tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post7010082938234677559..comments2024-03-07T06:04:27.839-08:00Comments on Museum 2.0: What Could Kill an Elegant, High-Value Participatory Project?Nina Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11723930679606298550noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-66981226693412138182014-03-20T12:57:49.461-07:002014-03-20T12:57:49.461-07:00This was such an excellent conversation... does an...This was such an excellent conversation... does anyone have any updates on this project and whether it is still going or was permanently abandoned? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-41804890629570239782010-01-08T21:14:59.658-08:002010-01-08T21:14:59.658-08:00Hi Nina,
I was project leader for the new branche ...Hi Nina,<br />I was project leader for the new branche library in Haarlem Oost back in 2006. I've posted some background information about the 'tast tagging'-project <a href="http://www.janklerk.net/2010/01/about-failed-taste-tagging-project-in.html" rel="nofollow">here on my blog</a>.<br />Best regards,<br />Jan Klerk<br />City Library Haarlem NetherlandsJan Klerkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05713197096228156045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-85952401887155933432010-01-08T07:34:19.334-08:002010-01-08T07:34:19.334-08:00Thanks for your comment, Jan (David). I think you ...Thanks for your comment, Jan (David). I think you are probably correct about the 50/50, which may be why the two stories are so different.<br /><br />I have been sharing the story of your project far and wide, and it has inspired many librarians and museum staff. One museum (the Minnesota Historical Society) even took the idea and applied it to the buttons that people wear while in the museum. Now, instead of throwing them away when they leave, they can drop them in a bin to "vote" for their favorite exhibit.Nina Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723930679606298550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-43316341699631480582010-01-08T00:39:03.893-08:002010-01-08T00:39:03.893-08:00Hi Nina,
Let me join the discussion as the archit...Hi Nina,<br /><br />Let me join the discussion as the architect and inventor of the concept. I think both your story and Lucas Koster's reaction are true.<br /><br />Some people take a long time to decide where to put a book, some people just want to get rid of their borrowed materials and put it on a random empty shelf, thereby disturbing the 'tastes' of others.<br /><br />In this observation I see a solution: make each shelf 50% taste and 50% without taste.<br /><br />Unfortunately Haarlem chose to remove the tastes completely.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Jan David HanrathJan David Hanrathhttp://www.hanratharchitect.nlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-6971903714059482112010-01-06T08:10:13.173-08:002010-01-06T08:10:13.173-08:00Thanks, Nina!Thanks, Nina!Nancy Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374074594611764684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-54127650295565850552010-01-06T07:33:50.738-08:002010-01-06T07:33:50.738-08:00First of all, yes, anyone can use the image.
@Luk...First of all, yes, anyone can use the image.<br /><br />@Lukas, I'd love to hear more about this - obviously my source is just one employee and I'm sure the story may be more complex. Can you email me?<br /><br />@Anon, this is not about forcing library staff to "work for free" or overloading them. I think institutions need to practice planned abandonment to continually assess which services are most valuable to offer and which should be diminished or cut. I did not intend to speak negatively of these staff members, only to point out that sometimes participatory projects are not thought through all the way, and that they are most likely to be sustainable if the people who will be running them (i.e. frontline staff) are involved in their development.Nina Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723930679606298550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-27222766173000316032010-01-06T07:29:50.540-08:002010-01-06T07:29:50.540-08:00From a staff member of the public library in Haarl...From a staff member of the public library in Haarlem (my hometown) i heard that this story is only very partly true.<br />Yes, they experimented with differentiated returns, but most patrons just put everything on the shelf (!) closest by. It just did not work! That is the reason for killing the project.Lukas Kosterhttp://commonplace.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-11164220828839219332010-01-06T06:45:01.090-08:002010-01-06T06:45:01.090-08:00Brilliant Idea! Have some outsider come in and tel...Brilliant Idea! Have some outsider come in and tell workers they need to add more time and effort to their work load. Obviously, the library staff work for free, and asking them to add to their workload is a blessing, allowing them to sacrifice more time and energy in the nun-like service to critical outsiders who have no concept of what the staff does.<br /><br />You can notice the adolescent-like thinking that nothing is impossible as long as someone else is responsible. No one from outside the library volunteered to do this extra work. The person with the bright idea is not volunteering to make it work.