So, a few of us were discussing via various forms of social media, IM’ing – the works – the state of librarianship (post migraine, my brain makes random connections and kind of scattered — a poor time for coding but a great time for absorbing ideas):
- Libraries are dreadfully underfunded and understaffed to the point where others are starting to try to do our work (FCC digital literacy corps, volunteers, etc.)
- Innovation is the exception, rather than the norm. In the tech world (see Silcone Valley), innovation, experimentation, and FAILURE (& occasionally EXTRAORDINARY technical innovation and success) are the norm. We need to find our way towards experimentation and innovation.
- Traditionally, we have been the keepers and curators of knowledge. We shared information and resources on our terms.
- We don’t do Alpha well, let alone Beta. (we seem to like finished, nearly perfect products, rather than publicly test things that are imperfect – I often wonder if this is because it could be inconvenient/confusing to our patrons or is it just intellectual arrogance?)
- We need to understand our technologies. (that means training and continously training).
- We need to understand others’ technologies (because they may be using their technology to use our resources).
- We need to get out of our boxes.