Visioning ideas, group 1 (see also group 2, Jan. 23)
Jan. 16, 2009
A group of MIT Libraries staff met on Jan. 16 to contribute more thoughts to the process.
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Here's what we did during the meeting:
1. readings, read these silently while people were arriving, discussed briefly:
- People don't go to libraries for information.... they go there because.... (from Designing Better Libraries blog)
Excerpts:
The first thing that comes to my mind is that libraries think they are in the information business but they are really in the education or learning business.
libraries are in the knowledge business, and that since knowledge is created through conversations libraries are also or ultimately in the business of facilitating community conversations.
he sees libraries as being in the productivity business, helping students and faculty to efficiently get the resources and help they need to acheive their objectives.
- Innovation: How the Creative Stay Creative
- Get Multicultural
- Provide Lots of Free Time to Think
- Encourage Risky Behavior
- Write it Down
- Hire Smart
- Bring in Outsiders
- Be Flexible. Very Flexible
- Do it for Free
- Mix Up Your People
2. watched this 5-minute video to clarify what a vision statement is and how it's different from a mission statement:
http://mystrategicplan.com/resources/whiteboard-video-how-to-write-a-vision-statement/
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4. core values:
Example of core values from Zappos.com
- Deliver WOW Through Service
- Embrace and Drive Change
- Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
- Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
- Pursue Growth and Learning
- Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
- Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
- Do More With Less
- Be Passionate and Determined
- Be Humble
Some ideas Ideas for core values that would make sense for MIT Libraries:
1. Deliver WOW through service.
2. Embrace and drive change.
3. Create fun and a little weirdness.
4. Be creative, open-minded, and innovative.
5. Pursue growth and learning.
6. Understand user needs and go beyond what they are asking for.
7. Work smarter and collaborate more.
8. Integrate and embed our services into the lives and practices of our community.
9. Advocate for open access to information.
10. Strive for simplicity rather than complexity.
5. Exercise:
Reversals: The Worst Library Ever
We brainstormed qualities of the worst possible library. Then we reversed these qualities to help us think about what an excellent library could be.
Worst:
- no one knows we existit exists
- can't find a live person
- no resources
- disorganized
- closed all the time
- no money
- leaking
- poor quality / outdated materials
- uncomfortable space (not conducive to study)
- hoop jumping to get what you want/ need
- no technology resources (computers, photocopiers)
- not inspiring
- inconsistent policies
- red tape
- long waiting times
- restrictions/ censorship
- no privacy
- crabby, rude staff
- poor layout
- no clear way to figure out what is available
- no circulation of materials
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- everyone at MIT knows about the libraries and what we do
- we have the personal touch by assigning a "personal librarian" to each student when they come to MIT, that person stays with them throughout their career and serves an almost "therapist/advisor" role, putting them in touch with people/resources/experts and being available to them, developing a personal relationship over time. doesn't matter which discipline area because this person can put them in touch with the experts they need via collaboration with peers in other subject areas.
- 25/7 global virtual access (by collaborating with partners in other countries/time zones where MIT programs and people are)
- materials available on demand via ebook/multimedia reader such as future Amazon Kindle/ipod like device issued to each member of the MIT community, library acts like the "amazon kindle store" and supplies books/journals/multimedia to users for instant download/on demand to these devices. could provide items that expire at end of each semester (like iTunes movie rentals, but longer duration), option for student to purchase the item if they want to keep it on their device, library also stores backup copies on servers (or in cloud from a vendor), just like Amazon does for Kindle books.
- virutal virtual library available on e-reader promotes quality items based on reader interests/preferences, recommended by librarian experts and other MIT experts or by peers
- circulation is an outdated concept, due to "on demand" availability of items from worldwide collections collections
- inspiring virtual AND physical space
- on-demand, immediate access
- no due dates: use re-call
- effective marketing
- the "right" (that is, selective) resources/materials for the community
- automated capture of MIT research and information, e.g. presentations
- "top 10s" available by subject, etc.; may be user- or system-generated
- "crowd sourcing," collaborative inventing with our users
- excellent search and discovery tools
6. Exercise:
What if libraries were like.....
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Other thoughts:
The role of librarians would move from building collections, to becoming expert filters and recommendersfiltering and making recommendations. The collections would exist out in the world, and be brought to the users "on demand", but so librarians would play a key role in recommending titles that users may not know about. Other users/peers/anyone could also play this role together with librarians.
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