OPAL: Creating Staff Buy-In For New Technologies

Presentation by Michael Stephens

notes by Starr Hoffman

6.15.2006

"Why are we doing this?"

• common staff question about new technology
• give a reason -- there should be a reason
  • reaches a population of users that might otherwise not use the library

User-Centered Planning

• find new ways to deliver services that meet their needs
• involve users in planning
  • survey
  • ask informally
  • get focus group of users
• ask what they want (not what we think they need)

OCLC's Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources

(can download pdf)

Subset of this report, on students:

Top 3 Criteria for Deciding Which Electronic Resource to Use

• provides worthwhile information
• provides free information
• based on ease of use
• hence: Google

Common Reasons for Not Using Library Site

• didn't know about it
• other sites have better info
• can't find it

To Change This

• we need better marketing
• current trends
  • self-service (online services)
  • seamlessness (all services in one place, one interface, one design scheme)

More OCLC Survey Results

• 51% have used IM
• 30% never heard of online databases

OCLC Survey User Suggestions

• how to make the library like a bookstore, etc.
• see suggestions in slide #8

(aside comments, off-topic from slides)

• need engaging & safe places for teens (to create content, etc.)

Starbuck's is More Than Just Coffee

• wifi
• place to sit
• buy music
• downloads
• need to emulate this with the "library brand"

"Reinvigorating the Library Brand"

• Library Journal, "The Library Brand" by Roy Tennant
• OCLC Next Space, "Extreme Makeover: Library Edition" by Tom Storey

Services We Could Emulate

• Netflix provides service online & delivery to user's door
• can add books to "Netflix queue"
  • libraries in Illinois have similar service
  • library delivery trends

The Gamer Generation

• Library Journal, "Meet the Gamers" by Kurt Squire & Constance Steinkuehler
• Ann Arbor District Library Game Tournaments
• Got Game: How the Gamer Generation Is Reshaping Business Forever by John C. Beck & Mitchell Wade
• DDR / other game tournaments at libraries
  • DDR @ the Library (flickr)
  • DDR @ the Library (blog)
  • list of game tournament photos & more in libraries
• uses for gaming in the library / with librarians
  • bring in users
  • to internally unify staff

Beck on Gamers & Boomers

• create zones in your library
  • for different ages, cultures
  • spaces to study vs. spaces to socialize
• expand your A/V collection
• know each culture
• go global
• be a guide, not a boss
• personalize your web services
• be attentive

Pew Study on Millennials

• related: Pew Report Demographics, Generations Online
• team-oriented
• immersed in media & gadgets
• use the social web
• accept loss of privacy in exchange for accessibility
• learning is shaped by technology & collaboration
• learning through games: article

To Serve Millennial Users

• give users a digital creation studio
• give them a place to play

NextGen Users

• Library Journal, Born with the Chip by Stephen Abram & Judy Luther
• format agnostic
  • "information is information"
  • they see "little difference in credibility or entertainment value between print and media formats"
• nomadic
• multitasking
• experiential
• collaborative
• integrated
• principled
• adaptive
• direct

5 Factors to Consider

• does it place a barrier between the user and the service?
• is it librarian-centered or user-centered in conception?
  • i.e. is it born from complaints from librarians about users
• does it add more rules to your bulging book of library rules, procedures and guidelines?
• does it make more work for the user or the librarian?
• does it involve having to damage control before you even begin the service?
  • if so, you might want to rethink

(aside: teen services)

• Zimbio
• South Carolina Public Library

10 Steps for Staff Buy-In

1) Listen

• your staff knows of potential problems & barriers
  • they can help you fix them
  • ask them to anonymously write problems on index cards
• listen to users

2) Involve Staff in Planning

• staff will care if they're involved

3) Tell Stories

• about "Rock the Shelves" (also on flickr)
• illuminate potential & happenings elsewhere
• need to get away from stats -- tell stories about how people are served in our libraries
• human touch

4) Be Transparent

• tell your staff what's going on
• have IT department blog about what's going on (on their end)
• communicate
• administration transparency about staff changes, construction, technology, etc.
• give staff __a way to respond__

5) Report & Debrief (from conferences)

• have staff list the top 3 "rock their world" things that they learned at the conference
• vote on favorites from master list
• #1 service (rated by users) = reader's advisory
  • we need to perform this service well
• so:
  • RA blog
  • RA online products

6) Do Your Research First

• be prepared before a meeting
• evidence-based decision-making; is it right for your:
  • audience
  • context
  • staff (number of staff & their skill set)
  • budget
• mine the biblioblogosphere
• talk to other librarians
• travel to visit places implementing these services / technologies
• what are successful libraries doing?

Library 2.0: taking traditional library services out where people are.

7) Managing Projects Well

• learn to have effective meetings
• make a timeline: get things done, less talk
• __Death by Meeting__, by Patrick M. Lencioni
• __Getting Things Done__, by David Allen
• [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson's_law Parkinson's Law]
  • "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion"
• establish a point person
• effective meeting method:
  • start
  • update
  • sign-off

8) Train Your Staff

• in-person, online, offsite
• part of culture, "up & down"
• a well-trained staff can carry your message to users
  • example:
    • user asks: "do you have wifi?"
    • staff: "I don't know; no one ever tells me anything"
• train staff in an aggregator to keep current

Training Web 2.0

• the sandbox
  • should be immersive, playful, experiential
  • jump in and try it
  • learn this aspect from gamers
• "why are we doing this?"
• form an Emerging Technology Group
• trendspotting
• ZEPHYR
  • help library create new services
• take time to plan innovation
• ask staff, "Are You Dreaming?"
• let staff play
  • experiment
  • let them unwind

(aside)

Possible Library Staff Orientation

• fieldtrip: student union arcade
• involve students
• see what it's like, witness what's going on
• team-building

9) Celebrate Successes

• stop before next project
• staff lunch / party

Breathe & Take Care of Yourself

• unplugging
• relax
• take time with a hobby, family

10) Embrace Change & Learn

• "we've always done it that way" --is it the best way?
• "there's no time" -- can we let go of something else?
• never stop learning: challenge yourself

Ideas...

• sponsor DDR tournament to advertise new IM reference service?

Back to Library2.0 Extravaganza

Back to OPAL Notes

Back to Front Page