THOUGHTS FROM LIBRARY LAND

Publishing and books - the next ten years

2010-02-08T12:58:00.005+11:00

From ireaderreview.com comes the following horizon scanning.

What will be the 10 biggest changes in 2010 through 2020?

In no particular order:

50-50 split between paper and electronic books.

eReaders grow to over 100 million units in circulation.

2 to 3 Platform Companies dominate – Apple and Amazon are the likeliest.

2 to 3 of the Big Publishers survive and have the next most power (after platforms).

25% more People read than now. People read 40% more with eReaders than they did without eReaders.

eBooks are priced between $4 and $10 with readers accepting these prices.

Closed, walled gardens dominate and sustain eBooks (and Books).

1 to 2 companies dominate eBook sales – Amazon, Apple, and probably Google.

Top 1% of authors make over a million (or close) every year and next 9% of authors earn a very good living.

The core definition of books doesn’t change – color books, interactive books, video books and various other contraptions don’t kill or hurt books as we know them now.

Given that this scanning comes from ireaderreview.com, some caution must be taken (and this is reiterated in the report) in assessing these predictions. Information at: http://ireaderreview.com/2010/02/03/publishing-and-books-in-10-years/

Price for SMEs for carbon accounting not sky high.

2010-01-29T15:39:00.004+11:00

An interesting piece of work by National Centre for Sustainability, Swinburne University of Technology which claims that the price for SMEs for carbon accounting is not sky high.

See: http://www.swin.edu.au/ncs/documents/SP1323_NCS_ClimateChangefinal.pdf

What is very interesting in a library context is what is not accounted for?

So, what’s not counted? Emissions embodied into materials, goods and services. For libraries the embedded content in books, CDs, DVDs, etc is an issue to be further considered. Although, in their own way libraries, to the extent that materials are "recycled", help to reduce the overall impact on the environment.

The report suggest a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) should be undertaken to determine this properly. An LCA is the evaluation of the inputs, outputs and environmental impacts of a product system over its lifecycle. This would be potentially a long and costly exercise for most libraries.

Perhaps there is an opportunity to develop a model based on weight/cost/other factors that could be more easily and readily used by libraries to determine the embedded carbon in their materials. More on this later.

Young Australians Reading

2010-01-29T12:39:00.007+11:00

SLV's Centre for Youth Literature has just released Young Australians Reading an updated report. It's at : http://tinyurl.com/yey8el6

Interesting perspective from the report:

　

"Mylee Joseph monitors trends and developments in new media. She says, ‘There is a definite shift in thinking about books as content rather than format. This will be increasingly important with e-books (born digital) and digitisation of hard-copy books for online consumption.

‘One of the trends is the personalisation of everything – your own preferred style. California State Library, looking at identifying technology trends, call it It’s All About Me – mass, personalised consumption, products and brands customised to suit the individual. For libraries, it means instead of relying on one type of resource or program, you need to provide more flexibility so young people can mash it up for themselves.

It’s the remix culture. For example, you might have someone who takes pictures and adds a soundtrack, or illustrates and orchestrates a poem or prose.’ "

Comfortable Lifestyle and Modest Lifestyle in Retirement

2010-01-12T15:22:00.007+11:00

I thought you might find this information from the Westpac-ASFA Retirement Standard interesting: http://www.superannuation.asn.au/RS/default.aspx

To achieve “Comfortable” status as a couple you probably need $500 to $600k in Super, which still allows you to receive some Age Pension.

The Standard provides “Detailed Budget Breakdowns: Comfortable Lifestyle and Modest Lifestyle” as at September 2009.

It only allows $11.75 per week for books and magazines for a Comfortable Couple - thank heavens for libraries!

What makes a good library service?

2009-12-09T12:26:00.008+11:00

Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals launched these guidelines at the Public Library Authorities Conference in October 2009.

The guidelines indicate that a good library service provides:

A positive future for children and young people

A fulfilling life for older people

Strong, safe and sustainable communities

Promotion of local identity and community pride

Learning, skills, and workforce development

Health improvements and wellbeing

Equality, community cohesion and social justice

Economic regeneration

"What makes a good library service? Guidelines on public library provision in England for portfolio holders in local Councils. CILIP, 2009. Available to download as a pdf (93 Kb) from:

http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/advocacy/public-libraries/Pages/good-libraries-supporting-information.aspx

PLVN and LDAE

2009-12-09T12:18:00.002+11:00

Report of the Inquiry into the Governance and Leadership of the Public Library Service in England came up with a recommendation that a Library Development Agency for England (LDAE) should be established, inter alia to:

advocate for public libraries
articulate a national vision
establish marketing, awareness and promotional programmes
disseminate good practice
establish a comprehensive evidence base
facilitate quality improvements

Sounds remarkably similar to PLVN.

What are the 5 biggest turn-offs for customers?’

2009-10-19T12:14:00.004+11:00

Read this short e-article recently by Jurek Leon of Terrific Trading.

"I am always wary of media questions relating to customer service that are likely to highlight the negatives. I responded by saying, “How about I give you my five biggest turn-ons for customers and from this the turn-offs will be clear as well?” The five biggest turn-ons I came up with are:

To be listened to. When you listen to someone your body language is saying, “You are important.”

For service providers to do what they say they are going to do when they say they are going to do it.

