sbclapp's Profile

“This is my website. There are many like it, but this one is mine…”

Much has changed in the last year with respect to the notion of a “library website”. It’s as though the clear, glassy surface of a morning bay has been turned and cast about by steel, unforgiving turbines. Many unsuspecting libraries are now caught in that turbulent wash, casting about for something, anything to hold on to as they begin the daunting task of “the redesign”. The problem is, where do we even begin? If there was no gold standard before, there still is none, but we now acknowledge two things: Traditional library websites drain the life-force from patrons. Our OPACs finish the job.

So where do we go from here? Is there anything, anything at all we can use as a modus operandi as we, once again, begin the process of re-provisioning the obligatory library website?

Let me suggest five directives that may help get your creative minds turning. I want to talk about these not only because they represent common sense, good design, and patron convenience, but also because by using these directives as a kernel in your new project, you are sure to come out the other side feeling highly rewarded and sporting a new website that will invigorate your inner-geek for years to come.

Social software, as you are probably aware, was born of the read/write web. Partially due to persistent connections, newer software, higher bandwidth, and plain old human acceptance of the machine, the social web is a beautiful lace spun with minds, machines, and information. It is who we are as humans–it is community. just like the public library is community. So to ignore social software in the context of our library websites, is to ignore our communities. We need to find a prominent place on our mantle for it and ensure that our websites invite humanity in and give it right back. The point here is to extend the boundaries of the library, perhaps blurring the edges like watercolor so we’re not quite sure where the

A few things I'll try to explain in this post:

1) One of the most important recent neuroscience discoveries--"mirror neurons", and the role they play in a decision like Robert's

2) The heavily-researched social science phenomenon known as "emotional contagion"

3) Ignorance and misperceptions around the idea of "happy people"


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Mirror Neurons
Mirror neurons have been referred to by scientists like V.S. Rmachandran as one of the most important neuroscientific breakthroughs of recent history. This Nova video is a great introduction, but here's the condensed version:

There is now strong evidence to suggest that humans have the same type of "mirror neurons" found in monkeys. It's what these neurons do that's amazing--they activate in the same way when you're watching someone else do something as they do when you're doing it yourself! This mirroring process/capability is thought to be behind our ability to empathize, but you can imagine the role these neurons have played in keeping us alive as a species. We learn from watching others. We learn from imitating (mirroring) others. The potential problem, though, is that these neurons go happily about their business of imitating others without our conscious intention....
happy people are better able to think logically.

You can't very well have a Web 2.0 company run by version 1.0 managers, right? Yes, I'm making fun of the 2.0ness of it all, but if we're throwing version numbers around with impunity, might as well take it to the absurd.

One dramatic difference between mature tech companies and the Web 2.0 startups is the way employees are managed. Or rather, the fact that they are not "managed." Most Web 1.0 companies (like, say, my former employer Sun... they put the dot in dotcom, remember?) are not only too big, but their management practices are just too old school (and not in a retro hip way) to foster a company culture that matches the culture of the new community/user-centric Web 2.0.

http://amaznode.fladdict.net/#keywords=web2.0&locale=us&searchIndex= Books&affiliate=AFFILIATEID-22

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