Scholar | Speaker | Writer | Teacher | Advocate
“Community Outreach/Understanding Community Needs” The 4th Annual Connecticut Library Leadership Institute, West Hartford, CT.
Abstract: Libraries must move from transactions to relationships. This means letting go of full control and killing the user.
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2012/CTLeadership.mp3
“Yet another magnificent title from Mr Lankes. He discusses some of the same issues that are raised in the Atlas, but he’s coming from a different viewpoint with this book. It’s an excellent read if you want to know how libraries need to change, develop and evolve into the future. His vision is both fascinating and compelling – my own gripe is that I would be happier if it was at least twice as long! To be fair though, it’s intended as a quick read.
This should be read by anyone with an interest in libraries, librarians and librarianship, who has an open mind and is prepared to consider challenging and exciting concepts.”
– Phil Bradley on GoodReads
It’s a back to school sale on Expect More: Demanding Better Libraries For Today’s Complex World ebooks. All formats now $9.99.
Why now? Doesn’t school start in the fall? Not at Syracuse University. All our distance grad students start in July.
As a reminder, here are your options for getting Expect More in ebook form:
SmashWords (preferred vendor) for DRM free ebooks for online reading, Kindle, Apple devices, Sony, and Nook can be found at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/171252
Or buy it right on your favorite device:
Apple Store:
iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/expect-more/id537795321?mt=11
IPhone and other devices: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/expect-more-demanding-better/id541812851?mt=11
Barnes & Nobel Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/expect-more-r-lankes/1111759955?ean=2940014646581
In Expect More I talk about eBooks and the dilemma not over the new format for libraries, but the new business model. Libraries have moved from owning collections, to renting them in digital resources (databases, ebooks, etc.). With ebooks in particular, there is huge demand amount community members, but libraries are struggling to meet the demand with tight budgets. More importantly, eBook models that license materials from publishers, rather than outright selling them, endangers the libraries mission to build shared collections for the good of the community. This is why I chose Smashwords as my preferred retailer of the book. You can buy the book in multiple formats, and libraries own it outright when they buy it.
In case you are wondering, here is the breakdown in formats and channels after a week and a half.
First the majority of books sold are print:
And here are the venues where folks bought the book:
Now the nook version just went on sale, so these proportions may change.
I am fortunate to spend a fair amount of time at the Fayetteville Free Library in Fayetteville, NY. The library is home to the Fab Lab where folks can use a 3D printer. You can read about it in Chapter 4 of Expect More – Facilitating Knowledge Creation: Expect to Create
This past winter I did a staff development talk. I was in the midst of working on Expect More and used that as my theme. Sue Considine, the director, liked the theme and asked if the library could use it. “Sure” I said “all ideas are free!” And they ran with it.
Below are a series of videos the library has produced on Expecting More from the Library. Note how they put the community members at the center:
[excuse the personal interjection, but these videos were put together by Amy Melton, a former student and fantastic librarian]
The last one is just fun:
So what is your library doing to raise expectations and tell their story?
Just a quick note to let folks know what is happening with Expect More on Amazon. The first change is that you can now use “Look Inside” to preview the print book:
The second piece of news is that the Kindle version of the new book is available directly from the Kindle store on your device. However, it apparently takes a little time for the Amazon folks to link the print and Kindle edition. So you have to search for the Kindle version separately for now.
Now, that said, my preference would be that you buy the book via Smashwords. It is DRM free, supports some competition in the ebook market, and frankly is more author friendly for royalties. Still, my overriding preference is that you read the book and share it throughout the community, so it is all good.
Hopefully more eBook stores will be coming online soon.
“The Road to Self-Publishing” ALA 2012 Conference Session, Anaheim, CA.
Abstract: Pragmatic advice for publishing in academia
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2012/PubALA.pdf
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2012/ACRL.mp3
Screencast:
“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.
Abstract: Advocacy for libraries and children’s services must move from a focus on community deficiencies to community aspirations.
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2012/ALSC.pdf
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2012/ALSC-Dave.mp3
Screencast:
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
Screencast:
The first review of Expect More is in by Heather Braum on GoodReads:
This was a concise version of the ideas I found in Lankes’ Atlas of New Librarianship. It a book that all librarians who are too busy to read the entire Atlas need to read. Library boards need to read it. Superintendents, principals, other administrators, teachers, parents, need to read it. Provosts, deans, faculty, and students need to read it. Community members, mayors, city councils, county decisionmakers need to read it. Library school faculty need to read it. Library consultants and continuing ed and support staff need to read it. And anyone involved in strategic planning in libraries need to read it.
This book will provide a new way to look at how the library fits into the community more than ever before and speaks to many ways to expect more out of your library and why you should.
It’s short, simple, and to the point, yet has many practical examples. Coming from the innovative Kansas library community, myself, I see many of our libraries implementing the ideas found in this book, but they can do even more!
This year I will need to stay off the road again this spring to take care of my wife as she has surgery on her other foot (the good news here is that she only has two feet so this should do it). That said if you are looking for a speaker via the Internet (Skype, Adobe Connect, FaceTime, iChat) I’m your man (and at greatly reduced honoraria). I appreciate your patience.
Here is my confirmed speaking for the Summer and Fall.
June:
July:
August:
October:
November: