CIL2008: Libraries as Laboratories for Innovation

Presenters:: Matt Gullett (PLCMC) & Greg Schwartz (Louisville Public Library)

Virtual Village @ PLCMC

• Create rich & different atmosphere
• Play music & run content on screens
• videos
• Flickr slides
• Patron spotlight - photo/image/avatar & customer's favorites
  
• Create new experiences for people at the library
• The library being more
• Discovery Service Desk
• Sit on stools to be at eye level
• Main service area has 80-100 computers
• Plasma screens with content
• Try to be more interactive with folks coming into space
• Play background music to help control volume in area
• Discovery desk is round. One side will be used for informal instruction
• Experimental Game lab
• Learning Lab
• Media lab

Greg @ Louisville

• Library think tank developed new design ideas - The Louisville Project: A Design Charrette
• Four people were selected to "do great things"
• not where they want to be
• Rather than broad thinking right now they're focusing on efficiency due to budget cuts
• They are doing beta testing - handing out new technologies to customers who apply for testing & a conversation
• LFPL University using open courseware

How to make it work:

• Need talent - use it in creative & thoughtful ways
• Time & space - hard to be creative amongst day to day activities
• Support from admin - resources, space to operate, organizational architecture, commitment: willingness to say yes or at least maybe