Extreme Makeover Library Edition Roles and Tools for

Extreme Makeover – Library Edition: Roles and Tools for Positive Workplace Changes John J. Burke OPAL Annual Conference Columbus College of Art and Design August 4, 2005

Ch-ch-ch-changes l Change happens l Constant l Healthy l Responsive l “How” and “why” changes

Change barriers l Necessary, unavoidable, immediate results l Perspectives of evolution and revolution l External and internal l Change for change’s sake l Not until we’re good and ready

Where do you come in? l Accommodate and create l Tools l Roles l Inspiration (and singing and dancing)

Today’s Metaphor: Have you seen the show?

Extreme Makeover Home Edition: The Basics l l l l A needy family is selected The design team puts a plan together The family goes on vacation for one week Hundreds of construction workers and volunteers tear the house down and rebuild it ABC, Sears, et al. , foot the bill The new home is unveiled to the family Joy ensues

Suspend your disbelief l Questions linger about EMHE l Overkill? l Property taxes? l Resale? l Affordable housing?

Truths from the tube l Does any of this apply to libraries? l 8 aspects from EMHE – not chronological l What if we pursued change in our libraries as though it worked like this? l What if our libraries really did work like this?

1– 2– 3. . . Unbelievable!

1. Assess your needs l EMHE: the family makes a video and writes out their story l Clearly state what you want to do l Focus on what is needed l Brainstorm as though from outside

One person’s library. . .

. . . is not the next person’s. . .

. . . or the next person’s.

Visions of sugar plums danced in their heads l Many visionaries l Shared vision ≠ uniform vision l Consensus l What if your library could come up with a vision that everyone rallied around?

1– 2– 3. . . Unbelievable!

2. Prepare your environment l EMHE: Often total destruction is required (and shown to family) l Starting from scratch? l Clear preconceptions; open possibilities l Mindsets are just as important as logistics

1– 2– 3. . . Unbelievable!

3. Change should preserve l EMHE: an item from the home is preserved or given greater emphasis in the new home l The baby and the bathwater l Extension, addition, improvement l “Googlezon, Robots, RFID, and Ranganathan”

1– 2– 3. . . Unbelievable!

4. Effort inspires effort l EMHE: ABC & Sears foot most of the bill, but others pitch in to volunteer/fund l One person’s effort inspires others l Be open to another’s enthusiasm l We might be surprised at sources of support that open up as we make a change

1– 2– 3. . . Unbelievable!

5. Deeper impact l EMHE: what happens to one house can be mirrored in the neighborhood (or might last beyond the taping of the show) l Impact on our patrons l Campus collaborations l Library partnerships

1– 2– 3. . . Unbelievable!

6. Changes have an expiration date l EMHE: Seven day deadline to change everything l What’s the rush? l Will meaningfulness last? l What if we could focus and act on a change in a timely manner?

1– 2– 3. . . Unbelievable!

7. Share input, responsibility, and trust l EMHE: design team has a leader (Ty) but everyone has a role and a voice in the outcome (family goes on vacation) l The “secret room” l We are family: trust and support l What if we listened to one another and believed our individual role mattered?

1– 2– 3. . . Unbelievable!

8. Communicate clearly l EMHE: bullhorn at the beginning and end, but lots of talking in between (and practical jokes) l Coworkers, community, partners l Choose methods that work for you (humor? ) l What if those around you (and you) felt like you were “in the know”?

1– 2– 3. . . Unbelievable!

Roles to remember l Play your part (but no pigeonholing!) l Reporting a need for change? Designing a solution? Working on your piece? Supporting and cheerleading? Making sure everything comes together? Building positively on the end result? l l l

Tools to take away l l l l Assess your needs Prepare your environment Change should preserve Effort inspires effort Deeper impact Changes have an expiration date Share input, responsibility, and trust Communicate clearly

Getting to “The Reveal” l The end. . . or the beginning? l Use the tools l Follow your role(s) l A “laugh-a-minute” experience l Concentrate on the greater good

Mr. Bus Driver, Move That Bus!

1– 2– 3. . . Unbelievable!