To be kept informed especially when things go wrong.

To get someone who takes responsibility rather than ‘You’ll have to do this’ or ‘You’ll have to do that’.

To have someone who genuinely appreciates your custom and doesn’t prejudge you. "

You can sign up for his monthly newsletter at:

http://terrifictrading.typepad.com/terrific_trading/free-newsletter.html

When is discrimination not discrimination?

2009-10-01T10:46:00.007+10:00

The Brumby Labor Government will better balance the right of individuals to be free from discrimination and the right to religious freedom under changes proposed to the Equal Opportunity Act, according to Acting Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls.

Mr Hulls said the changes would narrow the scope of the current religious exemptions to ensure that religious groups can no longer discriminate on the grounds of race, disability, age, physical features, political belief or activity, and breastfeeding.

But religious groups would continue to be able to discriminate on other grounds including sexuality or marital status if it was in accordance with their beliefs.

“These proposed changes follow consultation with religious bodies and have the support of the Catholic Church,” Mr Hulls said.

Here's the link to Mr Hull's press release:

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/attorney-general/religious-freedom-to-be-protected-under-equal-opportunity-changes.html

All I have to say is to remember these words from WB Yeats:

"Once you attempt legislation upon religious grounds, you open the way for every kind of intolerance and religious persecution. "

Creating a single voice for NFPs

2009-09-23T17:29:00.005+10:00

An interesting article from the The Boardroom Report , the ezine of the
Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

The article notes that ABS figures show that the NFP sector contributed 4.1 per cent to Australia’s total gross domestic product in 2006/07. During that year, NFPs received income of$76.6 billion and held $138 billion worth of assets. They also employed 889,900 people and used over 4.6 million volunteers. The article goes on to say:

The not-for-profit (NFP) sector would benefit from having
a Federal Government minister, as well as a peak industry
association, overseeing its interests.

These were the views of senior executives from a diverse group
of NFP organisations who attended a recent forum in Sydney
to review their common issues. The aim was to create “a single
voice” when responding to the draft report expected to be
released in early October by the Productivity Commission (PC)
on its inquiry into the contribution of the NFP sector.

New figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
last week show that the NFP sector contributed almost $50
billion to the Australian economy in 2006/07. Yet, according to
Paul Gallimore MAICD, a director of CTC Consulting Group, this
sector remains fragmented and thinks of itself in silos.

“At present, there is no Federal government minister to oversee
the sector. It is monitored by an Upper House member, Ursula
Stephens,” says Gallimore, whose company convened the forum.
“We are not saying that there has to be an exclusive government
minister portfolio for the sector. It could be one among other
roles, but if you want change, you need someone to listen to you.

“The minister would also need access to sufficient, detailed
and quality data to make decisions and progress the sector. The
forum agreed that there was a need to set up a working party
to review how data is collected and how the process can be
improved. Ultimately, this would require an industry authority or
peak association to do the job.”

Forum attendee Richard Jones, general manager of the
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, says: “Given the size and
contribution of the NFP sector, I believe that with more current
data and someone to oversee it, we could get better results for
the communities we all serve. There also needs to be some
rationalisation in the sector and having someone overseeing it, or
who we could talk to directly, could assist in that process.”

Rob Oerlemans, executive officer of Lions Australia, says while
his organisation will make a direct submission to the PC, he
attended the forum because he was interested in working with
other NFPs to get a greater recognition of volunteering and the
contribution of volunteering around the country.

The ABS released its 2006/07 Australian National Accounts:
Non-Profit Institutions Satellite Account on Friday, but Gallimore
says these figures are released on an ad-hoc basis and there is no
government commitment yet to continue compiling them.

In effect that is what PLVN, through the Statewide project: "Building Knowledge for Library Advocacy" is trying to achieve. Presenting a single voice that can quantify the economic benefits of public libraries in Victoria to all levels of government.

Australia Defined - Top 5 Themes

2009-09-23T14:09:00.005+10:00

Recent analysis by Mark McCrindle (McCrindle Research Pty Ltd) examining Australians' attitudes and feelings towards their own country have revealed five key themes: Pride, Fun, Teamwork, Community and Freedom.

I wonder if our libraries reflect these attitudes, or do our "attitude" and policies stifle them.

Here's a link to Mark's report:

http://www.mccrindle.com.au/broadcasts/PDF/SNAPSHOT_AUSDEFINED.pdf

“Will freeing parallel imports make books cheaper at the cost of authors?”

2009-09-18T17:31:00.005+10:00

ALIA supports the removal of the restrictions upon parallel importation of books. ALIA believes greater competition will lead to an increase in the variety of books available and more competitively priced books, increasing their accessibility for Australians.

ALIA's submission to the Productivity Commission can be viewed and downloaded at:

http://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/85886/sub252.pdf

The Productivity Commission's report can be viewed at:

http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/study/books/report

The Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia (IPRIA) held a seminar on this major issue recently. A podcast was made of the seminar and can be viewed on the seminar web page at http://www.ipria.org/events/seminar/Parallel%20Importing.html

Speakers included Professor Allan Fels, Graeme Connelly who is the CEO and Director of Melbourne University Bookshop and the president of the Australian Campus Booksellers and Professor Sam Ricketson of the Melbourne Law School.

I think that PLVN should have an adopted position on this issue and look forward to receiving your comments.