Monterey, the final episode

There it is. After 5000 miles we are guided by the sound of the Sea lions towards our hotel and the conference center. Right next to fisherman’s wharf we park the mother ship to leave her behind for two nights. We have been lost in beautiful national parks without internet, so there is a lot of work to be done before we are ready for the presentation. And there are so many friendly people to talk to. Jane Dysart, Sarah, Aaron, Michael, Jenny, Kathy and of course Dick Kaser the man, who invited us over here. All inspiring people and every time we leave our editing room we meet new people. This project has been such a wonderful way of exchanging ideas and making people proud of their library and to be a librarian. But as I said there was work to be done and I was getting more nervous by the minute. Jaap suggested doing the last edition of the Shanachietour live with the audience. Brilliant, but that would mean that he and Geert would be busy filming and thus leaving me to do the presentation. The whole afternoon people came up asking for the time that we would be on and it was obvious there would be quite a crowd. That there would be near to 700 librarians and that we would start off with an earthquake 5.6 on the Richter scale was not expected. Edo impressed the crowd with the Bluetooth push device that send out the Shanachie trailer to the mobile phones. Then we threw in our boss in a short video tour around our own library DOK. After that Jaap turned on the camera and I invited the crowd to be part of the tour and they went wild. From then on the presentation could not go wrong. Such a nice crowd. Good answers to the questions. Sincere interest in the stories. Shanachie highlight for sure. After a standing ovation we took 5 minutes in the hotel to finish that bottle of bubbles and than into the night to enjoy every minute in the company of new and old friends. Is this the end or the start of the beginning? The Shanachietour will never end we are already on our way to new stories and new horizons. Hope to see you all soon on one of our stops. And please Dick take good care of that guitar. We may sing a couple of songs in April.

 LBI Episode 12.1 - Dok Library Concept Center: Download

The road to Monterey
Salt Lake City PL was the last library on our list, well we had more, but that would have been impossible. I guess we have to come back. That is, if you will have us. But the reception everywhere has been so warm and the people so friendly that I put my faith in that. Rather than in Vegas, which is our little detour on our way to Monterey. Passing through and staying overnight in the wonders of nature. Bryce Park, Zion, Death Valley,Yosemite Park, it is unbelievable. Warning signs for bears make our childhood books come to live. We are living the story. Then Las Vegas, what can I say. This town does not work for me. Although I immediately realize that you can not say that after one night, without a proper guide. It is just so much. All the temptations designed to make you spend your money. Too many choices. Maybe a bit like the internet. Such a wide wide world web. To use it effectively, if that’s what you want, it is handy to have a guide. And we librarians can be that guide. We can and must be out there as a good reliable friend. Just as much as inside the building, we need to inspire and stimulate and maybe, as Paul Holdengraber puts it, irritate. We pick up Edo Postma in Vegas. Together with DOK, our library, Edo has for ProBiblio, a Dutch library association, done a lot of innovative research and is at the moment working on new tools with regard to mobile phones. He brought a mysterious piece of machinery with him that he will be showing at the conference. Make sure that you turn your mobile phones and your Bluetooth ON. Well me I am tired of all these mountains. I want the ocean. I want to see my friends in Monterey. Just a few hours before I will take that dive. Can’t wait.

Salt Lake City Pl. let this Northern star be a guide

Coming towards Salt Lake, we are a bit disappointed at first. After a drive through beautiful scenery we see enormous smog hanging over downtown Salt Lake. We expected a clean, healthy town, but as Andrew our tour guide explains, it is because of the mountains that hold the air. A light breeze and it’s gone. The disappointment had already made way for amazing and admiration. Wow what architecture. The sun on all those windows. All that light. The vision of transparence is proven to be such a success. This is how libraries should be. Even the elevators are all glass. There are but few things kept behind closed doors. You can see that the patrons love it. It is their library, their bookshelves, their computers, their music, their magazines. So why should not they get a good look at their stuff. When the people in the library, both staff and visitors, take pride in the library there is room to grow. To really become something special. We have to work on that pride and go around tell it to anyone who wants to listen. We have the best job in the world. It may be easier to realize that when you are standing in a garden on top of a beautiful building, but it is true and let that building be an example. Let’s share ideas. I mean a department of independent magazines, mostly privately made by patrons and in 1 copy, donated to the library. Hundreds of them in all color and shape. This is Shanachie style to the limit. We love it. But there is much more. Everywhere there are surprises in the building. Hidden quotations, little rooms in the youth department, where kids find refuge to read quietly or Game online. Art exhibitions with original drawings of the Simpsons. A coffee corner. It does not stop. Another great thing was the cooperation with the shops in the building. They even have a library bookstore and a place where people can go if they want help in their writing. A sort of writing class that can help to get people’s writings published. I hope our video may inspire librarians to make the trip to Salt Lake. You have to see it for yourself. The library without walls is getting close here. No censorship, open on Sundays and that in the Mormon capital of the world. We have to leave. Head south for that devil’s pit Las Vegas, but not before we inhale some fresh air in Bryce.

