Study Abroad Program Introduction

The official title of my study abroad is “Dutch Designs: Innovations in Library, Museum and Information Services in the Netherlands”. We learned about what innovation means in institutional settings and how it works in library, museum, and information services. Through site visits we heard from various Dutch academic, research, cultural organizations like the Vrije Universiteit, OBA Amsterdam Public library, Delft Public University, National Public libraries on how they weaved that into their programs. 

Since this program had mix of Master of Library Science graduate students and Informatics undergraduate students, I was excited for how class would be. The depth of expertise and various backgrounds everyone had would be interesting to engage in. Prior to the program, I’ve always head the term “MLIS”, “Library Science” thrown around but never knew what it actually was. Additionally, having limited knowledge in government issues and public vs. private sectors, I was eager to learn more through this course. 

After a good night’s sleep, I had my first class. Rather than a direct exchange with a university our program was professor led consisting of discussions and site visits. Due to this we had classes in the lounge area of our hotel. It was very eye opening to have class in a non-traditional setting. Unlike a typical hotel, the place we stayed at was family run so the overall feel was cozy, welcoming and homey. String lights, cherry wood walls and cute decor were scattered throughout. 

The workspace feat. hagelslag

Class/Lounge Area

What is Cultural Heritage?

What is cultural heritage? To me, it is tangible objects that represent history. Comparing cultural heritage vs. culture, the prior is a bit more formal and institutional, while the latter is more organic with personal memories and experiences. I learned about GAMS (gallery, archive museum) or stuff institutions. All cultural heritage institutions, they’re differentiated by the of level interaction, intention and category of information. For example, do they use the information vs preserve it? Is it rare or replaceable? Especially nowadays with online collections, how does preservation look like in the digital space?

What is Innovation?

Innovation often stems when we use what works in one setting in a new setting. Coming into a foreign place with existing views, things we take for granted the Dutch view innovative and things the Dutch take for granted are innovative to us. 

In the opening chapters of Christian Bason’s Leading Public Sector Innovation: Co-Creating for a Better Society, he describes the P4 Innovation Space.

1. Products- What do they produce?

2. Process- How do they create what they do?

3. Positionality- How are institutions situated with others?

4. Paradigm- What is the mental model of these institutions?

5. (People)- Who is the institution intended to serve?

Afterwards it was a very insightful discussion. How could a library be more like a rave? (postionality) What should and how much should an institution provide you with?(products) How do institutions work efficiently within constrained budgets?(process) What is the mental model of this institution?(paradigms) Who is silenced who is not represented? Who are the players needed to get things done?(people)

Some notes from today's discussion

What is the library's role?

In The Library Innovation Toolkit, Molaro & White illustrate an striking example: Ferry Tales, a monthly book club during a 30 minute ferry ride. Essentially Audrey Barbakoff, a librarian noticed that passengers had a 30 minute gap for daily transit and channeled that time into a book club. She took upon herself the role of reaching out to the library board, ferry company, and other stakeholders involved. Some may argue that it’s not the traditional responsibilities of the library. It is part of a librarian’s job? Yet who created that job description? Why are they the way they are? It all comes back to: What is the paradigm of this institution? 

Like a piano teacher learning classical music to teach to children when in reality kids just want to play their favourite song, this raises the ultimate question: How do institutions identity problems to address without mission creep?

Reflection

Overall I’ve never thought of GAMS or questioned existing systems of institutions in such depth so it was a very interesting first class. I’m looking forward to the classes to come.