Abstract
In the 21st century, that is, the era of competition, change, challenge, funding declines, and economic pressures, making the world of information and knowledge a more accessible, welcoming, inspiring, surprising, and empowering place seems to be much more difficult than before. One of the main preconditions of alleviating such a problem is having libraries and information centers that embrace entrepreneurial, innovative, and creative action. Undoubtedly, these information organizations can play their roles more effectively if they have librarians who crusade to bring about social change, who design entrepreneurial new services, who create new fundraising programs, who incorporate innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit into a variety of endeavors, even while providing traditional services. Such librarians might flourish in the digital age, embracing technology with creative energy, leading them to redefine and reinvent systems and services (p. 2).
Highlighting the above, and with the aim of providing a forum in which librarians could
discuss entrepreneurship and exchange their experiences, two conferences, namely
Inspiration, Innovation, Celebration: An Entrepreneurial Conference
for Librarians and The Conference for Entrepreneurial Librarians: From Vision to
Implementation were held in 2009 and 2011 respectively. As members of the
conference steering committee, the editors indicate that: after observing the entrepreneurial activity associated with the two conferences, we felt
there was strong interest in the subject, as well as valuable ideas that needed exposure.
We find the time is right to document the current state of entrepreneurial initiatives in
libraries. (p. 2)
This book was collected and published to serve several purposes, including documenting the current situation of entrepreneurship in libraries in its many formats, celebrating library entrepreneurs, and inspiring future entrepreneurial pursuits among librarians.
An edited volume, jointly prepared by 28 contributors, it consists of 14 chapters categorized under four foundational sections. Section 1, ‘Foundational issues’ (2 chapters), deals with two principal topics: ‘entrepreneurialism from an ethical perspective’ within which areas of increasing ethical risk for entrepreneurial efforts in libraries are outlined, and ‘entrepreneurialism from a business perspective’ in which the skills (e.g. creative thinking, strategic planning, and marketing) commonly used in the for-profit world are examined so that the entrepreneurial librarian may be successful in the non-profit world, enabling him/her to run the library as a business. Section 2, ‘Intrapreneurs’ (3 chapters) concerns the practitioners of one of the entrepreneurship models, viz., intrapreneurship, defined as the practice of entrepreneurship within a large firm. Intrapreneurship is a style of management which is independent, risk taking, innovative, daring, and typical of the style used in successful start-up firms. In this respect, three cases (i.e. ‘an open access publishing initiative at the University Libraries, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’, ‘INSIDE Idaho, a project for improving access to geospatial data within and even beyond the university campus, The University of Idaho Library’, and ‘The Digital Media Studio project for providing students with technology-driven services in a collaborative space, The Middle Tennessee State University’) are reported that show how entrepreneurial, marketing and promotional role(s) for libraries both inside and outside their parent organizations can be increased.
Section 3, ‘Entrepreneurs’ (4 chapters) begins with interesting interviews (Chapters 6 and 7) with two entrepreneurs – Mary Ellen Bates, who believes that we can do amazing things with information (p. 105) and Tim Spalding, Founder of LibraryThing (a social network for book lovers). Chapter 8 presents an all-inclusive picture of an entrepreneurial endeavor undertaken at the University of Kentucky. Through narrating this instructive story, highlighting that ‘though librarians have not traditionally been thought of as entrepreneurs, perceptions might be changing’, Peter Hesseldenz declares that ‘in an age where information is power, the time is right for librarians to assert themselves’ (p. 127). The section ends with an unique experience entitled ‘Wake the Library 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run’ (WTL5K) concerning how Z. Smith Reynolds Library of Wake Forest University has successfully redefined its role in the community, sought fundraising, found supporting funds, and established partnerships/sponsorships.
And finally, Section 4, ‘Social and Cultural Entrepreneurs’ (5 chapters) posits a current situation where the ‘digital revolution’ is transforming the world of librarianship – libraries, librarians, information resources, and library users – on the one hand, and where libraries are experiencing economic shortfalls, on the other. In this situation, it is argued, in addition to paying attention to the traditional services libraries offer, taking a social and cultural approach to entrepreneurship is a logical, resuscitative, and cost-effective way of promoting the soft power (the status and role) of libraries in both theory and practice. As evidence, some win-win cases dealing with promoting collections and raising funds, managing and disposing of library materials balancing between investments and returns, and advocating, educating, and promoting sustainability through green librarianship are also reported. The last chapter of this section, ‘Librarian as social entrepreneur’ by Melody M. Allison, is a well-written essay about various issues concerning social entrepreneurship. In the chapter, one sentence attracted me more than others: ‘We [librarians] must find ways to support “blue-sky” and “out-of-the-box” thinking for others and for ourselves’ (p. 219). In fact, it can be considered as the gist of this book.
In total, in my opinion, this collection provokes contemplation and contains much food for further thought, study, and the world of practice. It is a successful exercise in empowering both communities and libraries themselves. In a word, it is abundant in its use of literature and theoretical foundations, and with its practical hints, it contains much of interest for library managers and practitioners. Reading such a thought-provoking volume should help today’s librarians think strategically as well as functionally, get free of routines and what is holding them back, and avoid being stagnant. Hats off to all contributors, from the conference committee members and presenters to the authors and editors of this valuable volume. In its turn, it opens a window of hope and opportunity to those librarians who are eagerly trying to embrace the entrepreneurial idea.