have written if I was smart enough to do so.  Every e-reader class I teach or every time I demonstrate the e-book catalog, I get that odd sense that I am sending folks further away from the library.  It’s a strange feeling; worse than when we lost $85,000 in funding.  Money will always be a problem; it’s the idea that as library professionals, we feel less relevant–even in a fleeting moment.

The article is dead-on; ‘this is about how market forces could, perhaps unknowingly and without malice, wipe out the public good served by libraries.’  This is exactly what I couldn’t seem to quite ‘get’ when trying to wrap my head around e-books and e-readers and their impact on libraries.

And I agree, ‘knowing how to go forward isn’t a snap,’ but with the issue so succinctly clarified by Mr. Block, it eases my mind a bit and re-enforces my commitment to what I believe is our brand–reading.  Yes, we must ‘have access to the resources and tools in an ever changing world,’ but we must fundamentally champion reading.”

Sharon McRae, Director
Shaler North Hills Library
Glenshaw, PA

http://www.shalerlibrary.org/