Tactical Innovation and the Spastic Soldier

The two buzzwords that I hear the most in our profession are "innovation" and "technology."  They are the subject of our professional workshops, the focus of library literature, and a source of envy from colleagues when another is recognized for their latest idea.  Libraries with limited budgets scramble to "innovate or die," adding the newest gadgets and services in an effort to keep up with the trends.  

The problem with this is that it's not productive.  No one comes to your program, and no one uses your new service, so you take them away and come up with something else next month, to the same result.  You're like a soldier on an empty battlefield, unleashing a war cry and swinging her sword in the air.  There's a lot of energy and motion, but you're not actually hitting anything.  You wind up exhausted, and you look spastic.  

You might fall into the Spastic Soldier category if you or your organization has ever uttered any of the following statements (and I have heard them all):

"A lot of other libraries were offering it, so we bought one, too."

"It doesn't get a lot of use, but it makes us look tech savvy, so we keep it."

"These are the hot new thing."

"The program isn't well attended, but it makes us look good in the newspaper."

"The Trustees kept telling us to innovate, so we added this to make them happy."

"We were just trying to do something new."

Instead of swinging away and hoping you land on the cover of Library Journal, why not try a more tactical approach to library services?  If you're looking to improve your reputation with the town, increase your circulations, or get more people in the door, then it's best to start by thinking like a customer, and not a librarian.  Here's how:

Identify your enemy- what problems exist in the community that keep you (the resident) from a better quality of life?  Most community problems are complex, so spend some time making sure you understand every facet before you move on to the next step.

Look for weaknesses- there is no such thing as an unsolvable problem.  Any condition that exists in your community can be improved with persistence- and an intelligent approach.  What would have to be done in order to solve the problem that exists?

Refine your strategy- How can the library exploit these weaknesses in order to make the problem better?  Start making a plan for what supplies you'll need, how much time it'll take, and what resources or tools you could use.

Recruit- No one wins a war without allies.  Get key stakeholders on board, and seek community partners that can help you achieve your strategic goal.  Look for grants that might help you fund your endeavor. 

Propaganda- market your program in advance of the launch date.  Reach out to groups of people who are likely to benefit from your program, or to organizations who work directly with those groups.  Hype and anticipation will increase your chances of success.

Attack-  Swing that sword and charge, good Soldier!

Adapt- Nothing ever goes the way you envisioned.  If you have a solid foundation, however, you'll eventually be successful, so long as your ego doesn't prevent you from being open to feedback and suggestions.

Okay, enough with the military analogy.  The bottom line is that you should focus on making your community a better place to live instead of focusing on "innovating with technology."

Good luck, my badasses!

-Jenn