I was curious to read what Godin had to say about libraries this time. Last time he wrote about them it was pretty clear he didn’t “get it” and many librarians responded with posts of their own (you’re not allowed to comment on Godin’s blog)

Before I get too far into this I want to point out I also find it interesting that Godin brings up Kindle several times in this post. Let’s not forget he has a dog in that fight, he has partnered with Amazon to create his Domino Project.

Now for his new post The Future of the Library

I was happy to see this:

The librarian isn’t a clerk who happens to work at a library. A librarian is a data hound, a guide, a sherpa and a teacher. The librarian is the interface between reams of data and the untrained but motivated user.

Though I still don’t care for the use of “sherpa”. But we are so much more than this too, we are trainers, teachers, mediators and more.

This is nice too, though he is an author so I’d expect him to be in favor of reading.

because reading makes all of us more thoughtful, better informed and more productive members of a civil society.

Then he goes on to say:

If the goal is to connect viewers with movies, Netflix wins.

This goes further than a mere sideline that most librarians resented anyway.

Ok sure I’ll grant you he’s right that Netflix is great. But I also happen to know that circulation stats for movies at libraries is increasing, not decreasing, so yeah Netflix is great if you can pay for it. But its not driving libraries out of the movie lending business. Then there is the last half of that statement “most librarians resented anyway” really? Which librarians? I have to wonder if Mr. Godin knows any librarians personally. Because, yes there are some who still resent movies, just like there are some who resent ebooks, but they are a minority, not “most”.

Godin then addresses access to information:

Wikipedia and the huge databanks of information have basically eliminated the library as the best resource for anyone doing amateur research (grade school, middle school, even undergrad). Is there any doubt that online resources will get better and cheaper as the years go by? Kids don’t schlep to the library to use an out of date encyclopedia to do a report on FDR.

He’s right, they don’t schlep to the library to use an out-of-date encyclopedia. They schlep to the library to use a current, up-to-date online one, and databases to write that report on FDR. Online encyclopedias and databases that the library pays for. The price of those databases is going up, not down. So information isn’t getting cheaper. Wikipedia might be free, but (most) teachers don’t allow students to use Wikipedia. Even if they did I certainly hope that Mr. Godin isn’t suggesting that research end at Wikipedia. I’m not sure about that ease of use thing either. It seems that if we, librarians, spend a lot of time providing instruction on how to use something it’s probably not easy.

The post next looks at cost:

And then we need to consider the rise of the Kindle. An ebook costs about $1.60 in 1962 dollars. A thousand ebooks can fit on one device, easily. Easy to store, easy to sort, easy to hand to your neighbor. Five years from now, readers will be as expensive as Gillette razors, and ebooks will cost less than the blades.

In this case I don’t necessarily disagree with him, I think the prices will continue to drop. The problem is that regardless of how low they go some people can’t afford to buy books. That’s where the library comes in. See we’re not just a warehouse of books. We provide access and the equal opportunity to access the information stored in those books to everyone regardless of socio-economic status. Especially when he goes on to say (emphasis added by me)

Librarians that are arguing and lobbying for clever ebook lending solutions are completely missing the point. They are defending library as warehouse as opposed to fighting for the future, which is librarian as producer, concierge, connector, teacher and impresario.

No Mr. Godin you are missing the point, again. We ARE fighting for the future of the librarian as a producer, concierge, connector, teach and impresario, but we know to do that we need books. We need the information contained in those books, so we DO need “clever ebook lending solutions”. Information is not free, it costs. One of the many roles of the public library is to ensure that all people have access to that information.

Overall, I think he does a much better job in his new post. But honestly I wish he’d just stop writing about libraries. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a great writer, I think I own all of his books, but I think he should stick with what he knows, and clearly that’s not libraries.

I hope Seth Godin sees this post and takes the time to read it. If he does this is my personal message to him:

Mr. Godin, I would be delighted to talk with you about the current state of libraries and, more importantly, the future of libraries, please email or call me (bobbi@librarianbyday.net). If nothing else I can connect you with others who can provide better and more accurate information on current library usage and the future of libraries.

I’d also like to suggest some reading for you.

• The 2011 State of America’s Libraries report from the American Library Association, is full of statistics and fact.
• Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
• Informing Communities:Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age This report by the Knight Foundation and the Aspen Institute is not about libraries specifically but addresses the many roles they play. There is a nice 2 page executive summary.

Similar Posts:

• What Do You Think Libraries Will Look Like in 2015?
• Save Money – Use the Library
• 9 Reasons Publishers Should Stop Acting Like Libraries Are The Enemy

There are so many opinions and options for the f libraries out there.

