[MNASIS-L] Minnesota Library Futures Initiative

[Deanna Sylte, Operations Mgr.]

ISO: Minnesota Library Futurists

Interested in how Minnesota libraries will look in 2025? Have ideas on how
libraries can evolve to meet the needs of the 21st century library user?
Know how to make libraries "relevant" in this age of information & the
Internet? Are you an emerging librarian who wants to be involved in the
future of Minnesota libraries? If you answer yes to any or all of these
questions, the Minnesota Library Futures Initiative wants you!
 
Representatives of libraries and library organizations met in St. Cloud on
May 12, 2010 to design a process for a focused conversation on the future of
Minnesota libraries. This Library Futures Initiative Steering Committee
began to design The Library Futures Initiative (LFI) that will involve staff
from all types of libraries to address the issues all libraries face as we
serve our users and seek to reach others. The goal of the Library Futures
Initiative is to encourage futurist thinking on how all libraries can work
together to meet the needs of all library users regardless of their point of
entry into the world of information.
 
Over the course of nine months, LFI participants--"library futurists"--from
all types of libraries will explore current and projected trends and how
libraries can fully utilize technological advances and other methods to
better serve those who use libraries and reach those who do not. The
futurists will be exposed to many topics of current and future relevance to
libraries. It is anticipated that guest presenters will interact with the
LFI futurists on issues and trends that will impact libraries. The
Initiative will make recommendations and create a strategy to address those
recommendations.
 
The Library Futures Initiative Steering Committee is developing the criteria
and application process to fill the 24 futurist positions on the Initiative.
Criteria include the ability to attend all scheduled sessions, the ability
to think creatively, willingness to work with all types of libraries,
enthusiasm and imagination for change. 
 
Interested persons are urged to watch for the application, expected in July
2010. Questions may be directed to Ann Walker Smalley
(ann at metronet.lib.mn.us <ann at metronet.lib.mn.us> ), Mark Ranum
(mranum at plumcreeklibrary.net <mranum at plumcreeklibrary.net> ), Orrin Ausen
(oausen at blc.edu <oausen at blc.edu> ), or Patricia Post
(papost at stcloudstate.edu <papost at stcloudstate.edu> ).

-- 
Ann Walker Smalley, Director
Metronet
1619 Dayton Avenue, Ste 314
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104
Voice: 651.646.0475
Fax 651.649.3169

Metronet...Serving Twin Cities Libraries