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Libraries Under Stress

RENAISSANCEand the Reinvention of Libraries

Library of Virginia Directors MeetingSeptember 16, 2010

Stephen Abram, MLSVice President

Cengage Learning (Gale)

Thank you for inviting me!

I want to share:Major upcoming trends and challenges New National data on User Satisfaction

New Virginia Data on QuestionsAnd I want to meet you.

GOOG

Let’s explore each, but first let’s remember history;

The History of Unintended Consequences

And Unpredictability

7 Things have ChangedA LOT!

• Books• Media• Mobility• Collections• Legal Frameworks• Cardholders, Users, Members, Patrons,

Clients, Customers• Libraries

“The Internet has now progressed to its infancy”

What We Never Really Knew Before (US/Canada)

27% of our users are under 18. 59% are female. 29% are college students. 5% are professors and 6% are teachers. On any given day, 35% of our users are there for the

very first time! Only 29% found the databases via the library website. 59% found what they were looking for on their first

search. 72% trusted our content more than what they found

on Google. But, 81% still use Google.

Books

Google EditionsGoogle SettlementAmazonGutenbergEtc.

Is Our FocusOn BooksAnd PublicImage Limiting OurFuture Success?

A window of opportunity

TransmogrifyingContainers

Do we really care about containers?

Paper -- SchmpaperDigital – SchmidgitalHolograph . . . Pffft!

Devices like iPads, Kobos,

Kindles, Nooks, eDGe,

and Mobile

Supporting the 21st Century book experience?

Borders Kobo, B&N Nook, Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad, Sony, etc. . . .

What about censorship?Freedom of expression?Freedom….in general

Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance

• eBooks and Books• Concept of place• Privacy• Colour• Animation• Video• Wireless opportunity• Tracking• Pedagogy• Boundarylessness• Connect to the author or team• Added features and commentary• Connect to book clubs, discussions, etc.

People

People are Changing

• Demographic– south, Millennial, Boomer,+• IQ Increases• Increased educational attainment & engagement• eBooks outsell hard cover books, and will outsell

paperbacks soon (2011)• Some libraries are crediting most cardholder

growth to e-book accessibility• Personal device proliferation• Social networking is beyond ‘normal’

People Have Changed

• Twitter & Facebook are dominated by the middle aged

• Social networks fastest growing populations are seniors and will be more international and less urban.

• eBooks usage is largely middle-aged.• Mobile is growing beyond youth very quickly• Workplace use is huge

Media

The Move to Streaming• Like wax, vinyl and tape before it CD and DVD will

decline to very small niche markets• Blockbuster’s imminent bankruptcy and the

decline of local independent rental stores is a canary in the mine

• Many PL’s confuse the current uptick with a LT trend.

• Music and Video entertainment vs. programs related to hobbies, children, etc.

• Educational video is an emerging sector integrated very tightly into content

Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance

• Streaming Media on demand• Definition of ‘use’.• Concept of place• Concept of News and Entertainment• End of physical format (DVD, tape, etc.)• Self published animation & video• Commentary, Reviews and Collectors• Wireless opportunity• Tracking• Pedagogy• Boundarylessness• End of collections as we know them • Beginning of media bibliography

Mobility

02-25-10 [http://www.offthemark.com/daily.php/?go=1264392000] 02-25-10

& AMAZON

Broadband

• The Whitespace Decision• Local wired• To the Home and workplace• Wireless as a business strategy (Starbucks)• Mobile dominates• Largest generation

Driving User to the Library

• Encyclopedia.com• HighBeam• WorldCat• AccessMyLibrary iPhone App• Questia• Geo-IP measures• Etc.• Watch for more . . .?

Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance

• Mobility• Concept of place• Social animation and Sharing• Convergence on steroids• Wireless opportunity• Tracking• Pedagogy and Learning• Extreme demand

Collections

An New Merging Model• Just in case, Just in time, just for me models• Ripe for replacement with• Fit for Purpose

– Community– Learning– Entertainment– Social / Clubs– Research

• Beginning of the end of out-of-context Megadatabases

Growing Online and Virtual Use

• Experience Models• Widgets• API’s• SEO• Google Analytics• Geo-IP• ForeSee• Satisfaction data AND Statistics – Measure too

Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance

• Collections• Concept of place• Ownership mutates• Personal curation and celebrity curators• Wireless opportunity• Tracking• Targeting collections • Portalization: Knowledge Portals, Learning portals

Legal FrameworksThis is the balancing act of all time

It requires politics to listen to ALL voicesIt requires an understanding of consequences

Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance

• Legal Frameworks - INTERNATIONAL• Locus of control• Privacy• Confidentiality• Personal responsibility• Copyright• Choice• Commercial playing field• Ownership• Censorship• Government involvement• Net neutrality • Information ethics

LibrariesApproaching the End Game

The MatrixBuild it or buy it?

I my customers

Trans-LiteracyMove beyond reading & PC skills • Reading literacy• Numeracy• Critical literacy• Social literacy• Computer literacy• Web literacy• Content literacy• Written literacy

• News literacy• Technology literacy• Information literacy• Media literacy• Adaptive literacy• Research literacy• Academic literacy• Reputation, Etc.

Reinvention, Creativity, Renaissance

• Libraries• Concept of place• Improving the quality of questions• Partnering in design of experiences• Programs predominate• Community involvement• Collection management vs. ownership and

storage• Re-balancing needs• Addressing the divides

The Boomers launched mostof these digitalinitiatives. Now what are we/you going to do next?

