Transcript Slide 1
Innovation:
Library Sustenance in the 21
st
Century A Key for the
Dr. Vivek Patkar [email protected]
NACLIN 2009 Chandigarh, 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 economic view
Innovation Process
Problem or Stagnation Invented Solution Leads to Implementation or Innovation Creative Ideas Research and Development Approaches Individual or 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 Tablet Capsule Folding Pocket Powder Bottle 4 3
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
Innovation Evaluation Frame
Innovation Examples:
• •
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
More Innovations:
1. Fountain pen Ballpoint pen 2. Hardbound book Paperback 3. Book e-book 4. Bidirectional printing 5. Single Multi-column printing 6. Shelving 7. Keyboard Compact shelving Mouse Multi-touch screen / Surface computer
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 like cable TV and pull like the Internet & web] [push
Innovation Basics
• • • •
Core Questions:
Where to apply?
How to initiate?
How to propagate?
How to sustain?
L I B R A R Y
Where in the Library?
• • • • • • •
Collection development Technical processing Services design Staff actions Infrastructure use Policies Activity domain O G Y T E C H N O L
How to Initiate in the Library?
•
Attempt at the weakest area for better process control
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Attempt in the area where innovation would be easily accepted
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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?
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Reward System : provide significant incentive Stick policy : make the change mandatory Middle path : create conducive conditions
This is to certify …… …….
vvv
How to Sustain in the Library?
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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
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Support co-evolution of allied systems (rules, procedures) Broad-based system Demonstrating tangible benefits Constant monitoring
Opposition to Innovation
Old is Gold New Learning Resistance Is it Needed?
Nothing New
Failure of Innovation
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Commonly 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
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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.,
Service - Balancing Customer Perceptions and Expectations,
The Free Press, 1990.]
Delivering Quality
New York:
TEARR
framework ( T angibles , E mpathy , A ssurance , R eliability and R esponsiveness ) [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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Selecting & evaluating reading material Metadata, Information seeking training modules, integrated library systems Plagiarism & Intellectual Property Rights issues Knowledge management activities and virtual reference service Individualised delivery
Public Library Innovation
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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 Equation
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.
• • • •
Some Tips
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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)
Innovation would be the cornerstone of library sustenance in the competitive society of the 21
st
century; launching sooner is better.
Thank You