Ahhh...the Beauty of Slow

I feel like my head's been under a rock for the last couple of months and I'm coming back up for air. Not sure why, but major changes in job and life in general can sometimes do that. Anyways...

My presentation at Dal on the Slow Library concept did generate some discussion from bloggers like John Miedema, Ryan Deschamps and jessamyn. I just wish I had grabbed the thread a couple of months ago :-( But hey, the advantage of Slow Library/Food/InsertYoursHere is that you can take your time and nobody can knock you... After looking at the posts I thought it might be useful to slay one urban legend and also briefly describe the key concepts as I see them at this stage.

Legends. Slow Library is not another name for Library 2.0. Library 2.0 is mostly about the technology. It is a very smart thing and I think it is the way to go, but they are not the same. Slow Library assumes Library 2.0 is a key part of the technology foundation of any evolving library system, but it is only a part.

The current description of Slow Library uses six key concepts, each of which carries the thread of the open source movement - without that thread there is less chance all the concepts will lead to a successful tapestry. While I often speak of the Slow Library movement in a technology context, it does not have to mean a technology solution or focus. Hence the somewhat generalized descriptions below :-) Its also late here on the Island...

1. Education: Everyone and Everywhere - Any Slow Library approach assumes education (bidirectional) is a primary ingredient and outcome. Educating staff and users how to avail themselves of information resources and tools then using the results of that educational experience to build new tools and content. A self-perpetuating odyssey.
2. Community: Participate and Preserve - A close-knit community is especially important on the staff side to ensure that the people building the services and resources work closely and collaboratively. You also need to trust everyone to ensure wide participation: if all your staff don't have full admin access to your ILS you need to add some moxie. In the new Library 2.0 context those that use our services are an extension of that team via things like tagging and annotations. Expanding this community (locally and beyond) and preserving the knowledge generated is fundamental to ensuring that the community thrives. If you are nervous about patrons adding tags to your Marc records you need to add even more moxie, and maybe even some mojo.
3. Local: Small-scale and Granular - Whenever possible grow information services and resources using local talent. This can be done in many ways, but one is by spending money on the development of local staff rather than on expensive vendor products. In order to make this doable, small modular components are often (not always) better than big monolithic containers. Starting small and build up and out: also called The Lego Principle :-)
4. Craftsmanship: Open and Sustainable - Craftsmen (craftspeople?) care about quality and longevity. In the information universe the best way to ensure the craft and product are strong is to support things open: source/standards/data/information/knowledge. If we can build on top of open then we increase the likelihood the results will be sustainable.
5. People: Capacity and Passion - I have yet to meet a person in this sector who couldn't learn what they needed to do as long as they have the passion. Take that away and all the skills and knowledge in the world will only take you so far. A good dose of both will take you wherever you need to go. Also, computers can't enjoy a beer with you.
6. Enjoyment: Savour the Unexpected - What can I say. If it ain't fun it ain't on. Don't stop colleagues from asking completely asinine questions and let the weird ideas flow.

Slow Library can also be summed up with one image. You may have another.

Comments

[Ryan Deschamps]

Legends. Slow Library is not another name for Library 2.0. Library 2.0 is mostly about the technology. It is a very smart thing and I think it is the way to go, but they are not the same. Slow Library assumes Library 2.0 is a key part of the technology foundation of any evolving library system, but it is only a part.

Hey Mark, some have claimed that library 2.0 is not all about technology too! It's a confusing thing, but I think before "Slow Library" those of us who saw a need for sustainability/community in libraries (opened somewhat by technological changes) used Library 2.0 to fill in the gaps. Slow Library is a bit more clear in my mind than Library 2.0, simply because it is not cloaked in the language of tech.

[Ryan Deschamps]

Ooops! The blog didn't except my "blockquote" tag (probably because of a syntax problem). The first paragraph above, of course, is an intended quote from the post.

[michikos]

re: image...um, "we're all bozos on this vw bus"? :) What exactly is the image s'posed to mean?

[mleggott]

The pic was taken in front of a country pub in Ireland and is one of my favorite photos. Read number 6 above.

[mleggott]

Re the blockquote not showing up - I had the HTML option turned off - on now.