Innovation: A Key for the Library Sustenance in the 21st Century

Dr. Vivek Patkarvnpatkar2004@yahoo.co.in

NACLIN 2009Chandigarh, September 22-25, 2009

Innovation - What is it?• Every new thing does not imply

innovation (some distinct element is essential for judgment)

• Crossing the threshold of newness• Combination of insight and invention• Increase in value for customer or

producer [product, process, service]

• A change, to make someone or something better and leading to

increased productivity

Socio-economicview

CreativeIdeas

ResearchandDevelopmentApproaches

Invented SolutionLeads to

Implementation or Innovation

ProblemorStagnation

Innovation Process

Individualor

Team

Feedback

Innovation – Select Features

• Action is expected (based on combination of creative insight and invention)

• Short glory (decline of a novelty due to large-scale adoption)

• Context (socio-economic conditions make a difference)

• Quantification in limited cases (time saving by automated document issue-return system)

Innovations Becoming Routine

Traditional

Folding

Pocket

Tablet Capsule

Powder

3

4

Bottle

?

Innovation Types

Classification based on the degree of novelty:

• Incremental innovation

• Radical or paradigm shift type innovation

• Spurious innovation

Innovation Purpose

• Increasing tangible utility

• Enhancing functional ease

• For beauty or aesthetics

• Prestige or show off

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RADICAL

SPURIOUS F

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Innovation Evaluation Frame

• Pressure cooker Coloured one• Postman selling postal stationery at the doorstep while delivering the mail• Selling of insurance through banks• Indian Railways abolished the IIIrd Class• Bank teller ATM service• Internet-based ticketing system• Seminar via teleconferencing or Webinar

Innovation Examples:

1. Fountain pen Ballpoint pen2. Hardbound book Paperback3. Book e-book4. Bidirectional printing5. Single Multi-column printing6. Shelving Compact shelving7. Keyboard Mouse Multi-touch screen/Surface computer

More Innovations:

Innovation Drivers• Dissatisfaction

[for the stakeholders]

• Stagnancy or staleness [individual or institutional level]

• Competitive pressure [individual, institutional and community level]

• Resource crunch [all levels]

• Technology [push like cable TV and pull like the Internet & web]

Innovation Basics

Core Questions:

• Where to apply?

• How to initiate?

• How to propagate?

• How to sustain?

LIBRARY

Where in the Library?

• Collection development

• Technical processing

• Services design

• Staff actions

• Infrastructure use

• Policies

• Activity domain

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How to Initiate in the Library?

• Attempt at the weakest area for better process control

• Attempt in the area where innovation would be easily accepted

• Attempt for the most visible impact

- Periodic survey of users and their feedback do prove useful

- Informal interaction with different stakeholders would also help

Innovation Diffusion

• Compatibility: The degree of fit with the existing systems and beliefs

• Scope for modification: The degree to which a user can change the innovation to suit her/his needs

• Resistance: Opposition to change due to various factors

How to Diffuse in the Library?

• Reward System : provide significant incentive

• Stick policy : make the change mandatory

• Middle path : create conducive conditions

This isto certify

………….

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How to Sustain in the Library?

• Ensure maximum participation by the patrons and stakeholders

• Through publicity

• Setting higher goals (raising the bar as done in a high jump competition)

Sustaining Efforts

• Support co-evolution of allied systems (rules, procedures)

• Broad-based system

• Demonstrating tangible benefits

• Constant monitoring

NewLearningResistance

NothingNew

Is it Needed?

Opposition to Innovation

Old isGold

Failure of InnovationCommonly observed causes:

• Absence of clarity in goal definition

• Poor alignment of actions to goals

• Weakness in team-work

• Inadequate supervision

• Lack of communication

• Neglecting local context in transplanting

• Ignoring the feedback

Successful Innovation• Simple, flexible, reliable & economical• Addresses unmet needs of users, not

simply that library feels to innovate • Quickly removes rear-view mirror

perception• Gains wider acceptance • Adds value through multiplier effects• Triggers chain reaction of innovations

Green Libraries• M. Antonelli proposes different libraries,

based on the concept of “permaculture” (a combination of permanent and culture).

