Bright futures: getting a sense of direction Professor Di Martin Dean of Learning & Information Services University of Hertfordshire, UK Libraries of the XXI century: will we survive? Lodz, June 2006

2 Presentation overview identify some trends and signposts interpret what these may mean for the future development of libraries and librarians comment on how we might influence our future success

3 A century ago Detroit, USA st Ford Model T assembled 15 million sold in next 19 years Massive social change Changed expectations Mobile citizens Effect on towns

Section title Now – a century later Internet and personal technology Massive social change Changed expectations Digital citizens Effect on communications & information year timeline

5 Old model Library External providers External providers Users External providers

6 New model Library Users Other providers

7 The digital environment is already the norm What does this mean for libraries and librarians? Understanding our users Collections Study facilities Services Management, staffing and skills, business processes What distinctive value-added services do our users expect from the ‘new’ library? Focus on people not the technology

8 Getting to know the digital citizen? Anytime (24/7), anywhere Easy immediacy Integration Personalisation Presentation Security & privacy Consumer with entitlements Non-linear approach

9 Understanding our users Going beyond satisfaction surveys Market research Customer relationship management Data mining & statistical analysis Business intelligence

10 Collections 1 (A wealth of knowledge & information) Mainly digital - e-journals now + rapid change to e-books and other digital sources over the next 5 years Open access and free information Continuing growth Format variety eg blogs, wikis, , learning objects, moving image Wider range of content eg personal, corporate, community information

11 Collections 2 Virtual collections - diverse multiple ‘holding’ locations - no ownership, no local control - identifying authoritative sources Metadata standards New collection and content policies – ‘collection’ rationale Different supply chains (cf music industry) Library system capabilities

12 Collections – who creates the mash-up? Select, package and deliver Personalisation to match to user needs Integration with learning and research environments Librarian or user or partnerships or third parties? (A ‘mash-up’ - uses content from more than one source to create a completely new service)

13 Study facilities (A place for learning and research) Why will users go to a physical location? Holistic approach (cf Seven Eleven Japan) Social inter-action - working together - noise, food and drink - other activities (eg tai chi) Learning space design (cf JISC project) Continuum with teaching room, home, workplace,

14 Services 1 Access, availability, support, advice for users Lending Services replaced with: (cf Amazon) self-service easy immediate on-line access route on-line ‘shopping’ cart personal portal utilities and usage record special offers delivery to user of sources only available as print?

15 Services 2 Reader Services Will you see your users? on-line help, wikis, blogs news, hints & tips customised help discussion threads constant updating internet chat sessions face to face meetings What will you use the face-to-face meeting with users for? What terminology will you use?

16 So is the future library something different? NO and YES The core concepts are the same understanding our users collections study facilities user services information literacy It’s not what we do – but how we do it that needs to change!

17 Staff roles and skills Information management Customer relationship management & market research Marketing & PR skills Understanding of learning teaching and research environments Collaboration, partnership, team-working skills Technological skills Legal issues, rights management, negotiation, contract management skills Flexibility and initiative

18 Management challenges Organisational structures and working patterns New staff roles Revise policies Business process re-engineering Building partnerships and alliances Revise values, KPIs and critical success factors Putting users first

19 Will we survive?Yes Use your expertise Be an entrepreneur Know your customers Take the opportunities