Using Your Head

1. Using Your Head Debbi MacLeod and Jim Duncan Colorado State Library Integrating the Right Technology for Your Library

2. Briefly – Who We Are CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

3. Session Overview • Fads vs. Trends • 5 Steps to Making Smart Technology Decisions • Applying the 5 Steps : Case Study Discussion Groups • Wrap-up CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

4. Fad • Fad – Here today - gone tomorrow • “A fad is defined as something that becomes very popular with a small group of people for a short period of time. It is unpredictable, short lived and without social, economic and political significance.” • (Vejlgaard, Henrik: Anatomy of a Trend.USA: McGraw-Hill, 2007). CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

5. Trend • Trend – Here today – here tomorrow • “A trend is something that becomes popular within mainstream society over a long period of time. It is the direction of a sequence of events that has some momentum and durability.” - Henrik Vejlgaard • “Our Trends are not fads. Our Trends endure. Our Trends evolve. They represent underlying forces, first causes, basic human needs, attitudes, aspirations. They help us navigate the world, understand what's happening and why, and prepare for what is yet to come.” - Faith Popcorn Brain Reserve CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

6. Fad or Trend? CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

7. Trend An Englishman, Edward Craven Walker, invented the original and best-known lava lamp in the 1960s. Source: Wikipedia Google search brings up 1.5 million hits and you can still buy these including USB varieties for your computer CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

8. Fad Lasted for only 6 months in 1975 but made the inventor lots of money. CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

9. Why do we care? • Everybody is talking about them - tons of library blogs on the topic – LITA (Library & Information Technology Association) division of ALA for example – tons of workshops and articles • A Google search on – library technology trends – turns up 3.6 million results or 3,000 results on “library technology trends” CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

10. Why do we care? • Need to consider overall trends – social, cultural, demographic, political, economic and technology • So we become irrelevant or design the wrong service • Important to stay up with trends and changes but not get caught up in them • But… trends must be considered in the context of our library & services CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

11. Consider the Fundamental Purpose of your Library • Why does your library exist in your community? • What services do you deliver to patrons and why? • Is your technology choice driven by your services OR is your technology driving your services? CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

12. Consider Some Cultural Trends • Snack Culture • temporary and transient – characterized by trendwatching.com • Manifestations: • Food – Minnies in Chicago that serves small sizes, the rise of Tapas • Fashion – H & M which brings quick delivery of latest fashion at low-cost • Media – “snack-o-tainment” characterized by Wired Magazine – all about bite-sized content – YouTube, blogs… CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

13. How could this be applied to your current services? • Colorado Talking Book Library – podcasting newsletter with RSS feed • Denver Public Library – • “Book discussion Teen Online Book ClubEvery weekday morning the Teen Online Book Club will email you a portion of a book that takes about 5 minutes to read. After reading two or three chapters, you can finish the book by checking it out of the library. Each Monday, we'll feature new books. Sign up today and start reading with us tomorrow.” CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

14. Egonomics • This is a trend from Faith Popcorn’s Brain Reserve • “To offset a depersonalized society, consumers crave recognition of their individuality.” • The “My Library” capability in integrated library systems speaks to this trend. • Think about how this can be applied to your library CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

15. CapitalOne “Do-it-yourself” Credit Card • This is an example not an endorsement… • http://capitalonecardlab.com/ • Select your own credit limit, rewards & features, card image. CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

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17. Design Your Own Shoes • This example also is not an endorsement… • http://www.stevemadden.com/DYO-Landing-Page • Select shoe style, color of shoe, color of heel CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

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19. Serving the Needs of Your Patron • Remember the mission of the library & the services you deliver • People’s needs change over time, so you should think about: • how these changes/trends will affect your patron needs and the services you deliver • and how you deliver those services CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

20. Resources • Public Libraries as Institutional Repositories and Stewards in an Historical and Ethical Context – Wallace Koehler – presentation paper for IFLA 2006 Seoul • Faith Popcorn’s Brain Reserve http://www.faithpopcorn.com • DYG http://www.dyg.com/ • Williams Inference http://www.williamsinference.com/ • 8 Important Consumer Trends for 2008 http://www.trendwatching.com • World Future Society http://www.wfs.org/ CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

21. A Self Help Book! Only $19.95! Order Now! CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

22. 5 StepsTo Making Smart Technology Decisions • Learn about the technology* • Review my service area • Think about my patron NEEDS. How does the technology match? • What will it take to implement / support / train? • What is my risk tolerance / exit strategy? CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

23. A Case Study for Discussion • Implementing SOPAC – Social OPAC • http://www.aadl.org/catalog/ CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

24. 5 StepsTo Making Smart Technology Decisions • Learn about the technology* • Review my service area • Think about my patron NEEDS. How does the technology match? • What will it take to implement / support / train? • What is my risk tolerance / exit strategy? CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

25. Groups Report SOPAC – Social OPAC

26. A Case Study for Discussion Fad or Trend? CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

27. A Case Study for Discussion • Creating a .mobi site for my library CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

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31. 5 StepsTo Making Smart Technology Decisions • Learn about the technology* • Review my service area • Think about my patron NEEDS. How does the technology match? • What will it take to implement / support / train? • What is my risk tolerance / exit strategy? CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

32. Groups Report Creating a .mobi site for my library

33. A Case Study for Discussion • Placing a flatbed scanner in my library for patron use CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

34. 5 StepsTo Making Smart Technology Decisions • Learn about the technology* • Review my service area • Think about my patron NEEDS. How does the technology match? • What will it take to implement / support / train? • What is my risk tolerance / exit strategy? CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO

35. Groups Report Placing a flatbed scanner in my library for patron use

36. Wrap-up • Fads vs. Trends • 5 Steps to Making Smart Technology Decisions • Applying the 5 Steps : Case Study Discussion Groups Jim DuncanDebbi MacLeod duncan_j@cde.state.co.usmacleod_d@cde.state.co.us CLiC WorkshopGrand Junction, CO