Imagine Your Library's Future

Imagine Your Library's Future PDF Author: Steve O'Connor
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 1780630468
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 241

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Book Description
In this information age it is widely recognised that, in order to maintain relevance and to gain a competitive edge, libraries and other organisations in the business of information must continuously assess their roles, collections, services and perhaps most importantly, their business practices. Scenarios are a way of predicting and describing a future three to five years away while strongly engaging one's community in choosing the future which is preferable. The horizon in which assessments about future roles change is growing shorter and shorter. While it is almost clichéd to state that change is the only constant, differing scenarios of what libraries might be allow all of us to contemplate futures we might otherwise not allow. Drawing on extensive experience in libraries in different parts of the globe, the authors provide a rich analysis of planning, managing and implementing change in information organisations through scenario planning. Through extensive practical applications, both actual and theoretical, the authors provide a strong background understanding and direct the reader through a planning process that is both readily applicable and innovative for all information organisations, irrespective of their size or client base. - Extensive exploration of what it means to 'shape our futures' rather than having our future shaped for us - Valuable techniques for understanding futures and creating different scenarios - Practical applications are illustrated through examples and real life experience

Imagine Your Library's Future

Imagine Your Library's Future PDF Author: Steve O'Connor
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 1780630468
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 241

Get Book Here

Book Description
In this information age it is widely recognised that, in order to maintain relevance and to gain a competitive edge, libraries and other organisations in the business of information must continuously assess their roles, collections, services and perhaps most importantly, their business practices. Scenarios are a way of predicting and describing a future three to five years away while strongly engaging one's community in choosing the future which is preferable. The horizon in which assessments about future roles change is growing shorter and shorter. While it is almost clichéd to state that change is the only constant, differing scenarios of what libraries might be allow all of us to contemplate futures we might otherwise not allow. Drawing on extensive experience in libraries in different parts of the globe, the authors provide a rich analysis of planning, managing and implementing change in information organisations through scenario planning. Through extensive practical applications, both actual and theoretical, the authors provide a strong background understanding and direct the reader through a planning process that is both readily applicable and innovative for all information organisations, irrespective of their size or client base. - Extensive exploration of what it means to 'shape our futures' rather than having our future shaped for us - Valuable techniques for understanding futures and creating different scenarios - Practical applications are illustrated through examples and real life experience

Sustainable Thinking

Sustainable Thinking PDF Author: Rebekkah Smith Aldrich
Publisher: American Library Association
ISBN: 0838916953
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 166

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Book Description
This book will show you how to harness sustainable thinking to move forward with confidence into the unknown.

Imagined Futures

Imagined Futures PDF Author: Jens Beckert
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674545893
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 384

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Book Description
In a capitalist system, consumers, investors, and corporations orient their activities toward a future that contains opportunities and risks. How actors assess uncertainty is a problem that economists have tried to solve through general equilibrium and rational expectations theory. Powerful as these analytical tools are, they underestimate the future’s unknowability by assuming that markets, in the aggregate, correctly forecast what is to come. Jens Beckert adds a new chapter to the theory of capitalism by demonstrating how fictional expectations drive modern economies—or throw them into crisis when the imagined futures fail to materialize. Collectively held images of how the future will unfold are critical because they free economic actors from paralyzing doubt, enabling them to commit resources and coordinate decisions even if those expectations prove inaccurate. Beckert distinguishes fictional expectations from performativity theory, which holds that predictions tend to become self-fulfilling prophecies. Economic forecasts are important not because they produce the futures they envision but because they create the expectations that generate economic activity in the first place. Actors pursue money, investments, innovations, and consumption only if they believe the objects obtained through market exchanges will retain value. We accept money because we believe in its future purchasing power. We accept the risk of capital investments and innovation because we expect profit. And we purchase consumer goods based on dreams of satisfaction. As Imagined Futures shows, those who ignore the role of real uncertainty and fictional expectations in market dynamics misunderstand the nature of capitalism.

Planning Our Future Libraries

Planning Our Future Libraries PDF Author: Kim Leeder
Publisher: American Library Association
ISBN: 0838996884
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 195

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Book Description
This thought-provoking collection will challenge librarians at every kind of institution to start planning today for the library of tomorrow.

Reflecting on the Future of Academic and Public Libraries

Reflecting on the Future of Academic and Public Libraries PDF Author: Peter Hernon
Publisher: American Library Association
ISBN: 0838911870
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 259

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Book Description
Academic and public libraries are much different today than they were even 15 years ago. With even bigger changes on the horizon, what lies in store? This volume offers ideas to academic and public librarians about the future of library services. Editors Hernon and Matthews invite a raft of contributors to step back and envision the type of future library that will generate excitement and enthusiasm among users and stakeholders. Anyone interested in the future of libraries, especially library managers, will be engaged and stimulated as the contributorsExamine the current state of the library, summarizing existing literature on the topic to sketch in historical backgroundProject into the future, using SWOT analysis, environmental scans, and other techniques to posit how library infrastructure (such as staff, collections, technology, and facilities) can adapt in the decades aheadConstruct potential scenarios that library leaders can use to forge paths for their own institutionsThe collection of knowledge and practical wisdom in this book will help academic and public libraries find ways to honor their missions while planning for the broader institutional changes already underway.

