Honestly, I’m so totally pumped by Karen Hyman’s presentation, I’m not sure where to begin. Not only did her words ring true to the core, but she’s wicked funny as a presenter. It’s no wonder that, when she was introduced, we were told that she attracts such an audience at conferences that it’s often standing room only.
Her presentation, “Reinventing Your Library for the 21st Century: A 12-Step Progam for a Networked World”, covered what some of us already know: that libraries and librarianship must either reinvent, or perish.
The three basic tenets of reinvention, quoted from her presentation, are:
- Tell the story.
- Develop relationships.
- Do things differently.
Not standard library procedure these days. No one ever said change would be easy, but the effort we put in is ultimately worth the reward of saving our profession from extinction in the end.
I’d never heard of the “Rule of 1965″ before her presentation, where “Anything the library did before 1965 is basic, everything else is extra”, but it is an astute summary of how many libraries operate today. Some librarians seem to strive to find ways to turn off any new innovation, to not offer computer classes because there are just too many people interested, and to say, “I work my hours and only my hours.” These are all aspects of the librarian stereotype, and that’s a vision that we need to strive to shatter.
The twelve steps that she outlines in her presentation should be developed into a twelve-step program to help reform librarian thinking across the board, new and old alike, and not just in public libraries. Could you imagine? “Hi, my name’s Andrea, and I’m a librarian.” “Hi Andrea.” Then, chanting the steps from her presentation like a mantra:
- Get a grip. [Librarians are *not* a dying breed! It's all good.]
- Redefine risk. [Don't let the risks or downsides of even good ideas keep you from acting.]
- Exert influence.
- Energize staff.
- Think like a customer.
- Walk through everything. [Your library, that is, and get feedback from staff and patrons.]
- Merchandise your collection.
- Take the library to the people.
- Be a hot spot. [Yep, she means wireless.]
- Promote yourself.
- Change your community.
- Make something happen.
-Karen Hyman, South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative, ALA Midwinter 1/14/2005, notes in brackets mine
I’d be glad to work towards my Step 12 chip to keep libraries from becoming irrelevant. *Especially* if Karen was the facilitator. 
The overall goal, as Karen explains it, is to get rid of anything in the library that promotes the library and librarian stereotype, and rework it from a perspective that really appeals to the patron. It’s scary, and it could lead to turnover at your library, but it’s necessary for the survival of our fine profession. Burn all of the rules and the “No” signs (cell phones, food, talking, smiling, fun) from pre-1965 and replace them with all the extras, the information and services that hit the patron right where it counts: their interests. Fill the space with competitor (big-box bookstores, coffee joints) concepts that appeal to the patron, forget about the “that’s how we’ve always done it” excuse, anticipate expectations wtih a plan to meet those expectations, listen and act when a patron says, “That’s stupid,” and you know they’re *right*. Make your library rock. Besides, “libraries could use a little noise and crumbs“.
Anarchy! Blasphemy! C’mon, it’s not so bad, when you really think about the benefits. Besides, it’s all for the fabulous cause of keeping *us* in business. And there’s a twelve-step program to support you and everything. If you need a buddy, I’m here for you.
