As we listened to the Week 2 wrap-up of "I-DO Manage" this evening, the concept that kept popping up was change: the library changing to meet the needs of 21st century learners, changing the physical space to accommodate learning styles, changing displays to entice readers, and changing perceptions of our stakeholders through our interactions and our own continued learning efforts.
Ranganathan was prophetic when he wrote his fifth law of library science--"The library is a growing organism." The Five Laws of Library Science (Bombay: Asia Pub. House, 1963). Libraries have always been places of inquiry and learning; with the booming amount of information the digital age is affording us, the need for libraries to keep abreast of current resources and access to such information has grown exponentially. Finding, evaluating, using, and creating with this information requires a wide variety of materials, technology, and flexible spaces which sometimes clash with old facilities, old programs, and old ways of thinking about learning.
None of these changes will be completely successful, however, without the interpersonal relationships that entice potential users of the library to avail themselves of the resources and services. As a librarian, I will have to convince my learning community that time spent in the library and with the materials is worthwhile. I will not only have to manage today's resources, physical space, and programming, but also look to the future and anticipate changes based on the needs of my patrons. This will require continuing education on my part, as well as advocacy efforts to bring about the needed changes. Hopefully, with relationships well-established, it will not be a solo mission--I'll have my learning community advocating right beside me.
Ranganathan was prophetic when he wrote his fifth law of library science--"The library is a growing organism." The Five Laws of Library Science (Bombay: Asia Pub. House, 1963). Libraries have always been places of inquiry and learning; with the booming amount of information the digital age is affording us, the need for libraries to keep abreast of current resources and access to such information has grown exponentially. Finding, evaluating, using, and creating with this information requires a wide variety of materials, technology, and flexible spaces which sometimes clash with old facilities, old programs, and old ways of thinking about learning.
None of these changes will be completely successful, however, without the interpersonal relationships that entice potential users of the library to avail themselves of the resources and services. As a librarian, I will have to convince my learning community that time spent in the library and with the materials is worthwhile. I will not only have to manage today's resources, physical space, and programming, but also look to the future and anticipate changes based on the needs of my patrons. This will require continuing education on my part, as well as advocacy efforts to bring about the needed changes. Hopefully, with relationships well-established, it will not be a solo mission--I'll have my learning community advocating right beside me.
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