Can Content Creation (& sales) $upport Libraries?
First, please check out the PC World piece here.
I find myself intrigued by this post. I’ve had many fun thoughts and conversations about the possibilities of marrying public libraries and content creation (check out a fine example of this idea in fruition in Finland at Walking Paper). That said, I don’t yet fully grok the copyright and philosophical ramifications of the particular angle advocated in PC World. First, it would require a savvy copyright/Creative Commons approach (I do geek copyright theory, so it is fun to contemplate). Secondly, while I love the kernal of the idea, I am also hesitant to give up on the notion that public libraries are a public service that’s worth funding with public tax dollars. Personally, I am torn between the urge to adapt, innovate and ride the waves of change, and my dyed-in-the-wool belief that public libraries are an essential part of our lives and worthy of public $upport.
What do you think?
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about 2 years ago
How can libraries remain relevant in a digital world that is becoming increasingly dependent on the internet as a resource for information and connectivity? This is a question that presents considerable challenges for libraries today. Access to information, resources, and books are conveniently available in the office or at home with the push of a button online.
What can libraries offer that the internet can not provide? More importantly, how can libraries enhance and build on the value that the internet can provide? Digitizing library catalogues were a great step years ago that took advantage of Web 1.0. What innovations can libraries present with Web 2.0?
An area for improvement is that libraries can offer innovative and culturally relevant programming. It is also essential that libraries adapt to changes in technology and culture without losing sight of their core mandate.
Libraries and educational institutions should work hand in equipping students with the necessary analog and digital research, literacy, and critical thinking skills that are essential for our society to be competitive, innovative and forward thinking.
A key consideration when examining the role of Libraries in 2010 is that the educational system in North America is desperately in need of an overhaul. We have entered into a digital creative economy, while our education system is still based on an industrial economy model. We are not preparing students to be leaders in the global creative and digital economy.
Please share your thoughts and responses on twitter with #whysavelibraries as we are using social media tools along with traditional research analog research to create a collaborative online and offline documentary entitled, “Why Save Libraries”.
Join the conversation:
http://twitter.com/vformation
#whysavelibraries #savelapl #savelibraries
Why Save Libraries?
about 2 years ago
Joel,
Thank you for this post. I am so excited about the documentary. I would love to introduce you to my boss, Jamie LaRue, one of the most provocative and wise library thinkers and authors I know. Please DM me @AspenWalker if you would be interested in setting up a phone interview with Jamie. I am sure he will blow your mind.
Why save libraries? For me, libraries are about connection and transformation. We connect people with new ideas/opportunities/expertise, build community (both onsite and online), and ultimately, help people transform and enrich their lives.
Books are one vehicle you can ride to create connection and transformation. Programs are another. But it’s not about the vehicle, it’s about the ideas and the connections. Clearly, we must change, flow, and excel with the times. Our vehicles may change, but our purpose remains. We’ve got to keep on eye on the next vehicle before it passes us by.
My library does not have a problem with use, or a large-scale perception of irrelevancy. In fact, people use our services more and more every year. Our problem is with $upport: people want to use the library, but they don’t want to fund it. We often hear that we are doing a great job with the resources we already have. Meanwhile, library use continues to grow, while our budgets stay static or decrease. This is not sustainable, and our well-loved services suffer.
One way to stay relevant emerged from OCLC’s 2008 “From Awareness to Funding” report. Libraries must prove that we are about :
1. Transformation (not information)
2. A necessity, and thoroughly part of the community infrastructure (not “nice to have,” or some impersonal, scary or untrustworthy institution).
3. About the future (and not some dusty memory of a dusty library from our childhood). An aside: preservation does benefit and inform the present and the future. Our preservation efforts are different from that dusty old memory of a childhood library.
4. A return on investment that benefits ME (and not just a purely altruistic endeavor; although that sways me). For example, for every $1 I spend in tax dollars for my public library, I get at least $5.02 back in value. http://www.lrs.org/public/roi/
I look forward to following #whysavelibraries on Twitter.
Thank you.
about 10 months ago
Information is power and now Im a !@#$ing ditcator.
about 10 months ago
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