In Praise of Incrementalism: Integrating Emerging Tech in Your Library

Emerging technologies can provoke feelings of both excitement and trepidation. The successful integration of new technologies in a library setting takes time, and rushing the process can be highly detrimental to staff morale and the patron experience. Ultimately, an incremental approach enjoys many advantages over an expedited one.

Take the Time to Build Your Patron Base

Libraries develop programs and services and seek to deliver them to their intended audience. Generally speaking, the more niche a program is, the smaller its potential audience. The same is true from an expertise standpoint; offerings that need higher prerequisite knowledge begin with a smaller potential user base. This shouldn’t be surprising–there’s simply more beginners than there are experts!

These challenges are particularly acute when we apply them to emerging technologies. New tech often hasn’t inserted itself into common usage with our patron base. In our attempts to wow the public with ambitious programming, we sometimes find ourselves offering expert-level programming at the outset. These factors can combine to leave a truly small potential audience for library programs and services, and can result in a floundering makerspace.

Rather than trying to locate a seasoned audience for overly-ambitious programming, a measured approach gives you the time to create your audience. By starting with beginner and intermediate tech programming, you can build patron tech fluency and increase the potential audience for more advanced programming in the future.

By way of example, let’s apply this lesson to 3D printing technology. While you may aspire to offer classes on advanced design and prototyping, you should first lay down a firm foundation of programming focused on how 3D printing works, easy-to-use software like TinkerCAD, and the use of any library printing services you may offer. Over time, your community’s technical know-how increases, and the potential audience for more advanced programming includes newly-minted techies, in addition to a smaller preexisting group of experts. In addition to improved program attendance, one can expect related 3D print services to benefit from increased use. Finally, more community expertise means more potential instructors, easing the burden on staff and increasing community buy-in!

Change Management and Staff

A slow and steady approach not only helps you develop a reliable patron base for tech programs and services, but also places staff in the best position to succeed. Change is hard, and emerging technologies are the very embodiment of change! In any organization, there can be resistance to change, and your ability to effectively integrate emerging technologies can hinge on maintaining momentum. If this sounds like I’m advocating for a pedal-to-the-floor approach, I’m not! Rather, you must rely on careful planning to rack up early wins and build on prior successes, rather than see staff resistance harden in a situation where ambition outpaces organizational ability or patron interest. If your early tech programming crashes and burns, the path ahead becomes markedly harder.

Happily, the opposite is also true. Just as patron competencies will increase over time, so too will staff comfort with emerging technologies. Participating in basic classes either as a student or as an instructor will see staff become more tech fluent, and help mitigate much fear and resistance. From a financial standpoint, a slow-and-steady approach affords you the time to gauge community interest and properly allocate resources, without the disruption caused by abrupt changes to budget and staff responsibilities.

Thanks for Reading!

I hope you've found this article helpful! I'm always happy to talk tech if you're looking for a speaker for your library event. Need to integrate emerging technologies at your library? Consider checking out the book Best Technologies for Public Libraries: Policies, Programs, and Services.