By Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director – Southern Tier Library System
Friday, March 27, 2015
The first paper I wrote in grad school was titled, “Change is Inevitable – The Rising Tide of 21st Century Librarianship.” Thirteen years after writing this piece, I have zero desire to share it with anyone. Additionally, I sympathize with the poor professor that had to grade it. It’s not the worst thing I ever written, but it certainly reflects my lack of experience at the time of publication.
Fast forward to today… I think it is a pretty cool title. In all honesty, I would love to rewrite it based on my last thirteen years in the trenches, and incorporate significant data to back it up.
“Change is Inevitable” is something I think about all the time. I like to reflect upon challenges I have faced, the circumstances surrounding them, and the decisions I made to overcome and prosper. Most decisions I have made boasted good results. I look back on them with pride. Other decisions, well, I wish I had reacted differently. I am sure every human can relate.
The reason I connect decision-making with change is because “Change is Inevitable”. Change is the external factor in our environment for which we cannot control. Internally, as librarians or member libraries, we should evaluate our strengths and weaknesses to establish the best way to react to external opportunities and threats. The success of SWOT Analysis developed by Albert Humphrey in the 1950’s is proof that “Change is Inevitable”. If we cannot self-evaluate our organizations honestly, then our abilities to identify rising challenges are unlikely.
Another reason I embrace change is because “Change is Exciting”. How interesting would life be if everything remained the same? I love the fact I have less hair, and grayer hair than I did thirteen years ago. It is a badge I wear with honor for raising four daughters, and losing sleep over my passion for libraries. If I looked exactly the same as I did when I was twenty-four, I might question my level of productivity on this planet, and the experiences I have encountered.
My point is this… Change is taking place all around us. As good stewards of libraries, we have an obligation to our communities to change with the times. There is amazing work taking place across the nation with regards to public librarianship. The STEM/STEAM Movement (Library Journal -October 1, 2013) is a contemporary or traditional example depending upon the decade in which you were born.
Most Baby Boomers will remember a time when everything was hand-crafted and built with pride. Despite the misperception that Millennials engage in technology-induced behaviors, the practice of “making things” is actually a trend (hopefully one that will stick).
STLS consultants are asked all the time about what member libraries should offer regarding library programs. The answers is usually three-fold, (1) Yes, you should absolutely be doing programming, (2) programming doesn’t cost much money, or require expensive presenters, and (3) programming enriches the quality of services you provide your community, and enriches the quality of life within your community.
Today’s US public libraries are not solely book repositories. No member library in our System, or any System in New York State could support this mission at some level of quality. The primary reason is funding doesn’t exist.
When a book is published, and reaches the Best-Sellers List, member libraries are pinched to offer the title in multiple formats. Think “Da Vinci Code”, “Hunger Games” or “Fifty Shades of Grey”. Patrons want these titles in Hard Cover, Large Print, Audiobook, eBook, DVD (movie release) and CD (movie release soundtrack). To purchase all these formats for just one title is a cost of $225. This accounts for 70% of some member libraries’ monthly book budget. It is unrealistic for us to believe we can strictly be book repositories.
The good news is we are off the hook. Patrons don’t expect us to be repositories. The bad news is they expect us to be everything else. They want us to be the movie theater, science center, coffee house, art gallery, video store, magazine stand, performing arts center, computer laboratory; wood shop… the list goes on and on!
How is meeting these demands financially realistic? Well, community members don’t expect us to be an actual science center or wood shop. What they do expect is some variation of these entities. They want a small sample of what our amazing world offers. Member libraries have the power to provide this through programming at little or no cost. If you would like to learn more, I encourage you to contact one our STLS consultants.
Now let’s get back to this idea of change. Member libraries will notice in the coming week’s significant changes to the STLS website, STARCat, Overdrive and anything else tied to the STLS name. STLS undertook a rebranding initiative in 2014 to update its look, and refocus its mission to member libraries.
“As cooperative library system, our focus is Connecting Community Libraries throughout the region. We subscribe to a single mission of empowering public libraries to provide amazing services within our communities… STLS intends on strengthening our 50-year relationship with member libraries.
Connecting Community Libraries means bringing together all available resources to warrant sustainable public library services. Our members afford educational, cultural and economic opportunities for all. STLS will partner with, and connect our member libraries to make the Southern Tier a vibrant community in which we are all proud to live.”
Yes, I am writing verbatim from our new website, but our staff and trustees stand-by this statement. Moving along in this project, we hope our member libraries will also subscribe to our mission. STLS exists because of our members. We want our region to be known for its amazing public libraries. It’s something we have strived for since 1957, and will continue to do far into the 21st Century.
Have a great weekend of Change, STLS!
Kindest Regards,
Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director
Southern Tier Library System
Follow me on Twitter: @comlibpartner
