Presented by: Mary Scanlon, Research and Instruction Librarian for Business and Economics, Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University Mary Krautter, Head of Research, Outreach and Instruction, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Libraries Mary Beth Lock, Director of Access Services, Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University Moderated by: Melanie Wood, Instructional Services Librarian, Library and Learning Commons, Zayed University, Dubai
Transcript
Presented by:Mary Scanlon, Research and Instruction Librarian for Business
and Economics, Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University
Mary Krautter, Head of Research, Outreach and Instruction, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Libraries
Mary Beth Lock, Director of Access Services, Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University
Moderated by:Melanie Wood, Instructional Services Librarian, Library and
Learning Commons, Zayed University, Dubai
Inspiration, Innovation, Celebration: The 2009 Conference for Entrepreneurial Librarians
From Vision to Implementation - The 2011 Conference for Entrepreneurial Librarians
Social Entrepreneurship in Action - The 2013 Conference for Entrepreneurial Librarians
Take Risks, Embrace Change - The 2014 Conference for Entrepreneurial Librarians
A fifth conference planned for 2016 – you’re all invited!
Our 2012 book, showcasing entrepreneurial ventures in libraries.
Definition
Characteristics
Implementation
Three forms of entrepreneurship◦ Definitions
◦ Case Studies
Assessment
Conclusion & Questions
The science of entrepreneurship is about skill, competency, and knowledge associated with growth and new venture creation.
The art of entrepreneurship is about the mindset of imagination, commitment and passion associated with innovation.
Torrance, Wendy E. F. (2013) Entrepreneurial Campuses: Action Impact, and Lessons Learned from the Kauffman Campus Initiative. Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. page 8
Traditionally the motivating force behind the creation of independent businesses that emphasize profits
Can also inspire an independent and innovative approaches to nonprofit programs and services
Those who identify a need—any need—and fill it.
a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.
Nelson, Brett. (2012). The Real Definition of Entrepreneurship - and Why it Matters. Forbes. June 2012. forbes.com
Those who identify a need and fill it. ..
a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable
initiative and risk.
Entrepreneurial librarians do this in the context of their libraries.
Different from ‘true’ entrepreneurship:
Librarian usually remains at their job while developing their idea
Librarian sees opportunities within the library
Profit isn’t a primary objective
Peter
evening circulation desk supervisor
Eliminated date stamping
• Streamlined a process
• Eliminated some costs
Vision
Creativity
Passion
Determination and self-belief
A healthy impatience
The universe of the entrepreneur
Consider everything - even unexpected ideas
Examine issues from every side
Use technology as a tool, not a goal
Fear of failure is the biggest enemy.
Have a single minded focus Expect opposition and obstacles Meet challenges with optimism Believe in the ability to succeed
Believe in the goal’s importance Display excitement and enthusiasm Put yourself on the line
“The perfect is the enemy of the good.”
Sometimes you just have to plunge in and do it.
Identify an unmet need
Assemble a team
Develop an idea
Gather support
Implement
Identify an Unmet Need
Fix an Existing Problem
Customer Centered, not LIBRARY centered
Identifying a Need?ASK your users
◦ Surveys◦ Focus groups◦ Interactions with users
Think beyond traditional library services
Comment from students in a focus group:
“I don’t like to leave the library late at night to walk back to my residence hall. The shuttle stops running at 11pm and sometimes I want to stay and study until 2am.”
Is this the library’s problem?
YES!
If it affects my user’s ability to use my services, it is.
Alert the Administration
Establish a Team
Establish leadership
Emphasize collaboration
Choose people with
the right skills
Develop an Idea
Maximize input
Brainstorm
Find best option
Brainstorming:
“Give the students cab fare”
“Implement a program to walk students back to their residence hall”
“Close the library when the shuttles stop running”
“Lengthen the hours the shuttles run”
Developing a Solution
“Give the students cab fare”
“Implement a program to walk students back to their residence hall”
“Close the library when the shuttles stop running”
“Lengthen the hours the shuttles run”
Choose the option that best meets the goal
Garner Support
Administrative
Financial
Collegial
Rely on your vision
Be flexible
Lead the charge
Traditional Entrepreneurship
Intrapreneurship
Social Entrepreneurship
The processes leading to new venture creation
With an emphasis on the role of the entrepreneur as one who organizes a venture and bears some degree of risk in return for rewards.
Cooper, Arnold C. “entrepreneurship” in Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of Management. Lewis, Barbara and Dale Littler Eds. Blackwell Business. Print. 1997.
Serials Solutions
Plum Analytics
The Project: Provide a means for patrons to find articles they’ve identified in a database
The Product: Serials Solutions
The Team: Peter McCracken and his brothers
Identified a need
Developed a team with the necessary skills
Created a product that solved the problem
Modified it repeatedly as technology advanced
Worked with partners
Sold it to ProQuest
The Project: Provide an alternate means for faculty to assess the influence of their articles beyond citation counts.
The Product: Plum Analytics
Collects impact metrics in 5 categories
The Team: Michael Buschman, librarian and
Andrea Michalek, technology expert and serial entrepreneur
Identified a need
The founders had the necessary skills
Created a product that solved the problem
Modified it repeatedly as technology advanced
Worked with partners
Sold it to EBSCO
Themes: Need
Team
Product
Modify
Collaborated
Exit
Innovation inside an established organization, using an entrepreneurial approach
This approach leads to:
development of creative new programs and services to benefit the library and its users
Intrapreneurshipis normally a group activity
even if it begins with an individual’s idea
Inside Idaho
Digital Media Studio
The project - a geospatial data clearinghouse for the US state of Idaho
The product - maps, images, demographic data and photos of Idaho’s geography
The team - University of Idaho, U. S. Geological Survey, Idaho State University
A creative idea, supported by a determined individual
A large scale team effort
Creation of a new entity
Unique information for a specific limited area
Based on deep understanding of data needs
The project - creating space for students with new digital media equipment, an early adopter of this concept
The product - a new library environment allowing students to experiment and create
The team - appointed by Dean - 7 library staff with varying expertise
An independent project, limited partnering Administrative support Drawing on strengths of existing staff
Using feedback from students and library staff to shape the vision
Project management to stay on time and within budget
Promotes innovation and change
Eliminates red tape
Empowers employees
Gains support from the top
Accepts risk and possible failure
Social Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship that measures its performance by the three Ps:
◦People
◦Planet
◦Profit
Financial literacy for teens
Programming to help the homeless
What is Financial Literacy?
President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy describes Financial Literacy as “the ability to use knowledge and skills to manage financial resources effectively for a lifetime of
financial well-being.“
The Project:
The Product: a series of classes held over 6 weeks in the library to teach financial literacy to teens in the city
The Team: Greensboro Public Library, Greensboro,NC headed by Martha Larson, Business Information Specialist
Identified a need: financial literacy
Wrote and received grant funding
Connected community organizations
Developed a six week program on financial Literacy
The condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are most often unable to acquire and maintain regular, safe, secure, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence.”
