2121stst Century Libraries: Century Libraries:The Challenges and The Challenges and

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Roberta A. StevensRoberta A. Stevens

PresidentPresident

American Library AssociationAmerican Library Association

The 20The 20thth Century Century

Individuals generally held 1 or 2 jobs Individuals generally held 1 or 2 jobs during their working careerduring their working career

Job expertise was often in a single fieldJob expertise was often in a single field Job competition occurred at a local Job competition occurred at a local

levellevel The world’s economy was dominated The world’s economy was dominated

by manufacturing and agricultureby manufacturing and agriculture Work was routine and “hands-on” Work was routine and “hands-on” The organizational structure was The organizational structure was

hierarchical and top-downhierarchical and top-down Education meant pursuing formal Education meant pursuing formal

degreesdegrees

The 21The 21stst Century Century

We will hold numerous jobs in our lifetimesWe will hold numerous jobs in our lifetimes A mastery of expertise in several or more A mastery of expertise in several or more

rapidly changing fields is expectedrapidly changing fields is expected The competition for jobs is globalThe competition for jobs is global Work is less routine and requires Work is less routine and requires

flexibility, adaptability and technological flexibility, adaptability and technological and interactive skillsand interactive skills

The organizational culture is multifaceted, The organizational culture is multifaceted, that is, bottom-up, top-down and side-to-that is, bottom-up, top-down and side-to-sideside

Education is self-directed and lifelongEducation is self-directed and lifelong

Libraries: Preparing for theLibraries: Preparing for the2121stst Century Global Economy Century Global Economy

By guiding individuals in the By guiding individuals in the development of:development of: Information, communications and Information, communications and

technological literacy skillstechnological literacy skills Critical thinkingCritical thinking Problem solvingProblem solving

By nurturing:By nurturing: Creativity and innovationCreativity and innovation Collaboration and cross-disciplinary Collaboration and cross-disciplinary

thinkingthinking

Libraries Are Strategically Libraries Are Strategically Placed to Fulfill a National Placed to Fulfill a National

ImperativeImperative By providing accessibility to knowledge and By providing accessibility to knowledge and

search strategies for obtaining information search strategies for obtaining information and by instructing users in how to analyze and by instructing users in how to analyze its valueits value

By integrating 21By integrating 21stst century skill century skill development in the resources and services development in the resources and services they providethey provide

By developing powerful qualitative and By developing powerful qualitative and quantitative messages that demonstrate quantitative messages that demonstrate the impact on the lives of their users and the impact on the lives of their users and the success of their communitiesthe success of their communities

By utilizing sophisticated advocacy By utilizing sophisticated advocacy techniquestechniques

Challenges for Libraries of the Challenges for Libraries of the 2121stst Century Century

The recession resulting in decreased The recession resulting in decreased funding from public and private-sector funding from public and private-sector sourcessources

Increasing pressure to demonstrate the Increasing pressure to demonstrate the return on the investment (ROI) in facilities, return on the investment (ROI) in facilities, staffing, collections and databasesstaffing, collections and databases

The consolidation of the marketplace The consolidation of the marketplace allowing providers to drive up pricesallowing providers to drive up prices

An expectation of 24/7, customized and An expectation of 24/7, customized and personalized servicepersonalized service

The proliferation of sources of information The proliferation of sources of information with everyone a content creatorwith everyone a content creator

““A Perfect Storm”A Perfect Storm”

Escalating costsEscalating costs Shrinking financial supportShrinking financial support Increased demands for serviceIncreased demands for service Surging usageSurging usage

The Library as a Place and The Library as a Place and Physical Structure: Are We Physical Structure: Are We

Prepared for the 21Prepared for the 21stst Century? Century? Over the next quarter century, libraries Over the next quarter century, libraries

must:must: Rebuild and remodel their facilities for digital Rebuild and remodel their facilities for digital

resources and different ways of doing research resources and different ways of doing research and learningand learning

Shift from being constructed around library Shift from being constructed around library operations to being centered on how people operations to being centered on how people learn, use information and participate in the life learn, use information and participate in the life of their communityof their community

Address increased expectations about the Address increased expectations about the library’s appearance, functionality and library’s appearance, functionality and convenienceconvenience

Key Concepts in Library Key Concepts in Library DesignDesign

Spaces for solitary users and groups Spaces for solitary users and groups working together (collaborative study working together (collaborative study rooms)rooms)

Ample seating and electrical outlets, Ample seating and electrical outlets, wireless access, signage, maps and wireless access, signage, maps and directories, lockers, coffee shops or directories, lockers, coffee shops or cafescafes

An information desk near the entranceAn information desk near the entrance Teaching and learning centers with Teaching and learning centers with

sophisticated technological resourcessophisticated technological resources

Library DesignsLibrary Designs

Create a customer-driven library by Create a customer-driven library by researching the needs of your current and researching the needs of your current and potential customers and by involving them potential customers and by involving them in the design of your library’s spaces and in the design of your library’s spaces and servicesservices

