2008 was an uncertain year for Libraryland. Ideas and tools abound for how we can do more with what we have, and we are becoming more aware of what it is we have : data and the systems to organize it.
There are some serious storm clouds on the horizon:
- The economy is in a condition which hasn’t been seen since the 1930s, and most sectors are wondering if and when we will see the bottom. This will affect libraries in two ways : Public libraries will see rising use in ways they have only dreamed of, and all libraries will see their funding and other resources fade. This includes lower tax revenue for publicly funded libraries, lower dollars for state-supported organizations, and fewer funds for academic libraries as enrollment drops and higher education struggles to make ends meet. These effects will be delayed somewhat, so there is time to prepare.
- Organizations and companies have finally discovered the value of data and other stored information. The movement towards openness is being countered by a tightening of control. Google Books, OCLC, and a variety of publishers are attempting to control access and use of what they have stored in their systems, sometimes even from the creators of the data/information.
- Costs for software, services and access are still driving upward at a rate that is unsustainable in the current economy. Book publishers are already cutting back on the number of new authors they take a risk in publishing; journal subscriptions are still all over the place, with some titles having exorbitant rates, and others being published Open Access; software and service contracts are expensive, with the added stress and cost of switching to other systems keeping many from exploring other options.
What can libraries do? Re-read the opening paragraph: Ideas and tools abound for how we can do more with what we have. Each library should look at their environment and evaluate what they can do differently. Every service you offer should be examined for changes that will cost less and perhaps even offer more. A few examples:
- On a larger scale: what do you pay, in real dollars for your Integrated Library System (ILS), assuming you have one? What would it cost you in staff time and money to switch to an open source alternative? Companies are out there that offer support packages; I suspect that many libraries could offer much more with fewer resources in this area. If you don’t currently have one, this may be a great time to begin that project.
- Do you offer laptop computers for checkout? For staff use? How much did each of them cost? How much would be saved by selecting netbooks during their replacement schedule? Perhaps you could even get two netbooks for less than the cost of each notebook. This won’t work if higher-level software is needed (such as Photoshop), but most of a notebook’s use is in the realm of office software and internet use, which are the netbook’s bread and butter.
- Hire and retain people with tech savvy and curiousity, and give them the time and resources to experiment with new services and technology. Do you really need to spend thousands of dollars to display book covers on your OPAC? Is the cost of an OPAC upgrade preventing you from implementing one? Can you add social networking features (reviews, recommendations, etc.) without wondering where the money will come from? The answers may surprise you. $100 and 100 hours of staff time can give you options for all of the above in a small-to-mid-sized library, if you have the environment to let it happen.
It is generally understood that new business opportunities are created in economic downturns, and that it is a great environment for a small company with an understanding of what the public wants. The same goes for libraries and library organizations. When everyone else is looking to protect what they already have (while spending lots of money in the process), those who develop new, inexpensive ideas are poised to suceed. In libraryspeak : serve your patrons better for less money, and become the library you have dreamed of. Your best opportunity may in fact exist now.
one of the links found via Open Access News
