The 6.00pm news bulletin will disappear (it is simply an electronic version of New Idea) where smart graphics and well groomed reporters are more important than news substance.

The Australian nation will suffer under the ignorant, selfish and economic suicidal policies of our worst ever PM

Tagging will swiftly outpace present cataloguing workflows

The reference library will be taking it’s last few breaths

Ricky Ponting to retire on his own terms.

Despite the predictions of the Mayan calendar, the world will not end

Internet TV more prolific

Great advancements in battery powered cars

Stephen Smith to be named the 28th PM of Australia. Bill Shorten Deputy

Continued stagnation in the discussion of fast trains

Tablets and smart phone sales easily outstrip that of desktops and laptops

Shane Warne features in a movie with Liz Hurley

Chrome to draw level with Explorer in the browser stakes

However, there is a long road to traverse, and many more flags to be raised in honour of library advancement. I myself will continue tirelessly on this mission, floating a plethora of breathtaking ideas in the name of common sense.

There have been a few ups n downs along the way, but never forget people, don’t take your eyes off the ball. The moment you do, those same strangulating vines of ignorance and rigidity will envelope you again, threatening to cut off your supply to variety, fun, flexibility, innovation and efficiency.

Yes people, I have returned, and libraries will never be the same again.

T’was an innocent age, where the librarian was held in high esteem, somewhere between Prime Minister and Bank Manager. In a more cynical age, it lies between Lord Mayor and Climate Change Minister. Why the change? Information is readily available to the public, without the need for gatekeepers. The librarian was held in awe, and had to be praised. If not, they may not have provided you with the latest census information, or that fabulous bibliography on radar.

Check out the video below to get into that 1940′s 1950′s feel.

1. catalogue
2. process
3. issue manually
4. return manually
5. send out overdue/reserve notices via post
6. argue with customers over minute fines/overdue items
7. deal with the Dewey Classification System
8. create media releases
9. attend unstructured meetings
10. sit behind customer service desks

• Flexibility in relation to work hours.
• Fairness in the distribution of holidays.
• Fairness in the distribution of shifts for all staff on rosters.
• Steady increase in staff work skills.
• Nurture a fire within, rather than underneath.
• Clear and open lines of communication between all in the organization.
• Encouragement and a kind word are welcomed more than a boot.
• Fellow workers refraining from backstabbing. Try sitting on your fat or narrow arse and minding your own business.  If there is a perceived problem, discuss it with other staffers, rather than go squealing to management. Notions of your own apparent self importance and perfection are not shared by others. If this is your only method of attaining any form of self fulfillment, I suggest you piss off.

The most urgent problems facing the state of NSW include lack of affordable housing and inadequate transport infrastructure. The Labor government  failed miserably by pursuing a policy of urban consolidation, stacking people hopelessly one on top of each other in an ever increasing forest of high rise. At the same time, road infrastructure was left stagnant, resulting in hundreds of additional vehicles being thrust upon already congested thoroughfares. Of course, there is also the drain on water and especially electricity. (please don’t get me started on the carbon dioxide tax!)

Government have not had the foresight or courage to release land not contained in the Sydney basin.  They have not had the foresight or courage to plan fast train links. They have not had the foresight or courage to plan or develop anything. Sydney will implode on itself through 24 hour gridlock, families living in shoe boxes, and only the wealthy owning homes.

Put a fast train link to Goulburn, Orange and Newcastle. People will be able to purchase affordable housing, pouring vigour back into regional NSW towns through creating work for tradesmen,  retailers,  local shops, and yes, libraries. Build highways which are at least four lanes wide, not the piddling two which has been the norm.

Using a library analogy, NSW has been using the card catalogue, stamping due dates, embracing the “shoosh” policy, and browsing with IE6, for the past 16 years. It’s time we embraced a little RFID and Chrome.

• Have an agenda. People can prepare in advance.
• To the point. No inane waffling. Limit of twenty minutes. Try a stand up meeting.
• Not setup like a kindergarten.
• Relaxed atmosphere. Make it fun. People should want to go.
• No one person dominating. If you want to deliver a speech from the pulpit, tack in onto the minutes
• Remain positive.
• Never immediately shoot down ideas when raised. That person will not be bothered to raise new ideas ever again, if humiliated in front of the group.
• Include some multimedia, role playing, somebody from outside the organisation, etc. Anything to get messages across.
• Encourage everyone to participate.
• Have meetings when needed. Date does not have to be set in stone.

There is an throbbing underbelly that realizes there are new ways to do old tasks.

Some people take tweeting too seriously.

It is ultimately up to each individual library to grasp these new ideas and implement them.

Some people take themselves too seriously.

There are a few cutting edge people out there, whose enthusiasm and knowledge need to flow through the veins of all.

Talks about methodology are for the birds.

Chris Winter from the ABC is a well organised and highly interesting speaker.

Papers from conference need to be available ASAP. If not, interest will be lost.

Better organisation of vendors. Rather than standing there, have a demonstration in progress. A video of what your product is about. Standing there like a shag on a rock will get you nowhere.

Video all talks for free, and stick them on YouTube. What’s the point of all that great information being bottled up in a lecture theater, or in the minds of those lucky enough to be asked to attend. Get those who are never asked to go to conferences or training in the loop.

A parallel can be seen with speeding cameras. They are not there to increase road safety, but to rake in more money for the State Government (to not spend on roads).  Many cameras are not at black spots, but at the bottom of a hill for example.

If the collection of fines dramatically plumetted, the talk would not be on the lines of how great it was people were bringing their items back on time. It would be that we need to be more vigilant in collecting fines.

The process of informing customers they have incurred a fine of whatever amount, can be an arduous, frustrating, time consuming and embarrassing exercise. It is usually a negative experience for both staff member and customer. In the case of an overdue item, simply withdraw borrowing privileges.  If the items are not returned within a month, OK, then let ‘em have it. Smack them with a replacement cost of the item, plus twenty bucks or so.

Also, the less money staff have to deal with the better. Less money amounts to less procedures, less staff time in counting it, and less chance of auditors sticking in their noses and changing work practices which function just fine.

Then there is the process of reminder letters, emails, and SMS . This is another time consuming exercise.  Customers need to take responsibility of what they have issued to them. It is not the responsibility of staff to remind people what they have out. Customers can check their loans online or call the library.

There are countless other duties to perform in the library besides getting tied up with a customer over a piddling $2.00 fine.  And if your library does not possess RFID or self checkers, the annoyance is doubled. Not only are you a glorified check out chick/dude, but a debt collector. The profession needs to move along, and discover other methods of revenue collection.