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 LBI Episode 11 - Salt_Lake_City_Public_Library: Download

Florence, Co. Brave librarians throw away all lame excuses

After our admired friend Jenny Levine posted our tour on her blog Karen Hixon was brave enough to invite the Dutch gang over to her library. Despite our impossible schedule we really wanted to visit a small town library to see how they are facing the challenges of the 21st century. Well did we come to the right place. After an amazing meal with lots of cows and a good night rest on the ranch, we were ready to see how the 3500 people of Florence were using their library. And what a lovely library we did find. A real community center with a knitting group, the Wool Gatherers, and a computer class going on as we came in. The night before there had been a lecture on The Day of the Dead, a Mexican celebration. This library is very much alive. Mostly, as we notice, because of inspired, ambitious, open minded staff. There are never enough budgets or enough hours or whatever reasons you may think of not to go ahead. These people do not count hours or stop on budget restrictions. They invent ways to do what they want. Game events why not, the place is packed with teens, who all love the initiative. Changing from a card system to barcodes and a free open source ILS and catalogue for their website, thus saving a lot of money, why not. They were lucky to find Jessie, a 15 year old wizard, who is implementing all the technique, but then what is luck? We Shanachies believe that if you really want something, you will call upon that sort of luck and it will come to you. Away with the excuses, if they can do it in Florence you can do it. Let’s get on with it. Thank you Karen and Judy. Your board can be proud of what you are doing for your community. On to Salt Lake it is, through the best of scenery. New energy and inspiration. First a meal in the Red Barn and than a night stop in Grand Junction. The pictures of Salt Lake look so good. It is almost a pity that we humans need to sleep sometimes.

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 LBI Episode 10 - Florence_Co.Brave_librarian: Download

Future history is treasured in Denver Public Library
It is 6.00 am. Nebraska alarm. Temperatures are below zero in the mother ship. This to me is Bruce country. Today we have to cross it to get to Denver, Co and it turns out to be the big void. A sort of Bermuda triangle. We lose all contact. No cell phone or internet. Just asphalt and flat emptiness. But I love it. The great hunger for stories is upon us once again so Silver Surfer ride the highway once again. The great thing is that we pass into in another time zone so we gain 1 hour. Just in time for a delicious lunch with a local bite of Tamales we are welcomed by Diane Lapierre , Michelle Laurie, Jo and other friendly staff members. What a great place. The entrance reminds a little of an old railway station with beautiful floors and gates to the different departments. We get on board and go back in time with John, who shows us that they are digitalizing the old archives in order to preserve them for the future. This is done with great care and respect and they still maintain the old maps and card system and furniture. There are works of art on the wall that show American history and the library definitely helps people to know more about where they come from. In contrast with this form of keeping stories, this library is very modern in the way they share their stories. Besides the amazing website http://denverlibrary.org/. They have an online video lending system that we would love to have in Delft. It draws many patrons to their website and is often used. This is best practice indeed. If we as libraries work together and get more rights to more materials to lend out online we will reach more people. Remember if we don’t do it somebody else will. So let’s get hold of this part of future library service and work together. Thanks for everything. We are on our way to Monterey and still enjoying these left over Tamales. For one single moment the hunger is gone and we lay back peacefully in the mother ship.

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 LBI Episode 9 - Denver_Public_Library: Download

Barbara Peterson runs a terrific show in Iowa
How big is this country? I feel like there is no end to it. The drone of our rolling mother ship goes on and on. I Feel much better and I am so glad with the all the positive reactions on what we are doing. Just goes to show. Think big librarians and dream even bigger. If indeed the universe is made of stories then this ship has only just set sail. I am so proud that we librarians can be the keepers, tellers and makers of these stories. Come on Melville help us search for that big white whale.Well one beauty did catch our attention in Council Bluffs. Worth every mile traveled. What a nice, spacious, clean and friendly place. The three of us felt right at ease and drank in the atmosphere of this cool public library. We were welcomed by Barbara Peterson, who had us spellbound from the very minute that she started talking. She has a group of great people working there and Barbara is bright enough to give them ample space to keep them motivated and to come up with good ideas. When your staff takes pleasure and pride in their work and tell it, then you have something special in your hands. We were impressed with the capability to think beyond the boxes, I mean getting a percentage of the income of your local casinos and putting that in your library. It is amazing. And it does not stop there. Audio books on mp3 players, great movie and music department with an excellent choice and variety. Big compliment Mary we were impressed. Great speakers and lots of events and public debate. Soon they will have their 10 years anniversary. We hope to be invited to their 20^th. We definitely stay in touch. Thanks Barbara. Don’t erase or else………………….

