Library of the Future
Darien (CT) Library
April 18, 2007
Computers in Libraries
Louise Berry – Director
(I still find it disturbing when someone says “Louise said…” and they’re not talking about me. There are so few Louise’s in the world!)
Three Principles
A covenant with our patrons
Stay ahead of expectations
The first of the new libraries, not the last of the old
To goals
Design and build and absolutely fantastic new library. “the great, good place”
Use tech wherever it will make us more efficient and meet our patrons demands
“not the law of supply and need, but rather demand”
One Rule: Tolerate Uncertainty
Continuing Vision: Eternal Values with New Technology
Architects:
Intimidating to try to plan for the future – have visions of the past of libraries.
Permanence and Change
(shows setting of where library is situated)
Most active things on first floor. “Marketplace” - children’s lib, café, program room, fiction.
Traditional library above, technology center below.
Recycle rainwater. – Green building.
Lower level (basement) – tech center plus tech services
Second level – more traditional library.
Above 2nd floor, mezzanine. Extra 6000 sq. ft. – spaces for private, interactive, collaborative work.
Exterior “belongs to New England”
“Traditional” “Public” “Power” Library (Top to bottom in building)
Want responsive public building that responds to fast rate of change of tech.
Alan Gray:
“The fine print”:
-we’re jus a cute little public library in SW CT
-ymmv
-you may legitimately belive ther is good reason for you to do things differently.
-But we absolutely are not going to just slap a layer of tech over a new building
Four principles:
-it’s not our library, it’s the patrons
-take real risks,
-failure is an option
-Get it right, finally, and then keep changing to stay ahead
Suggests LibSuccess Wiki should have companion LibFailures wiki, since we learn as much from that. (Meredith, are you listening?)
(He just said something about "those of you who are fighter pilots". Ummm...are there a lot of fighter pilot librarians??)
Technology Layers
-infrastructure
-admin tech
-staff tech
-patron indirect - don't care about tech, they want a library service - should be seamless and invisible
-patron direct - set up library so they can use tech as tech
-p2p
Most important tech implementation
-materials handling system that happens to have an RFID front end (3M and FKI)
"Drive for show, putt for dough"
-self-check works for the benefit of the patron
-materials handling can have a major benefit for the library
Getting RFID materials handling system
-skip the RFP process - it's a waste of time and money and effort
-have each competitor design to your needs, quote a committeed cost and then justify
-No tech services and no circ back office
-No cataloging
-workflow managers, not clerks
-a small workspace to deal with exceptions. - catalog maybe 50-100/year. Could outsource.
-don't want to care if the book coming in is returned by patron or off the UPS truck from BWI! Treat it the same
What would a library be if it needed no booktrucks?!
Would it be full of knowledge workers? INstead of people pushing stuff around.
Metrics
-active items back on shelf in 20mins
-inventory turns per item doubled
-cost per circ halved
-time from order to first circ: 18hrs
-annual circ per FTE: 40,000
Long Tail? - we want a short (support) tail.
It's the supply chain, stupid!
-fast second order
-direct order and ship to patron - charge to patron. if they give to library, discount?
-delivery from distributor same day eventually?
Let's not stop there:
-everyone out in front of desks
-circ staff become Reader Advisors
-info staff are at remote ref points
-tech staff work in partnership w/patrons
-we'll have a virtual library, too
Reference Pod - think of it as a concierge desk.
Ref Services
-staring IM
-video chat
-WebEx
-24/7 local remote at off hours
Think of it as small Kinko's - scan, print, etc.
Collaborative spaces - smart study rooms, 'corp-grade' conference room, community room with theatrical seating and outlets (yay!!!)
(I love that he a) had "sucks" in his PowerPoint and b) finished with an Unshelved comic!)
27 million dollar project, and they're raising it all privately!
