Successful Libraries in Uncertain Times

Successful Libraries

in Uncertain Times

Presented by George Needhamfor the

New Hampshire Library Trustees Association

May 18, 2015

Not today…

“There is no reason for any individual

to have a computer in his home.”

KEN OLSENFOUNDER OF DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

(DEC)QUOTED IN 1977

“No one will need more than 637 kb

of memory for a personal computer.

640K ought to be enough for anybody.”

BILL GATESFOUNDER OF MICROSOFT

QUOTED IN 1981 – PERHAPS APOCHRYPHALLY

“… the Internet will soon go spectacularly supernova and in 1996 catastrophically collapse.”

ROBERT METCALFEINVENTOR OF ETHERNET AND 3COM FOUNDER

QUOTED IN 1995

“There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any

significant market share. No chance.”

STEVE BALLMERMICROSOFT CEOQUOTED IN 2007

“Nice, but as long as there are readers, there will be scrolls.”

“Never make predictions, especially about the future.”

CASEY STENGELBASEBALL HALL OF FAME

UNDATED, POSSIBLY APOCRYPHAL, QUOTE

So how do we plan for the

future?

Successful libraries…

• Align with their communities• Question the orthodoxy• Manage their message effectively• Stay focused• Make mindful choices

Successful libraries align

with their communities.

Are relentlessly local


Know the community’s self-image


Develop bone-deep understanding


Join the community conversation


Create mutualistic relationships


Then apply library skills liberally


Successful libraries

question the orthodoxy.

Take risks


Can adapt to any future


Experiment with new services


Experiment with presentation


Encourage cross-training


Practice technology agnosticism


Let customers take the lead


Successful libraries manage

their message

effectively.

Evangelize reading and learning


Emphasize abundance


Rethink the elevator speech


Have a clear, shareable vision


Successful libraries

stay focused.

Show discipline


Avoid “mission dilution”


Define their desired outcomes


Eliminate frustrating policies


Leave the “twiddly bits” alone


Focus on relationships


Successful libraries make

mindful choices.

Choose their people carefully


Choose optimism


http://images.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=optimism+funny&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=PmmRyymIHCWbDM&tbnid=QzCj15vrb7EVvM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://joyreactor.com/post/445082&ei=kDRcUdHRMILTrQHyg4Bo&psig=AFQjCNHFBod8yLDAGgAW_oxWxUBaYzbaMQ&ust=1365083642610599

Choose civility


Choose generosity


Choose flexibility


Choose teamwork


Choose laughter


Questions and Discussion

Let’s continue the conversation…

George Needhamhttp://

[email protected]

Successful Libraries in Uncertain Times

Government & Nonprofit

future successful libraries

lead successful libraries

local successful libraries

risks successful libraries

abundance successful

optimism successful

civility successful

teamwork successful