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The Transparent Library: A Road Map to Transparency

The “To Do” list for transparency is simple but requires commitment from administrators and staff and a willingness to learn from failure. While the list mostly fits all sizes, note that the challenges in achieving the first two items are faced mainly by medium and large libraries.

The list

Give your staff multiple avenues for [...]

The Technology Storm

In this new world, these models no longer fly:

Locked-down library web sites held captive by overzealous IT departments or marketing/PR offices. Technology purchases driven by accounting departments instead of front-line staff and savvy professionals. Technology decisions and plans without staff buy-in. IT projects driven by artificial time lines instead of customer service needs. A [...]

Are You Opaque?

Nowadays, an unhappy public can be more vocal than ever before, thanks to the Internet. When Apple dropped the price of the iPhone by $200 just weeks after the device went on sale, various Apple discussion forums caught fire with angry posts, and savvy geeks launched web sites to protest. How might a library director [...]

Transparent Library: “Going to the Field”

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6476421.html

The transparent library’s fluid nature and open communication allow all levels of staff to understand what it takes to meet user needs. By following this simple rule—bring them out—you’ll develop a big-picture understanding of library services among your staff, and you’ll see dividends immediately.

We are Transparent! Men’s Room, PLCMC Imaginon

ImaginON: Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg County Originally uploaded by mstephens7.

LJ used this pic of us for the column.

The Naked Library (or Radical Transparency for LJ)

Michael Casey and I are writing our next column for LJ’s The Transparent Library and we realized what a perfect place to discuss the recent Wired piece “The Naked CEO” by Clive Thompson. Thompson blogged about the article while writing the piece and asked for input.

At his blog, Thompson sums up so much [...]

The Transparent Library: A New Library Journal Column

Michael Casey and I have some good news. We’ll be writing a monthly column in Library Journal starting next week. It’s called “The Transparent Library”, a title we like a lot. We’ll be applying some of our thinking and inspiration to organizational culture and libraries, with a slant towards technology as well. We’re very happy [...]