“Making a New Promise With Our Communities” ALSC Leadership Meeting, Anaheim, CA.
There are two versions of this presentation. The first is condensed to just my remarks. The second listing is the audio and screencast of the session including instructions for the session and a plenary discussion.
Here is the full version of the workshop session (minus the 10 minutes of silence during the workgroups) including instructions and plenary discussion.
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2012/ALSC.mp3
“The Bad, The Good, and The Great” Keynote Academic Librarians 2012, Syracuse, NY.
Abstract: Bad libraries build collections; good libraries build services (after all a collection is only one type of service); great libraries build communities. In a time of great change and challenges to the very model of higher education, libraries must move beyond a focus on collections to a focus on communities. As new models of instruction (flipped classrooms, inquiry based instruction, etc.) and research emerge (interdisciplinary, large scale, collaborative, data driven), libraries find themselves well positioned – but only if they see their strongest assets as the librarians, not the materials librarians have organized. This talk will look to a new librarianship that moves past artifacts to knowledge and sets a new path.
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2012/Syracuse.pdf
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2012/Syracuse.mp3
“New Librarianship’s New Promise” Keynote New Jersey Library Association Annual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.
Abstract: We must make a promise with our communities. We promise to help them participate in the full scope and scale of today’s society. To not simply help the unemployed find a job, but to find meaning and respect. To not simply help the student get to college, but to do so without the shackles of crippling debt. To not simply inform the citizen, but empower them to govern themselves. The promise we must make with our communities is that we are not consumers, we are not customers. We are not an audience to democracy. We are the democracy. We are the market. We consume, we produce and we matter. This community, this city, this state, the country, matters and we will shape its destiny. And we librarians are essential forces of this promise. We are not obsolete, we are not quaint, we are the promise of the better tomorrow.
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2012/NJLA.pdf
“New Librarianship: From Sharing to Lending and Back Again” Tennessee Library Association Brown Bag Series, Webinar.
Abstract: This talk examines a bright future for libraries that can build strong connections with communities. This includes co-owning the library space, returning to a sharing model of libraries, and focusing on the aspirations of the community. Several examples of libraries acting as platforms for community advancement will be discussed.
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2012/tnn.pdf
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2012/tnn.mp3
“World Domination Through Librarianship” Kansas Library Association Annual Conference, Wichita, KS.
Abstract: In an era of battling walled content gardens, disruptive change, social media-enabled revolutions, and truthiness there has never been a greater need for librarians. Sorting through mountains of data, ensuring a civil discourse, repairing the fragmenting commons are vital for our country, and librarians are the right profession to lead the way. However, this is not a simple matter of declaring ourselves prepared, it will take new skills and a new librarianship not focused on buildings and artifacts. This talk lays out a foundation for this new librarianship, and a call to action to save the world.
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2012/Kansas.pdf
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2012/Kansas.mp3
“Expect More: Our Most Important Conversation Part 2” ALA Midwinter 2012 Presidents Program, Dallas, TX.
Abstract: Description from the program:
Empowering Voices, Transforming Communities: join these conversations and leave Midwinter with new tools to become a better advocate. Libraries rely on partners within the community to advocate on their behalf more than ever before. But how can libraries stay relevant to these stakeholders in an environment of ever-changing priorities? Join visionary professor David Lankes, author of “Atlas of New Librarianship” ( (http://www.newlibrarianship.org), in two afternoons of innovative and interactive conversations about harnessing the evolving role of libraries, and strengthening the librarian’s voice to help shape community perception.
Facilitators from the graphic recording company, Sunni Brown (http://sunnibrown.com/), will help create visual images of the plenary conversations that conclude each afternoon. The Saturday, January 21, 2012, session focuses on “Understanding Your Communities.” The Sunday, January 22, 2012, session focuses on “Transforming Librarianship.” Both run from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
“Expect More: Our Most Important Conversation” ALA Midwinter 2012 Presidents Program, Dallas, TX.
Abstract: Description from the program:
Empowering Voices, Transforming Communities: join these conversations and leave Midwinter with new tools to become a better advocate. Libraries rely on partners within the community to advocate on their behalf more than ever before. But how can libraries stay relevant to these stakeholders in an environment of ever-changing priorities? Join visionary professor David Lankes, author of “Atlas of New Librarianship” ( (http://www.newlibrarianship.org), in two afternoons of innovative and interactive conversations about harnessing the evolving role of libraries, and strengthening the librarian’s voice to help shape community perception.
Facilitators from the graphic recording company, Sunni Brown (http://sunnibrown.com/), will help create visual images of the plenary conversations that conclude each afternoon. The Saturday, January 21, 2012, session focuses on “Understanding Your Communities.” The Sunday, January 22, 2012, session focuses on “Transforming Librarianship.” Both run from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
“A New Librarianship for a New Age” 57º Congresso nazionale AIB (57th National Congress of the Italian Library Association), Rome, Italy
Abstract (English): A new librarianship is emerging, taking the lessons learned over that nearly 3,000 year history to forge an approach based not on books and artifacts, but on knowledge and community. This librarianship is based upon how people learn, not how they browse. This new approach to librarianship will require a change in the skills and preparation of librarians, new types of services, and ultimately a new relationship with communities. The problems faced by our communities are too important to wait for people to come into our buildings. This presentation will examine the foundations of new services, and a new role for librarians as facilitators of knowledge creation. It will offer examples of librarians engaging their communities, and challenge each librarian to take responsibility for the future of the profession.
Abstract (Italian): Una nuova biblioteconomia sta emergendo, utilizzando quanto appreso in oltre 3.000 anni di storia per forgiare un approccio basato non su libri e manufatti, ma sulla conoscenza e sulla comunità.Questa biblioteconomia si basa su come le persone imparano, non su come navigano. Questo nuovo approccio alla biblioteconomia richiederà un cambiamento nelle competenze e nella preparazione dei bibliotecari, nuove tipologie di servizi, e infine un nuovo rapporto con le comunità. I problemi delle nostre comunità sono troppo importanti per aspettare che la gente venga nei nostri edifici. Questa presentazione prenderà in esame le basi dei nuovi servizi, e un nuovo ruolo per i bibliotecari come facilitatori della creazione di conoscenza. Offrirà esempi di bibliotecari che coinvolgono la propria comunità, e sfiderà ogni bibliotecario ad assumersi la responsabilità del futuro della professione.
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2011/Rome.pdf
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2011/Rome.mp3
Transcript (English): https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2011/RomeEN.html
Transcript (Italian): https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2011/RomeIT.htm
“Librarians as Change Agents” Video Webchat, U.S. Embassy in Rome, Rome, Italy.
Abstract: This is more a recorded conversation than a formal presentation. How can librarians promote social change? Join Professor R. David Lankes from Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies to discuss how today’s global challenges require a new librarianship based on community engagement. Learn why librarians must adopt a mission of transformative social action to help improve society, not simply document it.
