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SAFETY HARBOR Focus Group Summary

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TBLC FOCUS GROUP: SAFETY HARBOR – APRIL 19
 

Question 1: What are the challenges that are facing libraries today and for the next few years? (In priority order)
 
1. Money: insecurities of state, local, private income (including funds based on possible decreases in enrollment at private colleges) plus
o Cost of technology
o Cost of personnel, materials/resources
2. Public questioning of value of libraries in the age of Google: how do you “sell” that value to the community and funders
3. Library as social space: noise, food
4a.The Millennial Generation: how do we serve these folks who read less literature and are online all the time; how do we enter their environment? (Millennials think differently; difficult for older generations to transition to this way of thinking: group projects, interactive, thinking in “clouds” of ideas rather than linear fashion; many library staff in older generation thus creating generational issues as more “millennials” come to library.
4b.Continuing need to serve traditional customers as influx of baby boomers hits at same time as we try to serve millennials
5a. The fast pace of technological change. Need for risk-taking in libraries to keep up with the speed of change in the information environment at the same time as we try to maintain other necessary services such as preservation..
5b. Changes in uses of library facilities and changes in user expectations: how to quantify new uses of library when we are used to traditional statistics of use such as circulation and reference.
6. Multicultural issues: language, collection
7. Need for new services, e.g., eGovernment services: “the library as Swiss army knife.”
8. Patron perceptions that everything is available online so why need the library
9. Growing number of patrons that never come into the library but who use the library online: how do we best serve them? How do we know their needs? How do we get feedback from them?
10. Need for harder data (like Bertot report) to help quantify value of library to community
11. Need for better relationships with educational community and the need to recognize the library’s role in education
12. Are we investing in sustainable elements as our lives become fast and disposable; people expect instant gratification and have a “throw-away” attitude about nearly everything.
13. Global challenges such as global warming, war, weather, energy, etc.
 

Question 2: What are the things that TBLC does well that help you address these challenges?
 
o Help with specific technology needs, web hosting, Internet access, consulting.
o Trendspotting, especially recent series on Library 2.0 (keep doing this even more!)
o Cooperative purchases and services that help stretch the dollar
o Sunline
o Resource sharing, iBorrow
o Wide scope of training – all levels: technology, management skills, library skills. (This has value for networking as well as content)
o Advocacy
o ERate application
o Bibliographic services/authority control
o DLLI delivery
o High level of customer service among TBLC employees
o Equipment to borrow that libraries can’t afford to purchase on their own.
 

Question 3: What should TBLC add, change or improve that would help you to better meet the challenges ahead?
 
• Update directory of libraries and staff: this needs a special effort; staff could update own entries; would be good to add searchability by categories, skill sets/expertise
• Marketing/public relations: needs a bigger more focused effort; another ad campaign? In other languages?
• Advocacy: TBLC could convene a meeting of decision-makers (city/county managers, legislators, college/university trustees and administrators) to advocate for libraries and promote value of libraries and of TBLC services
• TLBC should take the lead in resolving conflict of MLC’s advocating for MLC’s and also advocating for libraries. Need to advocate for libraries.
• Training formats: try voice conferencing and other electronic technology, e.g.; could share licensing with other MLC’s, and/or members. Use for SIGs as well as training. During money crunch, participants and trainers would not have to travel.
• Paraprofessional certification: advocate, participate, offer training. Partner with university or community college; coordinate at state level.
• Digitization effort: continue and broaden.
• Host library staff social events for purpose of networking – like SIS; work with SIS if it still exists. Do maybe twice a year, once at annual meeting and one other occasion.
• Trendspotting: continue and do even more.
• Promote/share information on what members are doing to try new technology – so others could talk to them about it. Could create a databank with list of technologies and who is using each with contact info.
• Spearhead a statewide ILS for all types of libraries.
• Create a podcast of regional library news on the website that could be downloaded onto MP3’s/iPod’s so travelers/commuters could listen while they travel.
 

Question 4: What will TBLC look like in five years if it has been meeting these challenges and opportunities?

• Stronger online presence: training, meetings using distance learning techniques. No need to drive there. Saves gas, saves time, saves money.
• There will be more training, both out in the field and in larger home facility
• More people will know what TBLC is, not just libraries (college presidents, city managers, legislators)
• Services will all be free to members
• TBLC will continue to guide statewide projects like Ask A Librarian and DLLI
• Resource sharing and cooperative agreements will still be part of the TBLC activities
• TBLC will have some virtual staff
• TBLC will have more members
• TBLC will have its own facility on Second Life, on an island shared with other MLC’s
• Planning will be continual instead of every three years
• TBLC will collaborate with other MLC’s to offer more specialized training statewide, often electronically
• Hands-on training continues in more flexible and innovative labs (for example, the desk top will have flat screen monitors that fold down into desk). Students will be doing more collaborative work in groups; there will be instant surveys to see how people are progressing.
• Staff and customers will look 5 years older

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