The Anythink libraries do a lot of things differently, other than dumping Dewey. One of the things I liked a lot was that they combined JF books with JF audiobooks. I think this would help our circs for audiobooks because parents often want the book and the audiobook at the same time and if they were next to each other on the shelves it would be that much easier for them to find. In general, I love how dumping Dewey allows you to put materials pretty much wherever you want. Whenever I go to a new library or bookstore I check out their music area. At the Anythink libraries, the music books, magazines, dvds and cds are all in the same spot! Brilliant! And, of course, this is true for other subjects, as well. As a patron, I would love this. I love the concept that they are trying to make their libraries more like community centers than research facilities.
One keynote speaker suggested that libraries are becoming more like kitchens and less like grocery stores. A place to use things, to do things, rather than just a place to get things. That came from the keynote address from George Needham and Joan Frye Williams. www.georgeandjoan.com. They had a lot of good things to say. For example, they suggest that libraries should be more concerned with transformation than information. Helping to transform people's lives rather than just provide them with info. Also, that we are here to share materials, not to guard them. They pointed out that we often presume guilt of patrons and that we need to focus on relationships rather than transactions. Another point they made was that we must learn to help patrons on their terms. We have to think about the civilian point-of-view.
Well, I did pick up more than that at CAL but that is all that I have coherent notes on, so I'll leave it at that.