One idea from  Mal Booth, Sophie McDonald and Belinda Tiffen, breaks down the library of 2015 by 5 aspects: organizational culture, work conditions, service models, sustainability and people.

via Information Literacy meets Library 2.0

The thesis by Guy Adam Ailion, that this vidoeo is based on won the National Corobrik Architectural Thesis Award 2010, it is available for download.

This video from JISC in the UK questions whether or not there will be librarians in the future.

Libraries of the Future from Inside Higher Ed

The university library of the future will be sparsely staffed, highly decentralized, and have a physical plant consisting of little more than special collections and study areas.

The future of libraries, with or without books from CNN

Books are being pushed aside for digital learning centers and gaming areas. “Loud rooms” that promote public discourse and group projects are taking over the bookish quiet. Hipster staffers who blog, chat on Twitter and care little about the Dewey Decimal System are edging out old-school librarians

A to Z of Libraries of the Future

The Future of Libraries and Museums wiki

Libraries of the Future Debate in 2009 at Oxford

What does the library of the future look like to you?

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• 9 Reasons Publishers Should Stop Acting Like Libraries Are The Enemy
• Geek the Library
• Seth Godin Misses the Point on Libraries, Again.

The the recording is now available from the May 20th online Symposium The Future is Mobile sponsored by OCLC and Library Journal.   You can listen to it here or see the tweets on Twitter or What the Hashtag

Speakers included:

• Sarah Allen, Director, Blazing Cloud, Inc.
• Jack Mason, Global Business Services, Strategic Programs & Social Media, Ibm
• Lindsay Notwell, Executive Director, 4g Strategy & Implementation, Verizon Wireless

The Bullpen Of Library Represenatives Included

• Jason Casden, Digital Technologies Development Librarian, Ncsu Libraries
• Toby Greenwalt, Virtual Services Coordinator, Skokie Public Library
• David Saff, Software Engineer, Google
• Lisa Carlucci Thomas, Digital Services Librarian, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
• Greg Carpenter, Ceo, Boopsie
• Noel Chandler, Ceo & Co-Founder, Mosio
• and me

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• Yes I am a Digital Branch Manager, No I Do Not Regularly Build Bonfires of Print Books in My Backyard & Dance Around Wearing Warpaint
• It’s Teen Tech Week!
• What It Takes To Be a Digital Woman

My personally selected top 10 from the links I shared on Twitter from 4/23/2010 thru 4/29/2010

1.Facebook’s Eroding Privacy Policy: A Timeline – a must read. You know privacy settings on Facebook have been changing but just seeing the time line will put it in perspective.

2. CIOs say IT should not block socianetworking sites via @sabram

3.Texting and cellphones being used successfully in fight against malaria via @dmlcentral – love stories about tech being used to save lives

Using a mix of text messages, Google Maps and cloud software, organizers of a pilot program backed by IBM, Novartis and Vodafone believe they saved hundreds of lives in a few short months on the malaria-wracked African continent. Simply by tracking inventory in remote areas with greater efficiency, the anti-malaria groups were able to increase the chances that any given clinic would have life-saving medicine on hand by 300 percent.

4. Change is Hard Because Self-Control Wears You Out - Sources of Insight via @buffyjhamilton – a good look at why change is so hard

5. great read! 25 Lessons Learned from Seth Godin via @buffyjhamilton @presentationzen – also includes top 10 quotes and a list of quotes by subject. Handy resource to bookmark

Have a bunch of good runs before the sun sets.

Be remarkable.

Success is a skill.

Being the best is the best place to be.

Be missed.

Everybody is an expert about something.

Success is a hierarchy.

Don’t do A as a calculated tactic to get B.

Be in it for the long haul.

Quit the right things and lean into the right Dips.

Decide if you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur.

It’s like walking through a maze.

Everyone is not your customer.

Feed, grow, and satisfy the tribe.

Small is the new big.

Find the new scarce

It’s the FREE PRIZE INSIDE. ”

The third century is about ideas.

Spread your ideas.

Don’t wait for perfect.

Don’t get paid to alter your behavior.

The goal of reading is to choose what to change.

The world changes whether you like it or not.

The game of marketing has changed.

Feed, grow, and satisfy your business.

6. Digital Literacy is More Than Having the Knowledge of How to Use a Computer

“Digital literacy is more than having the knowledge of how to use a computer, what your software program does, what function or understanding how the hardware of your computer works. Digital literacy is also about using that knowledge to actually facilitate the learning process.” –  Clarissa Myrick-Harris, director of the UNCF’s Curriculum and Faculty Enhancement Program.

