April 2009 Archives

And now for something completely different

By Andrew K. Pace on April 23, 2009 1:45 PM |
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Five years ago, I wrote an article for Library Journal about "Dismantling the System." At the end of that article, I suggested that it would be necessary for us to dismantle systems so that we could rebuild them.  Of course, I left out how exactly we should do that.

Now it's time to be more explicit about what I have been up to for the last 15 months. I've been pretty busy listening to the library community, trying to put their views into a strategy, and creating something new that I hope will represent a real sea-change for libraries and the OCLC cooperative.

If you haven't seen it already, I would encourage you to take a look at OCLC's latest press release.  It announces an exciting strategic direction for OCLC and its members and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.  OCLC is extending the WorldCat Local platform to include circulation and delivery, print and electronic acquisitions, and license management components.  A quick start version of WorldCat Local--available at no additional charge to  FirstSearch WorldCat subscribers--is a first step to WorldCat Local and to a truly next-generation cooperative library management service.

Library testing of the circulation component of the web-scale management service will begin this summer, with other components to follow in phases.  Initial pilot libraries will be named soon.  An advisory council is in the works to help guide the development and rollout of this new solution.  You're invited to follow details of the project and I encourage everyone out there to use the comments section of this post to submit their thoughts, questions, ideas, and opinions.

Five years after I advocated dismantling library management systems, I am confident that using web-scale architectures and a cooperative service model are the right way to put things back together again.  The OCLC cooperative is not only uniquely positioned to provide this solution, it is part of our obligation to libraries.

HIbernation's Over

By Andrew K. Pace on April 17, 2009 4:15 PM |
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Okay, I'll admit it.  I miss the occasional 70 degree days in January in Raleigh, NC.  It's fair to say that Ohio doesn't really have any of those.  I do, however, prefer snow storms to ice storms, Canada Geese to mosquitoes, and Graeter's ice cream to just about anything.

But one of he most exciting events that happens in a central Ohio Spring is the end to the Winter's hibernation.  Dormant neighborhood streets are suddenly filled with kids on bikes, excited pets, and families squinting at the sun like bears emerging from caves.  People start eating outside, running errands at lunch, and the extra daylight makes non-work time all the more glorious.

I think today is that day.  Everyone I work with is great, but today the smiles were bigger, the jocularity was funnier, and the "spring" in people's steps seemed a little bouncier  I think the water even tasted better.

Next comes the energy and excitement that I always have an easier time equating with Springtime.  I can't wait to see what happens next.

Overdue Stimulation

By Andrew K. Pace on April 1, 2009 6:30 AM |
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In a move that is still resonating throughout the library community, the Obama Administration announced that it would be granting nation-wide amnesty to library patrons with overdue books and fines. What this means for the financial bottom line in libraries remains uncertain.  One thing's for sure--libraries won't hear the cha-ching of the circulation desk cash drawer for some time to come.

 "Libraries already have a tough time collecting these fines," commented an Administration official who added, "Getting Americans to spend that money in stores will certainly do more to stimulate the economy."

Neither the American Library Association nor any of its divisions had a prepared statement in reaction to this bold move by Obama's team. One insider commented that the impact of millions of dollars stimulating book stores and coffee shops would have an equally detrimental impact on story times, book clubs, and the millions of job-seekers around the country. 

While aggregate totals are difficult to come by, some large county and municipal ibrary systems can be expected to collect over seven figures in library fines.  It's estimated that as much as 9% of public library budgets come from fines (from a 2006 IMLS Survey).  Academic libraries, on the other hand, report major declines in fine revenues due to the fact that college students don't really read paper-based books anymore.

Finally, some opposition talk show hosts are already postulating that this mass forgiveness of fines might have a dark underbelly, raising questions about the library fines of certain donors to the Obama-Biden presidential campaign. Rep. Lew Rosnec (R-VA) is already calling for a Congressional probe into the library records of thousands of Obama supporters, a move that is sure to be challenged by the ALA and library patrons across the country.

It's still not clear when libraries will be allowed to start charging fines again.  One silver lining to the plan could actually bring millions of people (and milliions of books) back to libraries after years of fearing the punitive nature of the dreaded overdue fine.
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About the Author

Andrew K. Pace

I am Executive Director for Networked Library Services at OCLC. I am also a past President of LITA. On occasion, I am known for pontificating "on stage, in writing, and via the web" on a variety of issues important to libraries.

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