Computers in Libraries 2013 - Day 1 - The Next Big Thing

The last session on day one was kind of a feel good sharing session where libraries were encouraged to share what they were doing that was innovative.  It was completely free form with the microphone going to anyone who had an idea they wanted to share, including frustrations.

It was interesting to hear people excited about various plans they were executing, frustrated about some of the insular qualities of libraries (quite a few people were non-librarians expressing their frustration with working with stuck-in-the-mud librarians), or looking forward to executing new ideas.  One person expressed the feeling that libraries have spent so much time fighting against technology that they are now facing a revolution and that libraries need to embrace the new role that they can play in supplementing peoples' lives before it is too late.

Some things that I thought were interesting and are representative of the statements (if far from a comprehensive list) were:

• One library wants to run Seti@Home on their public computers to use otherwise wasted CPU cycles
• One is looking at helping patrons sign up to take EdX classes (www.edx.org)
• A couple libraries are making an effort to use iPads in an active support role.
• One library indicated that it has been working on large-scale (20 foot wide screens) visualization spaces, but isn't quite sure what to do with them. Another library with visualization spaces indicated that it shows a lot of locally created content all of the time.
• One library is connecting a local teen technology club to seniors who get devices they've never used out of boxes to start getting used to using them.
• The State Library of South Carolina is starting a media contest for teens. They are taking equipment and expertise to libraries in different communities.
• One library looking at ways to innovate in and revitalize their reference services after half of their reference area has been turned into a maker space.
• One library indicated it is looking at replacing its catalog computers with inexpensive, lightweight Rasperry Pi computers.

One comment that I found particularly useful from near the end of the session was this: Libraries are only as relevant as they are today. If you wait too long to adopt a format, you aren't going to be relevant. You also need to be able to tell a story behind how a patron can use a resource.  If you cannot tell a story about how your patrons would be using a technology, maybe you shouldn't be spending a lot of resources on it.

Library in Trinidad established a small online class to plant a home kitchen garden after bringing in experts (high food costs from importing in Trinidad). Has been an extremely successful program for them.