Library Planning Research,  Social Library Issues

Library 2.0: The Human Touch

Digital work is changing the workplace in more ways than one. Besides the obvious change from book browsing to digital work, providing new distance-related services are responsible for a noticeable increase in staff anxiety about their jobs. For many, the library 2.0 is tantamount to unemployment. When technological change is mentioned, the first things many see are phased-out jobs and replacement. Library management systems, and mobile service in particular, can be interconnected in new ways. Who will run them?

Skills House

Not all librarians are unhappy with the new technologies. Some look upon the world of slack and discord as job enhancers that give them more rather than less information. These people tend to be comfortable around social media and new forms of the collaborative workplace. The knowledge to manipulate and build online libraries, for example, provides them with an edge over their competition. They see their future advancement in a world that requires knowledge workers to collaborate and use information. For them, the job is very challenging. There is a pride in the library 2.0 they are supporting, while the demands of the new workplace are looked upon as interesting problems to solve.

Library 2.0

Surprisingly, the new jobs created by distance and technology are sometimes more demanding than the old ones. Software is notorious for being unfriendly. The integration of the ‘library as place’ and information services must be managed. The staff must adjust their way of thinking, especially when it comes to the performance of individual tasks. As the physical backroom functions are connected in the cloud and ‘library as place’ space needs change, many people find themselves questioning the library collections.

Digital Asset Management

Libraries are moving toward more service-oriented environments that are dominated by digital services. Reference is a prime example as virtual chat services, libguides and online database services keeps growing. In the physical areas, space use will also change drastically, patrons used to browse the shelves now place a hold and pick up. We are focusing on the potential for aesthetically pleasing, flexible / adaptable libraries – a skills house based on Bauhaus. More on that soon…

Successful planning for the library 2.0 (skills house) depends on consideration of the staff, board and community. CONTACT US

Building Library 2.0

Unfortunately, in the process of distancing ourselves from each other, some people lose sight of the primary goals. The library service and layout become all-important. It must be remembered that digital library services is supposed to make the staff more productive and allow them to provide more services to the users. The major method that library systems use to achieve these goals is work simplification. Work simplification has always been part of the library managers responsibility. The staff benefits because tasks are reviewed and updated.

To be successful, the best approach is to observe the present with a questioning mind. Use a human touch to develop Library 2.0 or what we call the Skills House Want to read more check out THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHANGE