Making the library profession work for you

Making the Making the profession work for profession work for

youyouBroadening horizons, and learning Broadening horizons, and learning

everything that they didn’t teach you in everything that they didn’t teach you in library school.library school.

(From the perspective of a “young guy-brarian”)

Andrew Finegan

productivity

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inflated expectations

disillusionment

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The JourneyThe Journey

ACT I ACT II ACT III

Gartner’s Hype-Cycle

ACT IACT IInflated expectation and Inflated expectation and

disillusionmentdisillusionment“…“…a dynamic industry a dynamic industry

that’s constantly that’s constantly changing…changing…

…enjoy the challenge …enjoy the challenge of new technology…of new technology…

…lots of …lots of opportunities to opportunities to advance your advance your career…”career…”

- http://destinationlibrary.pbwiki.com- http://destinationlibrary.pbwiki.com

Barriers in Melbourne…Barriers in Melbourne…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/1576342039/

DarwinDarwin

FrustrationsFrustrations

Professional isolationProfessional isolation

Technological Technological shortcomingsshortcomings

Social attitudesSocial attitudes

RevelationRevelation

These issues are These issues are present everywhere present everywhere – not just in Darwin!– not just in Darwin!

What exactly does it What exactly does it mean to be a mean to be a librarian, if I can’t do librarian, if I can’t do these things? How these things? How do I “make it work”?do I “make it work”?

http://icanhascheezburger.com

ACT II - EnlightenmentACT II - Enlightenment

Finding a voiceFinding a voice

http://www.flickr.com/photos/httpwwwflickrcomphotostopend/2265153122/

Australian IdolAustralian Idol

http://www.australianidol.com.au

Librarian IdolLibrarian Idol

““Tackling a world of sex, Tackling a world of sex, politics, nerds and pop politics, nerds and pop song contests, Andrew song contests, Andrew Finegan attempts to Finegan attempts to dispel the stereotypes dispel the stereotypes and prove that he has and prove that he has what it takes to be a…what it takes to be a…LIBRARIAN IDOLLIBRARIAN IDOL.”.”

The Power of BrandingThe Power of Branding

+LIBRARIAN

http://www.tnt.tv/movies/librarian3/

IDOL

=

Familiar brands, butFamiliar brands, but Unfamiliar combinationUnfamiliar combination I’m intrigued and would I’m intrigued and would

pay money to see that.pay money to see that.

Becoming a “local”Becoming a “local”

Northern Territory News – 15/06/2007

Broadening HorizonsBroadening Horizons

Connecting with the Connecting with the audienceaudience

Break the fourth Break the fourth wallwall

Share storiesShare stories

Avoid the SnarkAvoid the Snark

Find the pleasureFind the pleasure

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Act III – plateau of Act III – plateau of productivityproductivity

The Library ExperienceThe Library Experience

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Audience DevelopmentAudience Development

“…“…to meet the needsto meet the needsof existing and of existing and potential audiencespotential audiencesand to help arts and to help arts organisations toorganisations todevelop ongoing develop ongoing relationships with relationships with audiences.audiences.””

- - Arts Council of EnglandArts Council of Englandhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/hytok/2919613700/

Finding pleasure in the Finding pleasure in the librarylibrary

Pleasure in playPleasure in play

Pleasure in Pleasure in storiesstories

Pleasure in Pleasure in lifelong learninglifelong learning

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darienlibrary/3221923479/

Marketing the libraryMarketing the library

Happiness is the new Happiness is the new capital, and we are capital, and we are all in the happiness all in the happiness business.business.

- Jane McGonigal- Jane McGonigal

Libraries are Libraries are “Happiness “Happiness Engines”Engines”

- - Liz Lawley

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It’s not about being cool…It’s not about being cool…

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/beebe_library/1434873492/

Don’t fake it.Don’t fake it.

PassionPassion

EmpathyEmpathy

PleasurePleasure

YOU CAN’T FAKE THESE!YOU CAN’T FAKE THESE!

(If you do, you’re only fooling yourself)(If you do, you’re only fooling yourself)

Libraries should be less Libraries should be less like…like…

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……and more likeand more like

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tduong/417276690/

Lessons learnt…Lessons learnt…

QuestionsQuestions

Andrew FineganAndrew Finegan

We can continue this conversation We can continue this conversation at:at:

afinegan@gmail.com

http://www.librarianidol.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/librarianidol

These slides available at:

http://www.slideshare.net/librarianidol http://www.flickr.com/photos/oberazzi/318947873/