Digital libraries are rising from the ashes of traditional libraries as technology changes how users access and interact with information. Libraries must adapt collections and services to the digital age by expanding ebook and digital media collections, developing mobile access, and providing public computing and wifi access. Most importantly, libraries must uphold their core values of free access to information and expertise for all members of the community despite the challenges of the digital world.

1. Digital Libraries:
The Phoenix Rising
from the Ashes
Sarah Houghton-Jan
Assistant Director of the
San Rafael Public Library
author of LibrarianInBlack.net

2. think about libraries
and technology today.

4. what do you want
libraries and technology
to be, to mean?

5. what is changing in
library technology?

6. what is changing in
library user needs?
your community’s

7. what is happening in
other libraries?
businesses

8. what is changing in
what people do daily?
your friends family

9. reaffirm core library values
• complete and balanced information
• education, entertainment,
self-improvement
• research assistance
• freedom of information access
• information privacy and security

11. 40
11

12. 42
12

13. your fragmented online life
school websites
Google
blogs videocasts
the web
Education
Amazon
at large
Yahoo
podcasts eTextBooks
Wikipedia intranet
iTunes blogs blogs
Netflix
retail eBooks digital
digital periodicals
Entertainment
libraries?
Profession
casual gaming webinars email
retail therapy Twitter professional orgs
YouTube Hulu
text messaging email LinkedIn
app stores Communication
SEO
video chat promoted sites
IM
Bing VOIP
Facebook ads © 2011 | Sarah
Houghton-Jan

15. physical vs. virtual library use

16. Australian Bureau of Statistics (June 2010)

17. Internet Use
• 80.1% of Australians are regular internet
users (August 2009, Nielsen)
• Their social network use (April 2010, Nielsen):
- 90% are social networkers
- 63% use Facebook
- 23% use Twitter (12% of all Australians)
- City residents are 10x more likely to use Twitter
- Australian internet users spend the most time social
networking: 7 hrs 19 min per month

18. The Facebook Factor
• Facebook is the 2nd most visited website by
after Google.com.au (ages 18-24, Facebook
wins)
• Facebook has 19.3% of all page views vs.
Google.com.au’s 7.4%
• Facebook is the #1 search term in each of
the major search engines
• 11% of visits to all other websites come
from links in Facebook
• (October 2010, Hitwise)

19. Mobile Use (Nielsen 2009 report)
• 43% of online Australians own smartphones
• 73% of smartphone owners run web
searches regularly
• 18% use Twitter on mobile (1/2 use it daily)
• 18% use YouTube on mobile
• 66% of mobile social networkers are 35

20. device continuum

21. ubiquity of touch screens

22. always with you?

23. internet TV

24. 3D gaming and Tv

25. download vs. streaming

26. 3D printing: MakerBot
technological singularity

28. Who owns your
data?

30. the challenge of digital
proliferation
is an opportunity for us

31. collections
• digital vs. physical
• budget choices
• selection process
• access while closed

32. explosion in digital use
• ...in the last year @ San Jose Public
Library...
• ebook downloads +43%
• digital reference questions +450%
• catalog use +140%
• extended web presence use +12,000%

33. digital collections
• user awareness
• formats
• digital rights management
• owning leasing models
• device support

34. extended collections
• digitize local materials
• support more than text
• loan out technology
• non-traditional content

35. information services
• are we still committed?
• competitive advantage
• going to the user

36. programming
• digital divide and the long tail
• ‘have nots’ vs. ‘sorta haves’ vs. ‘haves’

37. library catalogs
• usability
• integration
• federated searching’s
limited success
• serendipity

38. library websites
• what do we cut?
• focus on function, not
brand or category

39. go mobile or
go home

40. sites vs. apps

41. augmented reality
• local history tours
• library wayfinding
• genealogy
• what do you have
that no one else
does?

42. computing services
• speed
• hardware software
• open drives ports
• downloads installs
• secure free wifi

43. computing spaces
• tech support
• ergonomic seating
• encourage collaboration
• comfortable lighting

45. Community

46. acting on library values
(digitally)
community advocacy

47. freedom of information

48. i fought the man, and...

49. i won.

50. expert research help

51. personal privacy

52. net neutrality

53. ask the people you
serve what would make
their lives easier.

54. we are the library.
we democratize
information expertise.

55. and we are all
frakking awesome.

57. Sarah Houghton-Jan
web: LibrarianInBlack.net
twitter: @TheLiB
email: LibrarianInBlack@gmail.com
im: LibrarianInBlack
facebook: facebook.com/LibrarianInBlack