Revolution Isn't Just Digital

An article in ALA, the Revolution Isn't Just Digital spoke that libraries in the 20th century had the monopoly on organization of knowledge: librarians decided what to add to collections and how to catalog that information. Information access has changed dramatically with the introduction of digital material. Publishers, like Macmillan and Simon & Schuster have refused to publish e-books, and Harper Collins devised a strange 26 checkout limit for ebooks. Online info is subject of restrictions and a licensing fees which libraries have little chance to negotiate. Archiving and preservation, critical to special libraries, is also threatened by digital content.

The challenge for all libraries is to embrace this new revolution and make the leap from analog to digital according to the values and missions of libraries. How do we go meet this challenge for special libraries and maintain the relevance and importance of libraries.

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/01112012/revolution-isn-t-just-digital

Fun in the Workplace

An interesting article, Benefits and Challenges of Fun in the Workplace mentioned the difference between manufactured fun and organic fun. Manufactured fun, as the name suggests, is imposed. Organic fun is a part of a positive workplace culture. The article also states that workplace fun leads to job satisfaction, high morale, and improving customer service. Google is known as the leader in creating workplace fun, with the concept that the organization wants the staff to be happy on and off the clock. Job satisfaction can enhance productivity, creativity, and reduce absenteeism, which the converse is also true. Overworked, unappreciated staff can lead to tardiness, absenteeism and burnout...all of which is expensive for the organization.

A second interesting part of the article discussed the different characteristics of the generations, all which can be in the organization. Baby Boomers (born between 1945-1960) are competitive, workaholics who tend not to value fun in the workplace. Gen X (1961-1981) need a balance between work and play, value fun, informality and creativity. Millennials (1981-2000) are ambitious, high-achievers, confident and narcissistic. They too appreciate fun in the workplace.

The challenge for all organizations then, is how to incorporate some fun organically into the workplace without it seeming like an additional burden, artificial or too time consuming. Winston Churchill once said that if you find a job you love, you'll never work again. How can libraries make work fun and a place you love to go to?

Everett, A. (2011). Benefits and Challenges of Fun in the Workplace. Library Leadership and Management, 25 (1).