Strategic Thinking for Libraries

1. Choosing a Future2. Setting Phased Priorities

3. Making Choices4. Taking Action

5. Doing the Next Step6. Adjusting Tactics with Experience7. Seeking Feedback and Adjusting

8. Measuring Progress

Framework for Choosing Top Priorities

• Suppose that in three years:• Majority of library use will be virtual• Majority of Non-fiction Book circulation will be e-

books• Fiction will split 50/50 – digital/print• DVD is circulation is dying• Majority of questions are virtual• Use will be 20 / 40 / 40 (in house, virtual, mobile)• Every user will be socially networked, connected and

engaged

Advance Survey Data for the Library of Virginia

Prepared by Stephen Abramand the Gale, Cengage Learning

Statistical Analysis Research Team

Reference Facet of the Library of Virginia Story

September 2010 Survey Data62 of 91 LVA library systems (68%)

Thank you!Data and Graphics are available to

LVA Members OnlyContact Gale to Learn More

Yep – You Get Questions• Health and Wellness / Community Health / Nutrition / Diet / Recovery DIY Do It

Yourself Activities and Car Repair Genealogy Test prep (SAT, ACT, occupational tests, etc. etc.) Legal Questions (including family law, divorce, adoption, etc) Hobbies, Games and Gardening Local History Consumer reviews (Choosing a car, appliance, etc.) Homework Help (grade school) Technology Skills (software, hardware, web) Government Programs, Services and Taxation Self-help/personal development Careers (jobs, counselling, etc.) Reading Choices and recommendations, books & authors Travel and Vacation, Tourism Support Supporting College credits, Distance Education, and Adult Continuing Education Personal Finance and Investments / Financial Literacy Religion and spirituality Retirement and Seniors Services General Reference / Quick Answer Questions (e.g. telephone numbers, addresses, definitions, locations, library hours and services, etc.) Coming to America or our Community (Immigration, Moving) Book Clubs / Community Reading / Summer Reading Business. Leadership and Management Parenting and Child Development Adult Literacy / ESL Entrepreneurship and Consulting Small and Medium-sized Business Support World Cultures/Understanding Our World History Studies (Civil War, WW2, etc.) Choosing a School, Program/Degree, College or University / College Planning Finding People / Biographies

Silly me! --- I forgot language learning . . .

The Baker’s Dozen: LVA Top 131. Health and Wellness / Community Health / Nutrition / Diet /

Recovery 2. DIY Do It Yourself Activities and Car Repair 3. Genealogy 4. Test prep (SAT, ACT, occupational tests, etc. etc.) 5. Legal Questions (including family law, divorce, adoption, etc) 6. Hobbies, Games and Gardening 7. Local History 8. Consumer reviews (Choosing a car, appliance, etc.) 9. Homework Help (grade school) 10. Technology Skills (software, hardware, web) 11. Government Programs, Services and Taxation 12. Self-help/personal development 13. Careers (jobs, counselling, etc.) 14. Readers Advisory was 14th

National Library Customer Satisfaction Data

Specific Database Results from Usage

Gale Cengage Learning Foresee DataYear One: Aug. 2009 – Sept. 2010

Underlying Charts Available on Request

What do we need to know?

• How do library databases compare with other web experiences and expectations?

• Who are our core virtual users?• What are user expectations for satisfaction?• How does library search compare to consumer

search like Google?• How do people find and connect with library virtual

services?• What should we ‘fix’ as a first priority?• Are end users being successful in their POV?• Are they happy? Will they come back? Tell a friend?

Gale Library Databases Compare

Very Well to Other

Web Experiences

Digging Into Satisfaction

Users willReturn and

RecommendOnce Hooked

LibrarySearch

Needs toImprove

Who uses e-Resources?

The Core User For Library

E-Resourcesis Clear

Database UsersAre Being Quite

Successful

There are Training and

CommunicationOpportunities

More Males UseLibrary

DatabasesThan Usual

There is Not A DemographicSwing in Online

Usage

Library UsersTrust Library

DatabasesMore.

School is the Sweet Spot –

But Other UsersAbound Too.

Library’s Natural Allies Are Big Users

& PotentialPartners.

Wow! Only 29% ofUsers Find

E-Resources Through Our

Websites.

And 39% of YourUsers Are in Your

Databases for For the VeryFirst Time!

Your Users Will

Recommend Your

Databases

Your Users Will

Recommend Your

Databases

Your Users Respect

Your DatabasesAs Primary

Sources

Your Users Are

Likely toReturn

Your Users Evaluate

Your Services as Meeting

Expectations.

There’s Great News!We have Room forImprovement BUT

Library Databases Compete Very Well with User Expectations and Needs Fulfillment.

The School Cycle Drives Many Usage

Scenarios

Upcoming Gale Surveys

CATS DOGSCATS

& DOGS

Strategic Implications

• Program(s) Planning Models• Tying Collections and Programs more Tightly

Together to Enhance and Protect Both• Priority Setting for 5 Years• Developing Collaborative Communication and

Promotion Plans • Developing Collaborative and Shared Staff and

User Training Models• Holding Your Heads High

Community

Stories

Conversations

Stories

Relationships

Stories

Community Networks

The Social Life of Information

Stories

Life

Stories

Connection

Stories

Personalization

Stories

Comfort

Simplicity

The power of libraries

Speak Out!

Surprise Them!

Trust Experiments!

It takes A Team: Work Together & Pick Each Other Up

Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLAVP strategic partnerships and markets

Cengage Learning (Gale)Cel: 416-669-4855

[email protected]’s Lighthouse Blog

http://stephenslighthouse.comFacebook: Stephen Abram

LinkedIn / Plaxo: Stephen AbramTwitter: sabram

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