• Future libraries should be automobile and bicycle-lending libraries and should enter the business of archiving genetic material like local seeds too.

J. Pinkowski, “Keeping Track of Green Libraries”, Library Journal, 15 Sept. 2007.

Service Quality Models• Bridging the gap between the expected

service & delivered service is the key for the innovation acceptance

• SERVQUAL attributes for measuring the service quality [Zeithaml, V.A., Parasuraman, A. and Berry, L.L., Delivering Quality Service - Balancing Customer Perceptions and Expectations, New York: The Free Press, 1990.]

• TEARR framework (Tangibles, Empathy, Assurance, Reliability and Responsiveness) [Patkar, V.N., “TEARR – A Framework for Providing Quality Infrastructure and Services”, The ICFAI Journal of Infrastructure, Vol.4, No.1, March 2006, pp.60-66.]

Avenues for Library Innovation• From Collect to Connect

[seamless access to all the material]

• Space Organisation [arrangement for group work, discussions, and special groups]

• Developing OPAC with Users’ Inputs [append the catalogue itself with the comments of the readers using Web 2.0 technologies]

• Creating Talking Books [select suitable books, obtain copyright clearance and organise their delivery]

Avenues for Library Innovation (2)

• Promoting Special Interest Corner [all works by the local authors, local history material and relevant maps]

• Generation of Resources [launching of ‘friend of book’ or ‘book adoption scheme’]

• Establishing R & D Unit [to analyse the library use pattern and identify underserved groups for initiating needed services]

Academic Library Innovation• Technology based : web enabled customised

services, wireless fidelity (wi-fi) connectivity

• Policy based : introducing digital document delivery system and electronic security system

• Institution based : accessing library resources by the single identity card, enabling conduct of open book examination system

• Activity based : inviting author whose works are in the library to share his/her experiences

e-Learning and Library

e-Learning Process 1. Pre-Authoring

2. Content Development

3. Course Management 4. External Database Interface

5. Delivery

Library Involvement

1. Selecting & evaluating reading material

2. Metadata, Information seeking training modules, integrated library systems

3. Plagiarism & Intellectual Property Rights issues

4. Knowledge management activities and virtual reference service

5. Individualised delivery

Public Library Innovation • Technology based : digitising old valuable

material for wider access, providing web-based services like CAS and SDI

• Policy based : modifying rules for electronic resources procurement, altering document issue-return system

• Institution based : introducing whole family membership concept and home delivery of documents for infirm senior citizens

• Activity based : organising meet the author programmes, teaching local language

Community Information System (CIS)

• Public library can serve as a CIS addressing other information needs like legal assistance, employment openings, consumer guidance, local history and imparting fine arts appreciation lessons

• Innovation to act as the supplier of multimodal knowledge, adopting new practices employing ICT tools

Innovation = Creativity * Risk Taking

(innovation is a combination of new insight, execution ability and probability of failure where the probability of failure can be assessed through cumulative experience gained by trying out creative ideas)

Byrd, J. and Brown, P.L., The innovation equation: building creativity and risk taking in your organization. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, 2003.

Innovation Equation

Some Tips• Assess innovation potential by

consulting widely & SWOT analysis

• Implement on experimental basis

• Evaluate the benefits objectively

• Be open to review the innovation

• Do not give up in the face of failure Western New York Library Resources Council, USA is launching a special peer reviewed electronic publication from January 2010 namely, The Journal of Library Innovation, which would report on research and innovative practices in libraries of all types (www.libraryinnovation.org)

Thank You

Innovation would be the cornerstone of library sustenance in the competitive society of the 21st century; launching sooner is better.