1.
Bringing Innovation to
Public Library Services
Eastern Shore Regional Library
November 7, 2017

2.
Who am I?
• Librarian
• Consultant
• Trainer
• Workshop facilitator
• Based in Austin, TX
• Innovation Fest
• R-Squared Conference
• Building an Effective
Learning Culture
• Project Outcome

3.
Why am I here?
• Libraries are essential to communities.
• Change is inevitable.
• Innovation is a proactive approach to change.
• We are all capable of learning and growth.

4.
Who are you?
And why are you here?

5.
Today’s Agenda
• Defining innovation
• Identifying a problem to solve
• Thinking towards a solution
• Designing a solution
• Preparing a pitch
• Presenting innovative ideas
• Taking it back to your library

6.
Announcements, etc.
• Breaks
• Lunch
• Facilities
• Materials

7.
What is innovation?

8.
Let’s discuss:
What do you think about
innovation?

9.
What isn’t innovation?
• Latest technology
• Fancy new services
• Expensive new stuff

10.
What is innovation?
• A process
• A mindset
• A method of problem solving
• A way to approach change

11.
What is innovation?
• A process
• A mindset
• A method of problem solving
• A way to approach change
• Latest technology
• Fancy new services
• Expensive new stuff

12.
Process for Innovation
1. Identify the problem
2. Explore the problem
3. Identify possible solutions
4. Design a solution
5. Describe the solution
Problem
solving
process

13.
The Cycle of Innovation
https://medium.nobl.io/what-every-institutional-innovation-program-gets-wrong-8943fdee9fce

14.
You can innovate!
And your library can, too!
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephenwunker/2015/07/29/5-strategic-big-businesses-use-to-build-
a-culture-of-innovation/#7c54fd2740eb

15.
Cultivate a Growth Mindset

16.
Mindsets
Growth Mindset Fixed Mindset

17.
Growth Mindset
• New skills can be learned
& developed
• Effort is a path to mastery
• Embrace challenges
Link: https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/

18.
Fixed Mindset
• Skills are innate talents,
can’t be developed
• Effort is a waste,
fruitless
• Avoid challenges
Link: https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/

19.
Growth vs. Fixed
• New skills can be learned
& developed
• Effort is a path to mastery
• Embrace challenges
• Skills are innate talents,
can’t be developed
• Effort is a waste, fruitless
• Avoid challenges

20.
Let’s discuss:
Does your library cultivate a growth
mindset for staff?
What is one thing you could do to cultivate
a growth mindset for yourself?
What about for your staff/colleagues?

21.
Building an Innovation Team

22.
The importance of team work
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckman%27s_stages_of_group_development

23.
Individual Roles & Strengths
• Keep discussions on topic?
• Watch the time?
• Make sure everyone is participating?
• Take notes?
• Lead the creative design?
• Tackle logistics?
• Be the storyteller?
• Conduct research?
• Make a convincing argument?

24.
Today’s Team Challenge
• Work together in groups of ~5
• Design an innovative program or service
to solve a library problem
• Present your innovative
solution

25.
Activity: Form Teams
• Groups of ~5
• Group by:
– Library service area
– Geographic service area
– Subject areas of interest
– Carpool group
– Random

26.
Morning break

27.
Active Listening
• Is a two-way dialogue
• Leads to deeper conversation
• Helps amplify, energize, &
clarify the thoughts of the
person speaking
https://hbr.org/2016/07/what-great-listeners-actually-do

28.
Allow for Disagreement
• Teams don’t always agree.
• Share critical opinions, but respect the
individuals who are receiving that criticism.
• Take a moment to consider criticism before
responding.
• Disagreement is an opportunity to engage in
deeper dialogue.
• If a consensus cannot be reached, identify
criteria for making a decision, moving forward.
https://www.fastcompany.com/3039412/the-art-science-to-giving-and-receiving-
criticism-at-work

29.
Activity: Team Listening
Person 1:
Share
Person 2:
Repeat
Person 3:
Suggest
Person 4:
Repeat
Person 5:
Describe

30.
Identifying a problem to solve

31.
Explore possible problems
• Don’t start with a solution
• Think about users – what are their needs
• Focus on a specific group of users – not
all users
• Think about library strategic goals
• Decide where to focus effort, which
problem to solve

32.
Evaluate Innovative Ideas
• Indicate priorities for innovation
• Develop a system for assessment and feedback
• Listen closely to your colleagues

33.
Look at the Problem from All Angles
• Data
• Feedback
• Patron needs
• Diversity & inclusion

34.
Problem Prompts

35.
Problem #1:
Early Literacy

36.
Problem #2:
Digital Literacy

37.
Problem #3:
STEM

38.
Problem #4:
eBooks

39.
Problem #5:
Media Literacy

40.
Problem #6:
Group Idea

41.
Activity: Choose a Problem

42.
Activity: Describe the Problem
• Review the prompt
• Elaborate on the problem
• Describe in detail:
– The current challenge
– What is currently offered
– The target library users
who are affected
– What you think library
users need and want
– Any other details?

