Presentation by CILIP CEO Nick Poole to the CILIP/Library Association of Ireland 2016 Conference on the theme of 'Surviving and Thriving in Libraries'

1. Surviving & thriving in libraries
Nick Poole, CEO, CILIP
Joint LAI/CILIP Ireland Conference 2016
Killarney

2. Are you an optimist, a pessimist or a realist about the future of libraries?

3. Introducing the ‘tardigrade’ – the most resilient creature on earth

4. Can survive in SPACE for
10 days without oxygen or
heat
Can withstand
temperatures between
-273 and 150 degrees!
Can survive without food
& water for 100 years by
losing 66% of its body
mass & entering a
cryptobiotic state!

5. Grass – one of the most prolific, adaptable organisms in the world

6. Mutates freely to adapt to
any climate conditions
Is a viable food source for
everything, which helps it
to propagate
Survives through
aggressive adaptation &
growth

7. Species that survive and thrive use common strategies:
• Will to live – they want to survive at all costs
• Toughness – they are engineered to withstand change
• Diversity – they diversify to overcome localised differences
• Pro-activity – they proactively propagate to ensure survival
• Adaptability – they constantly adapt to changes in the environment
• Dormancy – they can get smaller & subsist on less without dying

8. Libraries:
• Will to live – know we need to survive & thrive for our users
• Toughness – have withstood immense social, economic & technological change
• Diversity – are a strongly diversified sector (librarians/knowledge/information)
• Pro-activity – aren’t waiting around for our destiny to happen
• Adaptability – are fine-tuned to the needs of their users/community/company
• Dormancy – have learnt to make a little go a very long way

9. The world’s most resilient companies...

11. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
60 organisations older than 700 years (by activity)

12. Booze Shelter Food Manufacture Religion
Total 24 17 9 8 2
%of total 40 28 15 13 3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
60 organisations older than 700 years (by human need)

14. In continuous operation
for 1436 years (until sadly
bought out in 2013!) – 36
generations
Invested in replanting
forests to ensure
sustainable supply of raw
materials
A specialist service for a
long-term customer –
expert carpentry for
Bhuddist temples

16. Adapted to electrification
by diversifying into Church
candles & luxury gifts
Became the leading
supplier of street lighting
in Dublin & surrounds in
the 1700’s

17. Companies that survive and thrive use common strategies:
• Value - they produce something people need & want
• Prudence - they don’t grow faster than the market demands
• Adaptability – when change comes, they embrace it
• Symbiosis – they exist in a balanced relationship with their community
• Geography – their activity is optimised to their location
• Pride – they take pride in their longevity
• Heritage – they have a sense of cumulative investment & value

18. Libraries
• Value - we produce something people need & want
• Prudence – we aren’t greedy organisations
• Adaptability – are learning to embrace change
• Symbiosis – exist in a balanced relationship with their community/users
• Geography – optimised to our location
• Pride – we take pride in our longevity
• Heritage – believe in cumulative investment & value

19. RESILIENT
OPTIMISED
NETWORKED ADAPTABLE
Delivers value
Optimised to
location/
situation
Clear about
core role/
purpose
Engaged with
audience
Connected to
profession
Can shrink
without dying
Has good
governance
Able to access
influence
Proactive not
passive
Meets
standards
Has a positive
working
culture

20. So what can we do to survive and thrive...
• Personally?
• As organisations?
• As a sector?

21. Personally...
• Be optimistic
• Be generous
• Keep focused on the customer
• Stay connected
• Be opportunistic
• Embrace change
• Look after yourself

22. Public
librarians
contribute
to...
Economic
ROI
Improved
education
Improved
health
Improved
employment
Stronger
communities
Improved
literacy

23. Health
librarians
contribute
to...
Better clinical
decisions
Improved
patient care
Risk
management
& safety
Service
development
Efficiency
Improved
CPD for
clinical staff

24. School
librarians
contribute
to...
Student
achievement
Pupil
engagement
Student
learning
Reading
skills
Advanced
literacy
Staff CPD

25. Academic
librarians
contribute
to...
Improved
retention
Better grades
Improved
skills
Better
research
Economic ROI
KPI

26. As organisations...
• Be optimistic
• Continue to develop & innovate
• Be opportunistic
• Build local influence
• Shout about our achievements
• Do the basics well
• Focus on core strengths
• Stay focused on the customer
• Look after our people

27. As a sector...
• Be optimistic
• Join our voices together
• Advocate for our profession
• Build influence
• Create compelling evidence
• Resist poor decisions
• Support our community
• Attract and celebrate talent
• Enthuse employers & create opportunity
• Be welcoming & inclusive
• Be opportunistic
• Build new partnerships

28. There has been something like a library for nearly 4,000
years. We are one of the most resilient ideas on earth.

29. Our environment is changing – socially, technologically,
economically. And libraries have adapted to these changes.

30. We have the services and skills people need to succeed in
today’s complex, information-rich world.
We need to make sure they know it.

31. Thank you!
Nick Poole
Chief Executive
CILIP
@NickPoole1
@CILIPinfo
www.cilip.org.uk