{"id":1690,"date":"2017-09-06T17:12:14","date_gmt":"2017-09-06T17:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.oclc.org\/next\/?p=1690"},"modified":"2021-04-27T18:33:01","modified_gmt":"2021-04-27T18:33:01","slug":"the-audacity-and-humility-of-getting-smarter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.oclc.org\/next\/the-audacity-and-humility-of-getting-smarter\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u201caudacity and humility\u201d of getting smarter"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Can things really be smart?<\/h2>\n

Is a thermostat programmed to change based on time of day and weather conditions \u201csmarter\u201d? How about a chat-bot<\/a> that answers your customer service questions? What about an email feature that automatically sorts messages based on your past activities?<\/p>\n

In many cases when we hear \u201csmart [thing],\u201d it\u2019s a synonym for some kind of software automation based on sensors, data collection, or connected devices. Nearly half of Forbes<\/em> \u201c17 Top Enterprise Tech Trends for 2017<\/a>\u201d relate to ideas of \u201csmarter\u201d services, apps, products, infrastructure, and lifestyles. The assumption is that by automating as many aspects of a process as possible, we\u2019ll get better results.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not convinced that\u2019s the case.<\/p>\n

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Is \u201csmart\u201d more than a metaphor?<\/h2>\n

I understand\u2014as I\u2019m sure you do\u2014that to say that an appliance or car or work process is \u201csmart\u201d is a metaphor. We know it\u2019s simply an object built with some additional level of computer processing and\/or connectivity. A \u201csmart thermostat\u201d can\u2019t tell that you\u2019ve put on a blanket because you were cold. It\u2019s just reacting to preprogrammed instructions. It\u2019s no \u201csmarter\u201d than a DVR that you\u2019ve set up to record Game of Thrones<\/em>.<\/p>\n

But the metaphors we use\u2014especially as they relate to the work of libraries\u2014are important. Our users look to us to help them actually become smarter people. That\u2019s a core function of librarianship. So when we say something is \u201csmarter,\u201d we need to be sure we don\u2019t just mean \u201cautomated\u201d or \u201ccomputerized.\u201d If we think we\u2019re being smarter just by adding some technology and automating a task or two, we\u2019re selling our users short.<\/p>\n

The question of \u201cwhat is a smarter library?\u201d is an important and exciting one, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m delighted \u201cThe Smarter Library<\/a>\u201d is the theme we\u2019ve adopted for all three upcoming OCLC Regional Council Meetings.<\/p>\n

What makes a library \u201csmarter\u201d?<\/h2>\n

As we prepared to plan for these events, we wanted to really dig down into what we think we need to do to make libraries truly smarter\u2026not just \u201cmore automated.\u201d This isn\u2019t about technology for technology\u2019s sake. It\u2019s about focusing on the unique value propositions that libraries provide and working to be even better at those things that motivate us as librarians and set our institutions apart.<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”What makes a library ‘smarter’?”]<\/p>\n

We narrowed down a wide field of possible themes to the following:<\/p>\n