On 6/16/06, Eric Lease Morgan <emorgan_at_nd.edu> wrote:
> If this is true, then what can we do, as people who want to see
> change for the better, to accomplish this goal?
First I think we need two things ;
1. We have got to have leaders who's not afraid of bloody do something
*right now* instead of forming another commitee that will plan
something for next year; we're somewhat in a hurry as the rest of the
world - due to the way technology works - are bypassing us at
lightning speeds, with better ideas, and better marketing ploys!
2. We got to have leaders *involved*; we're not talking here only
about the next generation OPAC, but the future of how libraries will
make themselves relevant in a field where we should be experts!
Second, here's what I'm doing currently with quite some success ;
a) just make something that demonstrates a point; I set aside 30
minutes per day where I tinker with prototypes and hacks. Once a month
or so I've got something that works well enough for others not to
ignore.
b) no matter the reaction to the prototype in a), keep at it; if your
idea is sound, it *will* become relevant and important later on, no
matter how much they say you're off track to begin with.
c) Think big! Even the smallest idea mostly deals with huge sets of
data, so don't let the scope of the prototype give people an excuse to
dismiss it; recently we built a prototype that deals with 12 million
MARC records blastingly fast, and no one could overlook the *realness*
of that prototype.
d) be radical! I strongly believe that the conservative forces in the
library world is our strongest enemy; don't hack Java just because the
infrastructure usually is Java (choose the right tool for the job),
don't think your interface must represent *anything* already present
in current interfaces (if you try to make an OPAC version 2.0, you're
still making just an OPAC), don't let librarians tell you what patrons
need/want/should have (the old roles have changed; test your users!)
Be crazy, think new, shun protocol, work with leaders and ignore
management.
Hmm, this last point is perhaps a bit strong (ignoring management), so
let me first state that we have many fine managers in our profession.
However, what we need now is leaders. So look for them, create systems
you think *they* will want, and don't let "middle-management" divert
you from your course.
Not humble at all,
Alex
--
"Ultimately, all things are known because you want to believe you know."
- Frank Herbert
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Received on Fri Jun 16 2006 - 07:49:38 EDT