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 LBI Episode 8 - Interview_Barbara_Peterson: Download

Mother ship touches Home base Chicago
After what I hope will be the worst drive of my life we reach Chicago. My food poison reached worst stadium and I had to spend nearly 4 hours of the night trip to Chicago banged against bathroom walls trying to sit on toilet. My prayers were heard and we did reach Dominican University alive, where friendly security allowed us to stay overnight on campus. First thing in the morning was calling Michael Stephens to please come to the rescue with some proper medicine, which he did and which made it possible for me to get in front of his class, with Jaap and Geert to tell something about the tour and what we are doing in Delft with DOK, our own public library.The class was quit surprised when a whole group with Jenny Levine, Catherine, Stephen and our trio entered the room, but jumped to the occasion and came up with great questions. In the end we came up with the idea of spinning the bottle on the university floor with a few students and our group, thus giving our view on the library of the future. Wow, what great material. Fine people with vision, these upcoming librarians of the 21st century. Very hard to say goodbye after only a few hours. But we will meet up with Jenny and Michael in Monterey and play a mean Wii game in the mother ship. Turning our nose southward we hit the motorway towards Champaign Urbana and the Mortenson Center, where we have an appointment with Barabara Ford. Barbara has an amazing career and has, as director of the ALA, had the honor to meet President Bill Clinton. She has seen many changes, but definitely sees a great future for libraries. They are doing a teriffic job on cataloging all the new media . That is a big thing in the Netherlands as well. We did some footage (in dutch) on a Fobid Conference in september in The Haque . Whether it is about gaming or other technology, where Linda is working with in the Undergraduate Library or the education of librarians of other countries, where it is difficult to have internet access. It made me realize that the future we are thinking about is so different from the future in other countries. We need to explore and keep our course, but we should never forget and help those who are behind us. John Woods, did I already say you have our admiration? Free access to the web everywhere with reliable, objective information if you want, and good education programs. Wow we have still a lot work ahead of us.

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 LBI Episode 7.1 - Dominican_University: Download
 LBI Episode 7.2 - Interview_barbara_ford: Download

Eli puts G-force in Ann Arbor’s District Library

This distance, however ambitious we maybe, is not something we can do in 1 day. So from Charlotte we head out for a 5 hour drive in the Appalachian Mnts. Full of inspiration of our visit with Matt we rolled through the red, brown and green mountains in the late afternoon Indian sunset. Eventually we ended in coalmining country, where the standards of living are at rock bottom. We actually saw this stereotype picture of a man sitting on his porch with a gun, but Geert, our hero, did not dare to ask if he could take his picture. Hmmm wonder why. After a good night rest we set out for Buck Eye Lake near Columbus, Ohio. Great thing about these campsites is that the ones without Mac’s have excellent internet connection, no just kidding guys. So we were able to put up new posts and video material. Did not feel very well so I went to bed early again, to wake up in an enormous thunderstorm that completely soaked our almost dry laundry. From Ohio to Ann Arbor, Michigan is a 4 hour drive on which we discussed the wonderful things we heard about the place. Eli Neiburger is well known as librarian and gamer and his gaming program takes him all over the country and even beyond the borders. We wondered, on a large scale with many gaming events, would not the kids lose interest in time when the novelty wears off? No it definitely does not says Eli. The scale is getting bigger and bigger and the software actually enables libraries now to keep scores and play against one another. This could even be done internationally so I think Delft will have to come up with an expert group of gamers, as what I have seen blows your mind. Impossible speed on the dancemats. Not in a thousand years could we Shanachies learn that. Eli is I think one the best known persons in the community and popular among the kids and that is no wonder. What a man. So good to meet you and I know we will meet again soon. GAME ON Captain, the mothership says hi.

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 LBI Episode 6 - Interview Eli Neiburger: Download

Matt Gullet is lifting library standards in Charlotte
Very close to being arrested for illegal camping, we were almost at gunpoint directed to a spot in one of the darkest places I have ever seen. Exhausted as we were, we went to sleep early to wake up in a beautiful forest surrounded by squirrels and deer. The only thing missing was a white faced girl with vivid red lips and a bundle of singing leprechauns.
This fairytale kept us spellbound just a little too long, so we arrived late at Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library. Luckily there was a parking place for our little home. Matt Gullet and comrades turned out to be exactly what we hoped for. Inspiring, innovative librarians, focusing on the future with the sense to measure the results of their innovations. Imagine Game labs, music studios, animation studios, theatres, story-making rooms, computers that translate to Braille, computers for people with a handicap, you name it they have it in Charlotte. And like I said they measure the results of what they are doing and find that book circulation is increasing and that they are having more visitors especially teens. The awareness of the new ways of making and telling stories is obviously present in Charlotte. Best practice for sure. Hope to be back in a couple of years, but we will definitely stay in touch. Thanks Matt, hope to see you in Monterey.

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 LBI Episode 5 - Interview Matt Gullet: Download