43.
Thinking towards a solution

44.
Big picture thinking

45.
Setting Goals

46.
Problem Solving
• Ask “How might we?”
• Break down the user
experience
• Look with an open
mind
http://designthinkingforlibraries.com/

47.
Consider the User
• Who is the user group you are trying to help?
• What are their needs & wants?
• What are the problems they struggle with that
you could solve?
• What are some possible solutions to these
problems?
http://designthinkingforlibraries.com/

48.
Activity: Explore Solutions

49.
Conduct Exploratory Research
• What sources can you look to for information?
• Who can you talk with experience in this area?
• Do you have an opportunity to observe users?
• Can you learn from past
experience?
• Can you think of any similar
problems to compare this to?
http://designthinkingforlibraries.com/

50.
Identify Constraints
• Staff
• Budget
• Space
• Equipment
• Other?

51.
Activity: Choose a Direction
• Identify possible solutions
• Discuss the solutions
• Choose one direction to pursue

52.
Lunch break

53.
Designing a solution

54.
Creativity & Brainstorming

55.
Creativity & Brainstorming

56.
Activity: Yes, and…
Person 1:
Share idea
Person 2:
Yes, and…
Person 3:
Yes, and…

57.
Brainwriting

58.
Mind Mapping

59.
Activity: Brainstorm Away
Choose one activity:
–Yes, and…
–Brain writing
–Mind mapping

60.
Defining & describing a solution

61.
Essential Information
• What do you call it?
• How does it work?
• What will it do?
• How will it help the library’s community?
• Why is it an improvement?
• How will you measure its success?
• What do you need to make it happen?

62.
Resources Needed

63.
Prototypes

64.
Activity: Define & Describe
• Define all the
essential information
for your innovative
idea
• Start work on a
prototype of your
innovation (optional)

65.
Measurement

66.
SMART Goals
S Specific
M Measureable
A Attainable
R Realistic
T Timely

67.
Types of Measurement
Outputs
Outcomes
Satisfaction

68.
Collecting Data
Statistics
Surveys
Interviews
Observation

69.
Activity: Goals & Measurement
S Specific
M Measureable
A Attainable
R Realistic
T Timely
Outputs
Outcomes
Satisfaction
Statistics
Surveys
Interviews
Observation

70.
Failure is inevitable,
but not all failure is acceptable

71.
Strategies: Learning from Failure
Develop a
growth mindset
Predict what
could go wrong
Take
calibrated risks
Use
iterative design
http://failbetternow.com/

72.
Develop a
growth mindset
http://failbetternow.com/

73.
What could go
wrong?
http://failbetternow.com/

74.
Take Calibrated Risks
No risk Low risk Med risk High risk
http://failbetternow.com/

75.
Calibrated Risks: STEM/Space
No risk Low risk Med risk High risk

76.
No Risk
• Highlight space-related
materials in the collection
(physical & digital)
• Promote NASA website &
free online resources
• Show a documentary about
space

77.
Low Risk
• Offer passive programs, e.g.
telescopes
• Add a space-theme into
existing youth programs
(story time, after school)
• Bring in a guest speaker to
talk about space

78.
Medium Risk
• Offer active programming,
e.g. model rockets,
astronomy demonstrations
• Teach a class on astronomy
apps
• Host an after-hours star
viewing party

79.
High Risk
• Partner with a local or
regional space center to
offer a series of programs
• Teach a class on reading star
maps
• Host a space and astronomy
festival

80.
Iterative Design
http://failbetternow.com/

81.
Activity: Determine Scale
No risk
Low risk
Med risk
High risk

82.
Afternoon Break

83.
Preparing a pitch

84.
What makes a good pitch?
Essential
information
Convincing
argument
Persuasive
presentation
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/business-career/public-speaking/how-to-make-a-
good-pitch

85.
Essential
Information
• What do you call it?
• How does it work?
• What will it do?
• How will it help the library
community?
• Why is it an improvement?
• How will you measure its
success?
• What do you need to
make it happen?

86.
Convincing
Argument
• Tell what problem you are
trying to solve, and how
your idea will solve it.
• Include a persuasive story
or example illustrating why
your idea matters.
• Use powerful words to be
more persuasive.

87.
Persuasive
Presentation
• Think about your audience,
speak to their interests.
• Practice like crazy so you
can speak with confidence.
• Make eye contact to
connect with the audience.
• Use repetition to drive
home your goals.
• Finish with a strong closing
statement.
https://www.fastcompany.com/3030173/how-to-use-10-psychological-theories-to-
persuade-people

88.
Teams: Prepare Your Pitch

89.
Presenting your innovation

90.
Teams: Present Your Pitch!

91.
Audience: Give Feedback

92.
Team A

93.
Feedback
Team A

94.
Team B

95.
Feedback
Team B

96.
Team C

97.
Feedback
Team C

98.
Team D

99.
Feedback
Team D

100.
Taking this back to your library

101.
Reflection
How will you take this back to your library?
Think and respond to the questions in your
workbook.

102.
Questions?

103.
Thank you!
email: crystal@kixal.com
twitter: @kixalkixal