The library innovation toolkit: ideas, strategies and programs

Abstract

This book presents ideas, strategies and programs for the implementation of innovation in libraries. Dr Anthony Molaro is an assistant professor in the Mlis Program at st Catherine’s university in st Paul, Minnesota, and an experienced writer and presenter. his co-editor, leah l. White, is a former winner of the Library Journal’s Movers & shakers Award. They argue that innovation should be less focused on technology and more focused on people. Content chosen for the book reflects this view from the perspective of public, academic and school libraries. All the chapters are authored by librarians from north America, except for the piece by Matt Finch and Tracie Mauro from Parkes, new south Wales, which focuses on children’s activities in the library. Chapters are divided into groups under the headings innovative culture, innovative staff, innovative outreach, innovative technology, innovative spaces and innovative programs. Most chapters are case studies, although the first few chapters are more instructive and focus on how to create an environment conducive to innovation and how to drive such innovation. some case studies describe interesting initiatives, such as ‘Ferry Tales’, the story of a library book club aboard a commuter ferry in seattle. Most case studies, however, did not seem especially innovative. For example, some libraries held workshops focusing on new ideas which were hard to differentiate from renamed planning days; another chapter consisted of a case study involving an exhibition space which is common enough in libraries, although not necessarily named an ‘idea box’ like the one in the study. library events such as organising a trivia competition or holding TeD-like events to spread ideas are hardly new. nonetheless, it is interesting to find a book focusing on innovation in libraries that looks beyond technology. ideally, this book should inspire readers to go and test some of the ideas offered and try something new in their local setting. As a toolkit, it should equip readers with the knowledge and resources to go forward. however, a lot of the discussion and case studies seem clichéd and not as innovative as one might hope. While some interesting initiatives are contained within the book don’t expect to be blown away with ideas. Catherine Gilbert Parliament of Australia Library