<br /><br />There is no one from the library saying, "Well, we will stop doing this so we can do this new thing instead." No, they are saying to simply add a new responsibility and new workload on people who are probably already overworked.<br /><br />And then outsiders tand around and sneer. Hey Bud, instead of sneering, why not volunteer _you_ and _your_ friend's time to make this work? Or do you prefer just to stand around and whine about other people who actually work for a living?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-45136233185931873692010-01-06T06:07:06.328-08:002010-01-06T06:07:06.328-08:00May I echo Nancy's comment? Beautiful image an...May I echo Nancy's comment? Beautiful image and one I would love to re-use within my own library. Would you consider allowing this?<br /><br />Thank you too for a great article!Emma Coonanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13945807586396583185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-54714255400429383772010-01-04T11:31:40.667-08:002010-01-04T11:31:40.667-08:00Nina, beyond the terrific post, I fell in love wit...Nina, beyond the terrific post, I fell in love with the image. Is it creative commons / would you allow others to use it? It tells a beautiful story.Nancy Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374074594611764684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-12304080796889748712010-01-04T10:17:02.641-08:002010-01-04T10:17:02.641-08:00In the early 70s a Presidential commission looked ...In the early 70s a Presidential commission looked into the failure of a number of Technology initiatives in Education. The compelling finding for me was any change that doesn't consider the existing culture of the organization is doomed to failure. This seems to be another example of the same thing.wakemphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05359059577207955142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-25891346754225053782010-01-04T07:30:55.536-08:002010-01-04T07:30:55.536-08:00Claire,
When I worked at the International Spy Mus...Claire,<br />When I worked at the International Spy Museum (a for-profit museum) we were completely dependent on ticket sales to operate. It created a real symbiosis between visitors' needs and what we offered. It also led to higher focus on marketing and guest service. Particularly in a city (Washington DC) full of free museums, the Spy Museum distinguishes itself as a different kind of experience, and that's definitely tied to the ticket.Nina Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723930679606298550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-30024116387247993402010-01-03T13:12:05.347-08:002010-01-03T13:12:05.347-08:00I'm interested by MIta's comment about the...I'm interested by MIta's comment about the problem that arises when success isn't linked directly to a positive financial impact. I work in visual art galleries in the UK which are publicly-funded and (almost all) free to enter. As there is no financial incentive to increase audience (and often as Nina pointed out with reference to science centres a negative impact) marketing tends to be under-developed. In fact recent research published by the Arts Council England showed that 60% of don't even monitor how many people come into their buildings - never mind who they are or what they thought of the exhibition.<br /><br />However, I've recently been doing some work shadowing in a public space which does charge for exhibitions and generates a significant proportion of income from related trading (cafe, shop etc) and its approach to audiences is fundamentally different - it's a commercial issue as well as a 'mission' one and the difference was startling. The business need to attract visitors really focussed the whole organisation on the quality of visit.Claire Antrobushttp://www.claireantrobus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-38213409874180220342010-01-02T01:50:15.210-08:002010-01-02T01:50:15.210-08:00happy new year 2010happy new year 2010admin facemien.comhttp://facemien.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-538005405090082852009-12-31T10:40:50.847-08:002009-12-31T10:40:50.847-08:00I can attest to having people be a part of the pr...I can attest to having people be a part of the process being a good idea. Recently I had an opportunity to provide professional development for a new on site initiative to my museum teaching staff. I was very worried that the proposed changes in the ways we were going to approach a new offering would be met with skepticism and resistance. Instead, the speaker informed, asked for their opinions, and they were won over before I ever opened my mouth.<br />My plan is now to gather a small group of stakeholders and fully plan and implement the initiative. I am prepared for it to be different than I am currently envisioning, but by getting input, playing to individual strengths, and listening to those who have to do the real work, I think we will have a sustainable program.John Buchingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01051709680631836851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-83035669943604280872009-12-31T06:44:21.694-08:002009-12-31T06:44:21.694-08:00Mita,
Beautifully written. Thank you.
