failing forward in the 21 st century lynn silipigni connaway, ph.d. senior research scientist oclc...
TRANSCRIPT
Failing Forward in the 21st Century
Lynn Silipigni Connaway, Ph.D.Senior Research ScientistOCLC [email protected]
Kathy RayDean of LibrariesUniversity of Nevada, [email protected]
Rick AndersonAssociate Dean, Marriott LibraryUniversity of [email protected]
“Perhaps the most convenient method of studying the consequences of this law will
be to follow the reader from the moment he enters the library to the moment he
leaves it…”
(Ranganathan 1931, 337)
"The librarian was able to address my specific needs with practical, useful information. She was friendly and appeared
genuinely glad to be helping me. I think the face-to-face format did help, since it was a relaxed meeting. I was comfortable with the librarian, so I was comfortable asking questions."
(Seeking Synchronicity, NOS-81566, Female, Age 19-28)
“I personally, I like the one on one, in person interaction. I feel like I get better results when I’m like with the person. So, for me, like I physically, not matter what it is, I will physically go to the library and ask for help. Otherwise you’re like, sometimes you may not get as many results online or over the phone.”
(Seeking Synchronicity, Focus Group, Female, Age 15-18)
“The librarian I asked seemed too occupied with other matters to pay any attention to my question, and she made me feel stupid and intrusive for even asking her such a thing.” (Seeking Synchronicity, NOS-61783, Female, Age 15-18)
“I’d rather go to two feet to my computer than a couple
of miles to the library.”(Seeking Synchronicity, Focus Group,
Male, Age 19-28)
“I despise the library. I will avoid it at any cost.” (Seeking Synchronicity, Focus Group, Female, Age 19-28)
“There is usually a collective groan when the teacher says you have to
use at least one book source, you can smell the human despair.”
(Seeking Synchronicity, NTI-137, Male, Age 15-18)
“The librarian was extremely nice, as well as helpful. She walked me towards the exact section I would be needing, and told me to let her know if I needed any
further help.” (Seeking Synchronicity, NOS-38269, Female, Age 19-28)
"I asked the librarian where the murder mystery books were located, she was kind of busy
checking in books, but still took the time to answer my question. She put down what she was doing
and she walked me to the correct section, instead of just pointing me that way."
(Seeking Synchronicity, NOS-65333, Female, Age 15-18)
“I work right next to the library, and even though I am constantly doing literature reviews, I rarely go there. Most things I need are online, and located fairly easily (thanks to Google). I'd have to have some pretty specific questions I
wouldn't trust to online searching.”
(Seeking Synchronicity, NOS-85046, Female, Public Library, Age 19-28)
Libraries Now:• Library assessment linked to
satisfaction & performance• Focus on sustainability• Evaluate how we’re doing right
now• Teaching information literacy• Information focused• Culture of tradition• Library’s role as providing
access to information & space to study
Libraries as Startup:• Library assessment tries to
anticipate unarticulated needs• Focus on revolutionary new
services• Evaluate direction we’re
headed• Build instructional support to
address information literacy• User-focused• Culture of innovation• Expand library’s role
Startup Solutions: New Models
• “Fail faster, fail smarter”• Failure is part of process
• “Good enough is good enough to start”• Have a raw form of concept & go
with it, then build upon success• “Feed the feedback loop”
• Let the users nurture the concept • to build it up
• Go beyond traditional library boundaries
Startup Solutions
“…change is a constant, and we need to learn to deal with it. No matter what type of library you’re in or what you do in it, it’s important to remember that you are in a service industry.”
(Glassmeyer 2010, 24)
• Plant many seeds• Try lots of decent ideas
instead of one good one • See what works
• Seize the white space• “Don’t limit your
innovation”
New Models
“By focusing on relationship building instead of service excellence, organizations can uncover new needs and be in position to
make a stronger impact.”
(Mathews 2012)
ReferencesConnaway, Lynn Silipigni, and Ixchel M. Faniel. 2014. Reordering Ranganathan: Shifting user behaviors, shifting priorities. Dublin, OH: OCLC Research. http://www.oclc.org/content/dam/research/publications/library/2014/oclcresearch-reordering-ranganathan-2014.pdf .
Connaway, L. S., Radford, M. L., & OCLC Research. (2011). Seeking synchronicity: Revelations and recommendations for virtual reference. Dublin, OH: OCLC Research. http://www.oclc.org/research/activities/synchronicity/default.htm
Dervin, B., Connaway, L. S., & Prabha, C. (2003-2005). Sense-making the information confluence: The hows and the whys of college and university user satisficing of information needs. Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Project Website URL: http://www.oclc.org/research/activities/past/orprojects/imls/default.htm
Glassmeyer, Sarah. 2010. Ranganathan 2.0. ALL Spectrum 14, no. 3:22-24.
Mathews, B. (2012). Think like a startup: A white paper to inspire library entrepreneurialism [White paper]. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/blognetwork/theubiquitouslibrarian/2012/04/04/think-like-a-startup-a-white-paper/
Radford, M. L., & L.S. Connaway. 2005–2008a. Seeking synchronicity: Evaluating virtual reference services from user, non-user, and librarian perspectives. Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). http://www.oclc.org/research/activities/synchronicity/.
Ranganathan, Shiyali Ramamrita. 1931. The five laws of library science. London: Edward Goldston, Ltd.
White, D., & Connaway, L. S. (2011). Visitors and residents: What motivates engagement with the digital information environment. Funded by JISC, OCLC, and Oxford University. http://www.oclc.org/research/activities/vandr/
Questions and Discussion