Thursday, October 20, 2011

Hey, What's the Big Idea?

This recent talk by R. David Lankes offers some novel thoughts on innovation and ideas (the bigger the better). Dr. Lankes traces how many big ideas (democracy, culture, entrepreneurial innovation) connect with librarianship as a profession, stressing how librarians - defined as anyone working in a library - have a pivotal role in improving the experience of all members of a library community.

Killing Librarianship from R. David Lankes on Vimeo.


What do you think of this reasoning? Is librarianship a cutting edge profession, capable of innovating in ways both large and small in ways that "improve society through facilitating knowledge creation?"

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

SLA's FutureReady365

If you are not already aware of SLA's FutureReady365 blog, check it out. http://futureready365.sla.org/
I'm bouncing in my chair at Internet Librarian 2011 right now, listening to Cindy Romaine--current SLA President--and Meryl Cole talk about the project. 365 in the name = a blog post a day related to being "future ready." I can't wait to start reading through the posts. Sounds like a lot of their thinking and dreams parallel a lot of MNFLI's thinking and dreams. I like seeing that. I like that they balance between being smart professionals and being playful and personal in their blog. I'm also embarrassed I wasn't aware of this project until 47 minutes ago.
Here's an excerpt from their about page to get your interest piqued:
What is Future Ready?
  • It’s an attitude of being more adaptable, flexible, and confident in utilizing the skills of the information & knowledge professional.
  • It’s a strategic shift toward being more effective at aligning with emerging and robust opportunities in the information industry and beyond.
  • It’s a focus on preparing ourselves for emerging opportunities in the information industry through:
    • Collaboration to accelerate the availability of useful information
    • An adaptable skill set that anticipates and responds to the evolving marketplace
    • Alignment with the language and values of the community you serve
    • Building a community that connects stakeholders in mutually beneficial relationships

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A place like no other...

An interesting mix of corporate feel and lots of kids shot. They certainly emphasize value and not books! Do they have cooking classes? Love it!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Come see us at MLA Annual Conference 2011

Session Title: Minnesota Library Futures Initiative
Tracks: Administration & Leadership

When: Friday, Oct. 14 from 9:30 to 10:30

Presenters: Members of the Minnesota Library Futures Initiative

Description: In October 2010, a group of 24 early career librarians from all library types met for the first time to start envisioning the year 2025. Since that time, the Futurists have investigated
potential economic, social, technological, and other trends
to craft an idea of what libraries—and library patrons—will
look like in the next 15 years. Join the Futurists for a brief overview of their work and a preview of what’s in store for Minnesota’s libraries in 2025. During the session, the Futurists hope to help library staff start thinking about what might be done to prepare for the changes to come. In line
with how the Futurists have approached their task, this presentation will be philosophical in nature rather than focused on the latest gadgets and fads.

Yum! Design.

The Design section of the New York Times is featuring the Children’s Library Discovery Center in the Queens Central Library in downtown Jamaica.

"Today libraries double as centers for the elderly and toddler playrooms. They’re safe after-school havens for teenagers of working parents, with rooms set aside that are stocked with computers and, at a few branches, like the Rockaways, even with recording studios."

"Libraries have also learned from retailers like Starbucks and Barnes & Noble about what people expect when they leave their homes to go someplace public to sit and read. Libraries have become modern town squares and gathering places; they offer millions of New Yorkers employment counseling, English-language classes and, crucially, Internet access. Quiet rooms, like those Carnegie built, tend to be smaller and set aside these days, almost like smoking sections in airports."
"Is that a bad thing? Times change. Research libraries still survive. To imagine that libraries could remain as they were half a century ago would entail wishing away the Web and the demands of old people, immigrants, the unemployed, schoolchildren and parents who want constructive places to keep their young children occupied at a time when public resources and political good will are in increasingly short supply."

Read more at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/arts/design/new-yorks-public-architecture-gets-a-facelift.html