Hi Matt
Firstly, I forgot to include the link to the Common Libraries blog post -
Libraries as a Platform Cooperative. It's here
http://commonlibraries.cc/what-if-public-libraries-could-anchor-a-platform-coop/
Plus here are more articles which answer many of John's points:
50 Things You Can Borrow From Libraries Beside Books
http://blogs.proquest.com/uncategorized/50-things-you-can-borrow-from-libraries-besides-books
From Utrecht: How to Start a Library of Things
http://www.shareable.net/blog/how-to-start-a-library-of-things
Yes! I love Eli Nieburger's articles and presentations, we have been in
touch via Twitter and of course and I've blogged and tweeted his work from
@Librarycamp. I recommend them - especially Delta Ahead, for John, which
also answers many of his questions.
https://youtu.be/p4mzFpKt6JE
Ann Arbor Library has substantial waiting lists for the most popular items
- the telescopes and theramins!
I agree, its always best to talk to libraries already lending the 'things'
- to see how they do it, rather than reinvent the wheel re cataloguing etc.
and its not difficult to reach out via Twitter.
We've been lending CDs and DVDs for years with no significant problems.
Also I have more of 'just try it' attitude - perhaps on a v small scale,
where you know there is demand for certain items, and see how it goes.
Learn from your mistakes, learn from others and improve as you go along.
And just don't lend electrical items if that's a challenge!
You might only have one of each of the big 'things', so cataloguing stuff
won't be too arduous - or even necessary. Google forms or docs could be
used and libraries have lots of clever programmer friends who could help
develop an online lending system and bypass the clunky LMS.
(Sorry the links aren't live, I'm typing this on my phone).
Sue Lawson
@shedsue
Service Development Coordinator
Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives
On Feb 16, 2017 12:47 AM, "Matt Finch" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Oh, and this New York *Times* piece is good too https://www.nytimes.com/
2015/09/15/us/these-public-libraries-are-for-snowshoes-and-ukuleles.html
Here in Australia we regularly pick up the phone (suffering the time
differences) or email with colleagues in Canada, NZ, or the UK to find out
the details of innovative projects. Don't be afraid to get in touch with
the people mentioned in international news, if you're anything like us we
love to hear from and help peers around the world.
Cheers,
M.
On Thu, Feb 16, 2017 at 10:11 AM, Matt Finch <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> Sue --
>
> A good place to start looking for inspiration might be Ann Arbor's
> telescope loan collection in Michigan - http://www.aadl.org/telescopes -
> and a good set of brains to pick might be Deputy Director Eli Neiburger's -
> he's @ulotrichous on Twitter <https://twitter.com/ulotrichous> and his
> contact details are here - http://www.aadl.org/eli
>
> Matt Finch
>
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 16, 2017 at 9:10 AM, John Usher <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>>
>> If this assumes that the public library will take this on, and not a
>> separate body, some random thoughts:
>>
>> 1) What's the customer demand for this, or is it just opportunites being
>> explored, with the public libraries being one possible outlet?
>>
>>
>> 2) How much 'stuff' (e.g. laptops, tablets, audio players) has
>> historically been and is currently being loaned by public libraries? What
>> are the loan and handling implications of that? Are libraries any good at
>> it?
>>
>> Home Library Services (where they exist) might be a good place to start
>> asking some questions and share experience - e.g. specialist players for
>> audio recordings. Toy lbrary experience? Other?
>>
>> How good is current handling and checking of CD's and games discs within
>> libraries? How good was handling and checking of records and tape?
>>
>> Some accessibility companies have proposed devices libraries could loan
>> (e.g. hand held SCART TV magnifiers for books, USB sticks with accessibilty
>> software pre-loaded) - how many services have ever supported these?
>>
>>
>> 3) Where is this 'stuff' going to live? Self Service has reduced counters
>> and the availabiity of storage to put it.
>>
>>
>> 4) Customer/User expectations of staff familiarity with a wide variety of
>> 'stuff' - cf. customer/user expectations of staff stock and IT
>> knowledge/skills? Customer/User training? 'Silver Tool User' Training?
>>
>> Staff upgrades in line with upskilling and multi-tasking?
>>
>>
>> 5) Can the Library Management Systems (specifications recently in debate
>> on this list) cope? Their bookings facilities haven't for PC Bookings,
>> requiring additional specialist systems - and limited integration to link
>> the user database (and slow progress on upgrading that - SIP2. Need to
>> extend the LCF to cope?). Impact on Acquisitions system? Handling of items
>> with multiple parts?
>>
>> Catalogue/OPAC presentation?
>>
>> 'Click and Collect' - can the online reservation system cope?
>>
>> and I'm sure much more - much, much more...
>>
>> Or put in a parallel manual system, which is counter to the recent
>> direction of travel of reducing library staffing?
>>
>>
>> 6) RFID systems - will such items fit on a kiosk? Out of hours returns
>> and drop boxes/sorters? Not a new issue - I once asked if waterproof and
>> 'chew-proof' tags were available for toys, and would toys fit in a kiosk
>> receptacle? - I was being serious, but it was not appreciated. But now?
>>
>>
>> 7) Will (e.g.) tool hire companies complain - like the late video hire
>> shops, when libraries started to loan VHS - that this is an intrusion into
>> commercial activities?
>>
>>
>> 8) Will users need 'certificates of competence' to handle tools to allay
>> concerns of liability of the local authority? Who will assess and issue?
>>
>>
>> 9) Will all electrical equipment need to be PAT tested between uses? If
>> so by whom?
>>
>>
>> 10) Value of items relative to book/CD value? - recovery processes for
>> non-returns? A different dimension.
>>
>> etc. etc.
>>
>> Innovation by all means - but this seems to have very significant
>> implications. Has it been thought through?
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>>
>> John Usher
>> Retired Library Systems Manager
>>
>>
>> On 15 February 2017 at 17:10, Sue Comitti <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Here in the London Borough of Hackney we are looking into the idea of
>>> something called a ‘Library of Things’. This is whereby the library service
>>> loans out items such as electric drills, bread makers etc.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Does anyone else already do this? Or have any ideas about such a scheme.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks a lot
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sue
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sue Comitti
>>>
>>> Library and Heritage Services Manager
>>>
>>> Public Realm
>>>
>>> Neighbourhoods and Housing Directorate
>>>
>>> Hackney Council
>>>
>>> Hackney Service Centre
>>>
>>> 1 Hillman Street
>>>
>>> E8 1DY
>>>
>>> 020 8356 7572
>>>
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>> www.hackney.gov.uk
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> [image: Domestic Violence email banner]
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> Matt Finch
> www.mechanicaldolphin.com/about
>
--
Matt Finch
www.mechanicaldolphin.com/about
