Libraries Solve Problems

In advance, I ask that you forgive spelling errors...Palm TX free Word doesn't check for me, and this keyboard is tiny!!

Lee Rainie provided a fast-paced, humorous and informative keynote presentation on the first morning of CIL 2008. There was a ton of information, but I particularly enjoyed the resources for advocacy in our libraries during his talk called "Libraries Solve Problems!"

We have 53% of the market share coming into libraries to fill informational needs. Thiis an acceptable market share, but there are opportunities for educating the public as to how we've changed and how helpful we can be. There are people out there who can tell our stories and draw others to our health and government resources, news resources, etc.

We can offer user generated content tools as a way to show our successes and competence. People are eager to give feedback, but desire to use Web 2.0 tools to share the word about our programs and collections.

Those who are not currently our patrons are in a situation to seek us out. If we make them aware of our work (show them that we have solved problems in the past like the problems they have), they will come. They will be comfortable in our environment and we have the skills to mentor them to use a library well.

In the era of social networks, people are looking toward their favorite social networks for opportunities for learning, for news and navigation and for support/problem solving. Libraries and librarians should find a way to be part of social networks.

This is all great stuff that we can translate and apply back at home. I'll be sure to post a link to the study when I get back to a "real computer"!