7. RT @UrbanLibCouncil: It isn’t good customer service to punish all library customers for the sins of a few.#ulcqueensbluesky

8. Excellent post from Gina Trapani about what to do with Facebook’s questionable privacy settings via @TheLiB – read it!

9. Great Post blowing my mind this morning: @brianmathews on what the future library might look like via @pbromberg

10 Teachers’ digital skills tick list via @joycevalenza – create list of skills teachers (or anyone) should have. You can add items and mark off the ones you are capable of. very coolSimilar Posts:

• Top Ten Links Week 10
• Top Ten Links 2.44: eBooks, Digital Literacy, Transliteracy, Libraries & Quitting Google
• Top Ten Links Week 16

CC image used courtesy of holeymoon on flickr

My personally selected top 10 from the links I shared on Twitter from 2/12/2010 thru 2/18/2010

1. Why are you for killing libraries? a thought-provoking post from Tim Spalding of LibraryThing questioning why libraries are embracing ebooks, especially when the ebook market is set to cut libraries out of participation.
2. RT @vonburkhardt: New blog post: Ambient Awareness in Twitter for Reference – good suggestions on using Twitter to connect with your community
3. The Future of Media: Framing the Debate – from the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy – “The Federal Communications Commission has launched an examination into the Future of Media and Information Needs of Communities in a Digital Age with a public notice that calls for public input through March 8, 2010.” public input – thats you!
4. RT @VenessaMiemis: people share news online that inspires awe, researchers find – from the New York Times Will You Be E-Mailing This Column? It’s Awesome, we much prefer to share good news than bad news! hurray!
5. Friday Poll: TED Attendees Talk Top Technology Trends – an informal poll from Mashable in which they asked TED attendees – ““What do you think is the most interesting thing happening in technology right now?”
6. 8 Things You Need to Know About Collaboration – great list including number 3. Collaboration is a human process – throwing technology at people won’t magically/automatically create collaboration
7. The 10 Top Reasons Why The 10 Top Reasons Don’t Really Matter - you gotta love a list that debunks lists plus it actually has some good points like number  5. “Not everything that counts can be counted; and not everything that can be counted counts.” (Einstein)
8. Digital Books and Your Rights: A Checklist for Readers – I don’t care if you love or hate ebooks, as a librarian you need to know about ownership rights, they are different from print books.
9. History of media technology scares, from the printing press to Facebook. – fear that the latest popular technology is a sure sign the world is ending isn’t new.   “Conrad Gessner, might have been the first to raise the alarm about the effects of information overload. In a landmark book, he described how the modern world overwhelmed people with data and that this overabundance was both “confusing and harmful” to the mind.  … he died in 1565.”
10. RT @theREALwikiman: RT @LISNews How close is the library to death? The Unspeakable Truth Ned Potter’s essay for the LISnews essay contest takes a hard look at the place of libraries in the future. Be sure to read the comments too

Similar Posts:

• Top Ten Links Week 9
• Top Ten Links Week 24
• Top Ten Links Week 30 – Happiness, Social Media Comptency, eBooks, Digital Natives, Prezi, Facebook Privacy and More!

Start with this, I did

Now think about this – How do libraries fit into this picture? As far as I can tell the technologies we’re struggling to adapt to and implement might very well be outdated by the time we’re ready to start using them.  That’s not good. Right now technologies are running by and we’re still crawling to keep up.  What does it mean? Maybe we can’t keep up, maybe we should stop focusing our energy there, at least temporarily.  Let’s face it we’ve been talking about the next gen OPAC for how many years?  Would our time be better spent elsewhere?  Maybe we need to look at changing our organizational structure and mindset first.  Then we’ll be better equipped to keep pace.  Perhaps becoming more fluid and ready to adapt much more rapidly to change as it happens?     Because right now I see two problems

1. The level of online service and interactions patrons  take for granted is not being met by libraries.  Not even the most cutting edge, front line, tech savvy ones.  
2. The technologies and trends the most cutting edge, front line, tech savvy libraries are preparing may not longer be relevant by the time they implement them or become obsolete soon there after.

We’re barely treading water here people and I don’t think another blog post about how your library can use Twitter or an article about website usability is going to keep us from downing.  We’ve got to change, and I mean really change.  

More Reading:

• The Beginning of the New Normal
• Inherit the Wind
• Libraries might not provide content in the future & its okay

Similar Posts:

• Who do you help first?
• Technology for Tight Budgets
• “Go be secretly awesome. Then tell someone.”