Summary note of the discussion of group no 2 in the IFLA MLAS 2015 workshop in Athens, March 12, 2015, involving librarians (from all around the world), book palaces and … Canadian rock groups.

1. WE WERE
GROUP
NO 2
a summary of the discussion of group no 2 in
the IFLA MLAS 2015 workshop in Athens,
March 12, 2015, involving librarians (from all
around the world), book palaces and …
Canadian rock groups.
Our discussion began with this thought
challenging statement:
http://mlas2015.eebep.gr

2. MOST LIBRARIES
DON’T INSPIRE
(LET ALONE 24/7)
Eppo van Nispen >

3. AGREE?

4. NO
NO
AND (some of us) DEFINITELY
NO

5. INSPIRE, YES!
but what kind of inspiration?

6. NO SINGLE ANSWER
we have to ask our users!

7. image source:
museumwaalsdorp.nl
I WANT TO
LISTEN TO MY
USERS
but I don’t know how
and I am “ill-prepared”

8. ENTER
ASSOCIATION
to survey, to prepare, to train

9. THE DUTCH PERSONAS
prototypical figures of users in the Dutch public libraries
[find the report at http://www.fobid.nl under Persona's > Persona’s en uitleg]

10. WE ARE INSPIRATIONAL
PRE | DURING THE LIBRARY VISIT | POST
so not very much before and after

11. THE SPANISH VALUE ASSESSMENT TOOL
the library is not a cost thing;
is an investment thing

12. < Mariano Rajoy, Prime Minister of Spain
* I have to substitute {my Finances Minister}
with a Librarian
image source: telegraph.co.uk
DEBE SUSTITUIR
A CRISTΟBAL MONTORO ROMERO
CON UN BIBLIOTECARIO*

13. BUT WHAT IS INSPIRATION?
Still I haven’t understand. Can you give me an example?

14. TOO MANY BOOKS DAD. I
NEED TO LEARN READING
TO CATCH AS MANY AS I
CAN.
I KNOW SWEETHEART.
THAT’S WHY I ISSUED YOU
A LIBRARY CARD.
based on a true story
image source: morguefile.com
IS A WALK TO THE LIBRARY, A TALK
ABOUT THE LIBRARY, A GIFTED BOOK…

15. WHAT ELSE
CAN MY ASSOCIATION
DO FOR ME?

16. I AM DRINKING TO FORGET HOW
UNINSPIRING I AM! DAMN THOSE
GUYS IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THEY ARE SO GOOD AT IT!
TALK TO YOUR
ASSOCIATION. THEY
UNDERSTAND. THEY ARE
AFFECTIVE! AND THEY
KNOW!
image source: morguefile.com

17. but again, I don’t understand
HOW INSPIRATION WORKS?

18. from your library association to your members, …
until you reach your users … and back.
Ad infinitum
image source: http://bitly.com/1BBhoil

19. SO WE CAN
INSPIRE IN SO MANY WAYS;
OUR USERS
OUR COLLEAGUES
OUR GOVERNING BODIES
THE POLICY MAKERS.
THERE WILL BE LEADERS;
THERE WILL BE FOLLOWERS
AND OUR ASSOCIATIONS CAN
FACILITATE CHANGE OF ATTITUDES;
PLANT AND FOSTER INSPIRATION.

20. Giannis Tsakonas, deputy director,
Library & Information Center, University of Patras, Greece
www.lis.upatras.gr/en/
john@lis.upatras.gr / @gtsakonas
the workshop was moderated
(and much enjoyed) by