tem could be a way to build up points that could be redeemed for books or other rewards. In effect, we are paying users to contribute reviews to the s
Visioning ideas, group 2 (see also group 1, Jan. 16)
Jan. 23, 2009
A group of MIT Libraries staff met on Jan. 23 to contribute more thoughts to the process.
Who came:
Nicole Hennig, facilitator
Mat Willmott
Jennifer Friedman
Barbara Williams
Bill Helman
Courtney Crummett
Ryan Gray
Jeremiah Graves
Roshini Gohil
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/
3. Nicole read excerpts from Subject to Change: Creating Great Products and Services for an Uncertain World
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 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:
Reversing assumptions
We brainstormed a list of assumptions about the MIT Libraries or academic libraries in general.
We then went through the list and reversed each assumption.
We then talked about which one of these reversals might actually make sense. Certain themes emerged.
6. Exercise:
What if libraries were like.....
Each person chose one of the following:
- Craiglist
- YouTube
- Flickr
- Paypal
- LibraryThing
We then imagined library services that borrow from the qualities we like from those services.
A. Craigslist: what if libraries were like Craigslist?
Exercises were inspired by the book: Thinkertoys