The Top Technologies Every Librarian Needs to Know

The Top Technologies Every Librarian Needs to Know PDF Author: LITA
Publisher: American Library Association
ISBN: 0838912281
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 182

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Book Description
While it's inspiring to ponder the libraries of the 22nd century, it's a lot more practical to think ahead to the next five years. That's just what Varnum and his hand-picked team of contributors have done, showing library technology staff and administrators where to invest time and money to receive the greatest benefits. Their ideas will stimulate strategic thinking and help library staff make informed decisions about meeting user expectations and delivering services. Sure conversation starters and informative for any library, chapters include “Impetus to Innovate: Convergence and Library Trends,” by A.J. Million and Heather Lea Moulaison“Hands-Free Augmented Reality: Impacting the Library Future,” by Brigitte M. Bell and Terry Cottrell“Libraries and Archives Augmenting the World,” by William Denton“The Future of Cloud-Based Library Systems,” by Steven Bowers and Elliot Jonathan Polak“Library Discovery: From Ponds to Streams,” by Varnum“Exit As Strategy: Web Services as the New Websites for Many Libraries,” by Anson Parker, VP Nagraj, and David Moody“Reading and Non-Reading: Text Mining in Critical Practice,” by Devin Higgins“Bigger, Better, Together: Building the Digital Library of the Future,” by Jeremy York“The Case for Open Hardware in Libraries,” by Jason Griffey This compendium offers an expert-level view of the library technology that’s just around the corner.

A Hands-On Introduction to Data Science

A Hands-On Introduction to Data Science PDF Author: Chirag Shah
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108472443
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 459

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Book Description
An introductory textbook offering a low barrier entry to data science; the hands-on approach will appeal to students from a range of disciplines.

Blueprint for Your Library Marketing Plan

Blueprint for Your Library Marketing Plan PDF Author: Patricia H. Fisher
Publisher: American Library Association
ISBN: 9780838909096
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 158

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Book Description
In these challenging times, libraries face fierce competition for customers and funding. Creating and implementing a marketing plan can help libraries make a compelling case and address both issues—attracting funding and customers by focusing on specific needs. But where and how do you start?

Library 2035

Library 2035 PDF Author: Sandra Hirsh
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1538180413
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 235

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Book Description
"Essential reading for all library workers and information professionals and, indeed, for any person concerned about the future of libraries." - Library Journal Building on the success and impact of Library 2020: Today’s Leading Visionaries Describe Tomorrow’s Library by Joseph Janes, Library 2035: Imagining the Next Generation of Libraries updates, expands upon, and broadens the discussions on the future of libraries and the ways in which they transform information services to best serve their communities.Library 2035 explores the lessons learned over the past decade and forecasts the opportunities, strengths, and challenges for libraries in the future. Contributors including R. David Lankes, Kelvin Watson, Annie Norman, Miguel Figueroa, and Nicole Cooke, along with 25 other library leaders, were asked to describe the “library of 2035” in whatever way they wanted. Their responses to this question will inspire, provoke, challenge, and expand our thinking about the role and importance of libraries in the future. Library leaders, LIS students and faculty will find this book particularly meaningful and useful as we grapple with what the future of libraries and the profession will be.

Transforming Our Image, Building Our Brand

Transforming Our Image, Building Our Brand PDF Author: Valerie J. Gross
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1598847716
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description
This book describes a groundbreaking concept that enables public libraries—and librarians—to become indispensable by following a "Three Pillars" educational approach, and by replacing traditional terms with powerful, intuitive, value-enhanced terminology that everyone understands. While there is no question that what librarians and library professionals do is critically important, the ways in which these roles and responsibilities are described can mean the difference between being valued as essential to the community or considered optional. Something as simple as a choice of words can determine what is valued—and consequently what gets funded, and what gets canceled. Transforming Our Image, Building Our Brand: The Education Advantage examines how the "Three Pillars" approach harnesses the power of language to enhance respect, generate increased perceived value, and garner funding. The power stems from positioning all that library professionals do under three, easy-to-remember "pillars," and replacing typical library terms and phrases with bold, value-enhanced terminology that commands value—language that people outside of the field can immediately understand. This book is essential reading for public library staff members at all levels of the organization, especially those in leadership roles; and its root concepts are applicable for all other library types as well.