Recognize and reconfigure your library to Recognize and reconfigure your library to reflect the collaborative style of young reflect the collaborative style of young people today and the lifelong learning people today and the lifelong learning needs of older people (different styles of needs of older people (different styles of use by different generations of users)use by different generations of users)

The Library Workforce: Do We The Library Workforce: Do We Have Staff with 21Have Staff with 21stst Century Century

Skills?Skills? In addition to the library’s core In addition to the library’s core

competencies and values: preserving the competencies and values: preserving the human record, access to knowledge, human record, access to knowledge, intellectual freedom and the right to intellectual freedom and the right to privacy…privacy…

We must have skills in strategic planning, We must have skills in strategic planning, budgeting and the management of human budgeting and the management of human resources and projectsresources and projects

The ability to communicate with a wide The ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiencesvariety of audiences

The blending of traditional and technological The blending of traditional and technological skills combined with flexibility, ability to skills combined with flexibility, ability to anticipate change and to fearlessly alter anticipate change and to fearlessly alter services to address changesservices to address changes

Impact of the Global Impact of the Global RecessionRecession

Delays in retirements have meant new Delays in retirements have meant new and younger staff with vital 21and younger staff with vital 21stst century century skill sets cannot be hired:skill sets cannot be hired: The “blended” librarians knowledgeable in The “blended” librarians knowledgeable in

print and online toolsprint and online tools Librarians who envision library services of the Librarians who envision library services of the

future and have the skills to implement new future and have the skills to implement new service delivery modelsservice delivery models

Librarians who communicate with a similarly Librarians who communicate with a similarly new generation of usersnew generation of users

A Different Generation with A Different Generation with Different ExpectationsDifferent Expectations

A focus on completion rather than A focus on completion rather than processprocess

An expectation of the open flow of An expectation of the open flow of information rather than a tightly information rather than a tightly controlled flowcontrolled flow

A career path based on learning, A career path based on learning, growth and challengegrowth and challenge

A work-life balance, which is A work-life balance, which is considered more important than considered more important than anything else, including money anything else, including money

The Challenge of The Challenge of Transforming 20Transforming 20thth into 21 into 21stst

Century LibrariesCentury Libraries New or revamped buildings that are New or revamped buildings that are

customer and content-drivencustomer and content-driven A combination of tangible and digital A combination of tangible and digital

collectionscollections New technologies and new service models New technologies and new service models

with 24/7 instant access and matching with 24/7 instant access and matching convenience and speed in information convenience and speed in information deliverydelivery

Technologically expert staffTechnologically expert staff Organizational structures that keep 21Organizational structures that keep 21stst

century staffcentury staff Collaborative partnerships in the local, Collaborative partnerships in the local,

school or academic community to increase school or academic community to increase the reach and sphere of influencethe reach and sphere of influence

Library Leaders of the 21Library Leaders of the 21stst CenturyCentury

Take a visible role in the issues of their local Take a visible role in the issues of their local community, school or academic campuscommunity, school or academic campus

Aggressively market the library as the center – the Aggressively market the library as the center – the heart and mind – of the community, school or heart and mind – of the community, school or campuscampus

Build support for the library’s long-standing and Build support for the library’s long-standing and critical role in providing instruction in information critical role in providing instruction in information literacy, a key skill in today’s worldliteracy, a key skill in today’s world

Research the needs of current and potential users Research the needs of current and potential users and involve them in the design of spaces and and involve them in the design of spaces and servicesservices

Have libraries reflecting the collaborative learning Have libraries reflecting the collaborative learning style of young people and the lifelong learning style of young people and the lifelong learning needs of older peopleneeds of older people

Understanding how to use social networking tools Understanding how to use social networking tools to reach their audiencesto reach their audiences

2121stst Century Library Century Library Associations: Ensuring the Associations: Ensuring the

Future of Libraries and Future of Libraries and LibrarianshipLibrarianship

The American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is the voice of America’s (ALA) is the voice of America’s libraries and the millions of people libraries and the millions of people who depend on themwho depend on them

The top priorities for ALA’s The top priorities for ALA’s members are advocacy for libraries members are advocacy for libraries and access to information and and access to information and training for professional growthtraining for professional growth

The American Library The American Library Association Advancing Association Advancing

AdvocacyAdvocacy Advocacy is goal #1 of the strategic planAdvocacy is goal #1 of the strategic plan Advocacy includes:Advocacy includes:

Support for research and evaluation to Support for research and evaluation to provide evidence of the impact of librariesprovide evidence of the impact of libraries

The mobilization and sustainment of The mobilization and sustainment of grassroots advocacy for libraries and library grassroots advocacy for libraries and library funding at the local, state and federal levelsfunding at the local, state and federal levels