The other f...Mita,<br />Beautifully written. Thank you.<br /><br />The other frequent "victims of its own success" in museums are the most-loved interactive exhibits in children's museums and science centers. The more kids bang on something, the more frequently it has to be fixed. The more popular exhibits "cost more" than the boring ones. <br /><br />Ian Simmons called this "The Survival of the Dullest" - <br />"Good exhibits are popular, get used and therefore break down.<br />Dull exhibits don't get used, and so don't break down.<br />Therefore all interactive exhibitions, without maintenance, eventually tend towards the dull."Nina Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723930679606298550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-15478308618886578532009-12-30T03:51:18.123-08:002009-12-30T03:51:18.123-08:00Thanks for this post. It got me thinking about wha...Thanks for this post. It got me thinking about what are some of the reasons for this sort of behaviour that I think happens frequently in libraryland. Here's my theory:<br /><br />In the for-profit sector, more use can usually be translated into more sales, which then can be fed into hiring more staff. The connection between use and funding exists as well in the non-profit world but the link is so weak that I suspect that many frontline staff don't believe that it exists at all. So to these people, curbing "too popular" services (that will take away resources from other areas of the library) is a rational response. So, even if our library service numbers are dangerously dropping, we can't afford success to those folks who feel that the library is "understaffed". <br /><br />What might be even worse than the 'victim of success' scenario, are all the projects to improve the user experience that never get launched at all, or -if they do- they are launched already hobbled to ensure that there will not be a flood of use.Mitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17662779929151451964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-26238054729910838072009-12-29T17:10:56.970-08:002009-12-29T17:10:56.970-08:00Ruth,
The architect was Jan David Hanrath, who has...Ruth,<br />The architect was Jan David Hanrath, who has a unique background as a librarian/technologist as well as a 3D designer. I don't know the specifics of the admin/staff/contractor relationship, but I do know that this library (with tagging system) was designed by Hanrath. You can find out more from him here: http://www.hanratharchitect.nl/projecten/haarlem-oost/Nina Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723930679606298550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-25664403928590067362009-12-29T17:03:31.907-08:002009-12-29T17:03:31.907-08:00I too feel deflated that Haarlem Oost discontinued...I too feel deflated that Haarlem Oost discontinued their innovative book return system. But, I have a hard time believing that this program was something that the library's administration forced onto an unsuspecting (albeit overworked) staff. The impact of its success on workflow may have been unanticipated and the resulting closure of the program unfortunate, but could an administration alone have come up with such an idea? I felt the hand of librarians who know their community in the design of this project.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16081300412027262346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-85431112952766735392009-12-29T14:16:05.290-08:002009-12-29T14:16:05.290-08:00Hi Paul and Jack,
If you look at the original post...Hi Paul and Jack,<br />If you look at <a href="http://museumtwo.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-design-from-virtual-metaphor-to.html" rel="nofollow">the original post,</a> you'll see that the shelves and drops were brilliantly designed to automatically interface with the online catalog via RFID. No data entry required!<br /><br />So yes, people did use the shelves, but not only to circulate while onsite. They also used them when they looked at books in the web catalog.Nina Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723930679606298550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-54377509655318367232009-12-29T12:53:31.218-08:002009-12-29T12:53:31.218-08:00Great post - I'm curious - couldn't they ...Great post - I'm curious - couldn't they ask people to write a tag on a slip of paper which is in the book when they take it out - then when it is handed back into the slot - someone tags the record on the catalog?<br /><br />The tags could also be used as a cloud or an RSS . <br /><br />But as lots of libraries use user tagging, I guess I am missing something?Paul Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13558887847347922330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-22605753991031405462009-12-29T12:36:09.434-08:002009-12-29T12:36:09.434-08:00As somebody who recently had to search through a w...As somebody who recently had to search through a whole host of 'special choice' displays to find the book I needed to read for my book group (the staff knew it was in there, just not where), I can attest that there is a downside to departing from normal library behaviour!<br /><br />I think the other question is, no matter how good the concept, were people actually borrowing from the returned shelves?Jack Kirbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-21873721525997780622009-12-29T09:29:19.848-08:002009-12-29T09:29:19.848-08:00I would love to work for an institution that could...I would love to work for an institution that could even think up a project like this!<br /><br />But seriously, in my experience as a public librarian (and I imagine you can generalize this into the broader cultural organization/nonprofit world), when a directive comes from the administration without any input from the frontline staff, it means that the administration is expecting a fight ... and that they want to circumvent that fight rather than engage in it. Not engaging in this kind of conflict (IMO) is the biggest mistake administrators make. It signals that the powers-that-be are afraid of the frontline staff, who (if they were just involved in decision-making!) probably would embrace interesting new projects.Christine Bornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356486403114381189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-29955627806057915832009-12-29T09:03:25.011-08:002009-12-29T09:03:25.011-08:00Intriguing, since there seemed to be an easy worka...Intriguing, since there seemed to be an easy workaround to the issue of lines (multiple choice check off cards instead of shelves?) but as you note, all plans of all sizes require buy-in from all stakeholders, including staff.<br />Thanks for another insightful post.Sabra Smithhttp://myowntimemachine.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-16055210402322327342009-12-29T08:17:52.557-08:002009-12-29T08:17:52.557-08:00Thank you! I always look forward to your twitter m...Thank you! I always look forward to your twitter messages to find jewels like this brilliant post. As I reflect on participatory projects, I find one of the keys to success is buy-in from the staff. When great ideas are designed from the outside, it doesn't matter that much if those on the front lines don't feel engaged themselves.<br /><br />The fact that you wrote about this experiment should encourage other libraries to consider such a return policy and I hope to read about such efforts in the future.<br /><br />On a sidenote, I want to organize a book swap early this year. If this initiative gets off the ground, I'll take some photos and share the news with you. It could certainly borrow some ideas from this example.Ron Maderhttp://www.planeta.comnoreply@blogger.com