Comments on: The Storied Library http://walt.lishost.org/2007/08/the-storied-library/ The library voice of the radical middle. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:27:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John http://walt.lishost.org/2007/08/the-storied-library/comment-page-1/#comment-29224 John Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:29:23 +0000 http://walt.lishost.org/?p=606#comment-29224 Walt, I really like this series! Thanks for posting it as WebJunction is not part of my regular reading. I'm a big fan of the power of stories - people always create stories about themselves and the world around them and it is often these stories that help make the world sensible (admittedly, this can be both good and bad). Good marketing, with storied libraries, acts in some ways like the consultant process: the people who use the library may not always recognize the role the library plays in their own narratives (of success or happiness or whatever), so the goal can be nudging people to recognize explicitly the value of what they currently take for granted. Walt, I really like this series! Thanks for posting it as WebJunction is not part of my regular reading. I’m a big fan of the power of stories – people always create stories about themselves and the world around them and it is often these stories that help make the world sensible (admittedly, this can be both good and bad). Good marketing, with storied libraries, acts in some ways like the consultant process: the people who use the library may not always recognize the role the library plays in their own narratives (of success or happiness or whatever), so the goal can be nudging people to recognize explicitly the value of what they currently take for granted.

]]> By: walt http://walt.lishost.org/2007/08/the-storied-library/comment-page-1/#comment-29221 walt Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:11:22 +0000 http://walt.lishost.org/?p=606#comment-29221 Wow!ter: Since one of my very first articles, more than 20 years ago, was on libraries *not* being "just like businesses," you should not be surprised that I don't think of libraries as markets. Nor do I think of libraries as primarily conversations. There was/is an ALA initiative along those lines, and I fundamentally disagree(d) with its paper. But then, I'm not that fond of Cluetrain either (but haven't read it in full--I do find it used too glibly, as with most manifestoes). Most markets aren't conversations; they're simple transactions, "offer:accept," with no negotiation possible or desired. Libraries are libraries. In the U.S. at least, public libraries can and should build from strength in most cases...and that's a longer conversation, one I'm trying to facilitate through books and Making it Work. Wow!ter: Since one of my very first articles, more than 20 years ago, was on libraries *not* being “just like businesses,” you should not be surprised that I don’t think of libraries as markets.

Nor do I think of libraries as primarily conversations. There was/is an ALA initiative along those lines, and I fundamentally disagree(d) with its paper.

But then, I’m not that fond of Cluetrain either (but haven’t read it in full–I do find it used too glibly, as with most manifestoes). Most markets aren’t conversations; they’re simple transactions, “offer:accept,” with no negotiation possible or desired.

Libraries are libraries. In the U.S. at least, public libraries can and should build from strength in most cases…and that’s a longer conversation, one I’m trying to facilitate through books and Making it Work.

]]> By: Pete http://walt.lishost.org/2007/08/the-storied-library/comment-page-1/#comment-29219 Pete Thu, 23 Aug 2007 10:51:50 +0000 http://walt.lishost.org/?p=606#comment-29219 Libraries are indeed conversations- conversations which are not about buying and selling but about being in a community, sharing insgihts from that community and beyond-or should be. Markets are in no way a conversation, even if they should be. Libraries aren't markets for that matter. Libraries are indeed conversations- conversations which are not about buying and selling but about being in a community, sharing insgihts from that community and beyond-or should be.
Markets are in no way a conversation, even if they should be.
Libraries aren’t markets for that matter.

]]> By: WoW!ter http://walt.lishost.org/2007/08/the-storied-library/comment-page-1/#comment-29213 WoW!ter Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:31:16 +0000 http://walt.lishost.org/?p=606#comment-29213 I like it. You are coming very close to the Clue Train Manifesto. Markets are conversations. Libraries are more 2.0 already than most realize. I like it. You are coming very close to the Clue Train Manifesto. Markets are conversations. Libraries are more 2.0 already than most realize.

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