Collaborations to secure legislation favorable Collaborations to secure legislation favorable to librariesto libraries

ALA Supports Advocacy for ALA Supports Advocacy for Libraries and LibrarianshipLibraries and Librarianship

Through:Through: The ALA Office for Library AdvocacyThe ALA Office for Library Advocacy The “Advocacy University” on ALA’s The “Advocacy University” on ALA’s

website (with a wealth of toolkits with tips, website (with a wealth of toolkits with tips, techniques and data for “making the case”)techniques and data for “making the case”)

The ALA Washington Office that keeps The ALA Washington Office that keeps members up to date on legislative members up to date on legislative developmentsdevelopments

The ALA online Legislative Action Center for The ALA online Legislative Action Center for sending customized messages to legislatorssending customized messages to legislators

Be an Advocate for Your Be an Advocate for Your LibraryLibrary

Share your vision of the library’s role with Share your vision of the library’s role with clarity and passionclarity and passion

Frame the messages for the target Frame the messages for the target audiencesaudiences

Use the data to provide evidence of the Use the data to provide evidence of the value and impact of your library (the ROI)value and impact of your library (the ROI)

Provide examples and tell stories that Provide examples and tell stories that illustrate your pointsillustrate your points

Cultivate relationships with funders, Cultivate relationships with funders, administrators, faculty, students, users, administrators, faculty, students, users, politicians and so forthpoliticians and so forth

Know how to deal with opposition and Know how to deal with opposition and controversy and answer tough questionscontroversy and answer tough questions

The American Library The American Library Association Advancing Its Association Advancing Its

Members’ ExpertiseMembers’ Expertise Through:Through:

Conferences with networking Conferences with networking opportunities, programs, exhibitorsopportunities, programs, exhibitors

PublicationsPublications Webinars and e-learning courses Webinars and e-learning courses

(examples: “The Anywhere Library: A (examples: “The Anywhere Library: A Primer for the Mobile Web,” “Creating Primer for the Mobile Web,” “Creating iGoogle Gadgets for Your Library Users,” iGoogle Gadgets for Your Library Users,” “Superpower Your Browser: Open “Superpower Your Browser: Open Source Research Tools”)Source Research Tools”)

ALA ConnectALA Connect

Libraries Are Needed Now More Libraries Are Needed Now More Than EverThan Ever

As community technology centers offering As community technology centers offering technology training as well as workshops technology training as well as workshops on a wide variety of topics, including on a wide variety of topics, including resume-writing, job searching and resume-writing, job searching and interviewing skillsinterviewing skills

For free access to computers and the For free access to computers and the Internet, including job databases, related Internet, including job databases, related online resources and online applicationsonline resources and online applications

As “first responders” in times of natural As “first responders” in times of natural and economic distress, delivering a wide and economic distress, delivering a wide range of essential E-government servicesrange of essential E-government services

Our challenge is to ensure we have Our challenge is to ensure we have or are planning for the facilities, or are planning for the facilities, services and staff of the future and services and staff of the future and that we are building support with that we are building support with those controlling the financial those controlling the financial means for ensuring we meet the means for ensuring we meet the needs of the 21needs of the 21stst century. century.

Presidential InitiativesPresidential Initiatives

Our Authors, Our AdvocatesOur Authors, Our Advocates Frontline FundraisingFrontline Fundraising ““Why I Need My Library” Why I Need My Library”

ContestContest

Our Authors, Our AdvocatesOur Authors, Our Advocates

Authors highlighting the key role Authors highlighting the key role libraries play in the economic, social libraries play in the economic, social and educational fabric of our nationand educational fabric of our nation

““Cultivating Your Local Notables” Cultivating Your Local Notables” online toolkit with guidance on online toolkit with guidance on enlisting local “celebrities” as your enlisting local “celebrities” as your library’s advocatelibrary’s advocate

Frontline FundraisingFrontline Fundraising Online toolkit in response to the Online toolkit in response to the

reduced resources at libraries reduced resources at libraries throughout the nationthroughout the nation Developing a fundraising plan and online Developing a fundraising plan and online

givinggiving Raising funds using trustees, library staff and Raising funds using trustees, library staff and

Friends groupsFriends groups Establishing a planned giving programEstablishing a planned giving program Developing an honor and memorial bookplate Developing an honor and memorial bookplate

programprogram Conducting an annual fund driveConducting an annual fund drive Moving donors to the “next level”Moving donors to the “next level”

““Why I Need My Library” Why I Need My Library” ContestContest

Growing a new generation of library Growing a new generation of library supporters and philanthropists – supporters and philanthropists – teens whose YouTube videos will be teens whose YouTube videos will be incorporated in the ilovelibraries and incorporated in the ilovelibraries and atyourlibrary websitesatyourlibrary websites

Prize money to be donated to the Prize money to be donated to the winners’ school or local public librarywinners’ school or local public library