Comments on: Barriers to new ideas http://libraryadmin.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/barriers-to-new-ideas/ Viewing the Library 2.0 world from a Library Administration perspective. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:07:36 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: libraryadmin http://libraryadmin.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/barriers-to-new-ideas/#comment-65 libraryadmin Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:52:29 +0000 http://libraryadmin.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/barriers-to-new-ideas/#comment-65 Kate, I agree that fear of the unknown is a big problem. We try to make sure everyone knows they have "permission" to play with new technologies. Sometimes, that doesn't even help them feel better. We've done a lot with learning styles and I think that some people are just not comfortable making that leap without some sort of saftey net. Sometimes that is sitting next to someone else doing it the first time or getting help from a trusted source. Each person needs different things and as administrators/managers/trainers we have to realize that and do our best to provide a variety of alternative learning methods and options. I'll always remember a meeting we had where we were talking about a change. Several people in the room kept looking puzzled. One person finally starting drawing some pictures on the board and the puzzled looks went away and they said, "Oh, that's what you mean!" It just took the picture to help them make sense of the change. For someone who really likes trying new stuff and just jumping ahead, this can be very frustrating, but if we work with each person where they are, we can often make good long-term strides. A lot of the 2.0 mentality is based on meeting customers where they are. We sometimes tend to forget that staff are customers too. Kate, I agree that fear of the unknown is a big problem. We try to make sure everyone knows they have “permission” to play with new technologies. Sometimes, that doesn’t even help them feel better. We’ve done a lot with learning styles and I think that some people are just not comfortable making that leap without some sort of saftey net. Sometimes that is sitting next to someone else doing it the first time or getting help from a trusted source. Each person needs different things and as administrators/managers/trainers we have to realize that and do our best to provide a variety of alternative learning methods and options. I’ll always remember a meeting we had where we were talking about a change. Several people in the room kept looking puzzled. One person finally starting drawing some pictures on the board and the puzzled looks went away and they said, “Oh, that’s what you mean!” It just took the picture to help them make sense of the change. For someone who really likes trying new stuff and just jumping ahead, this can be very frustrating, but if we work with each person where they are, we can often make good long-term strides. A lot of the 2.0 mentality is based on meeting customers where they are. We sometimes tend to forget that staff are customers too.

]]> By: Kate http://libraryadmin.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/barriers-to-new-ideas/#comment-58 Kate Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:21:35 +0000 http://libraryadmin.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/barriers-to-new-ideas/#comment-58 Hi Rob, I think one barrier to new ideas can be a personnel or human issue. Some staff may not be open to trying out new technology or implementing software for fear of "one more thing I have to do" or even a fear of learning the technology. I am experiencing some of this as we try out new technologies in my library. How do we get past this hump? I like what the Public Library of Mecklenberg and Charlotte County is doing with their Learning 2.0 program. Letting staff have "playtime" if you will, to get over these types of barriers. Hi Rob,
I think one barrier to new ideas can be a personnel or human issue. Some staff may not be open to trying out new technology or implementing software for fear of “one more thing I have to do” or even a fear of learning the technology. I am experiencing some of this as we try out new technologies in my library. How do we get past this hump? I like what the Public Library of Mecklenberg and Charlotte County is doing with their Learning 2.0 program. Letting staff have “playtime” if you will, to get over these types of barriers.

]]> By: Jeff Dawson http://libraryadmin.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/barriers-to-new-ideas/#comment-32 Jeff Dawson Sun, 19 Aug 2007 02:48:06 +0000 http://libraryadmin.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/barriers-to-new-ideas/#comment-32 Right now, Lester Public Library is going for the gold, a new mission statement. I asked staff to bring it down to three words, we have it at four. Meetings with Board members and City Council members one-on-one have added valuable information to the process. But we will rely on the management team to define the final mission - and as Gina says, "walk the walk." Now it is all about what will the order of the four be? Moving towards a mission that will act as springboard for our "Vision" or slogan... this will blow the lid off the joint and the really cool stuff can happen (it already is, involving staff, library patrons, library board, City Manager, City Council - this is a municipal library. - has seen results..)! Then we move towards shining the Library light on the entire community we serve, yikes! Is this realistic Rob? Why not, it might work in a small community like Two Rivers, or I might be run out of town on a rail. We shall soon see, my 6 month evaluation is coming up! The biggest barrier to new ideas in the past here at LPL has been apathetic leadership and a culture of 'no' with managerial control issues tossed in for good measure. Get rid of that and you are on the way to 21st Century Librarianship (ha!)... Great Blog Rob - I hope it takes off!!! Jeff Dawson Director Lester Public Library Two Rivers, Wisconsin Right now, Lester Public Library is going for the gold, a new mission statement. I asked staff to bring it down to three words, we have it at four.

Meetings with Board members and City Council members one-on-one have added valuable information to the process. But we will rely on the management team to define the final mission – and as Gina says, “walk the walk.”

Now it is all about what will the order of the four be?

Moving towards a mission that will act as springboard for our “Vision” or slogan… this will blow the lid off the joint and the really cool stuff can happen (it already is, involving staff, library patrons, library board, City Manager, City Council – this is a municipal library. – has seen results..)!

Then we move towards shining the Library light on the entire community we serve, yikes!

Is this realistic Rob? Why not, it might work in a small community like Two Rivers, or I might be run out of town on a rail.

We shall soon see, my 6 month evaluation is coming up!

The biggest barrier to new ideas in the past here at LPL has been apathetic leadership and a culture of ‘no’ with managerial control issues tossed in for good measure. Get rid of that and you are on the way to 21st Century Librarianship (ha!)…

Great Blog Rob – I hope it takes off!!!

Jeff Dawson
Director
Lester Public Library
Two Rivers, Wisconsin

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