Traditional vs. Entrepreneurial Libraries

In October I attended the annual meeting for the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI). Marshall Keys, the keynote, spoke about Entrepreneurship and Risk in Libraries. He compared the traditional library to the entrepreneurial library, stating that most libraries are traditional. The goal is to be entrepreneurial. It appears that RCLS is on the right track.


Characteristics of Traditional:
• Statute and rule directed
• Hierarchical
• Specialized responsibilities
• Centralized control
• Accountable for rules
• Focus on what’s best for organization
• Emphasis on programs
• Quality defined by professional standards
• Cost focused
• Monopoly service
• Dependent on external funding
• Try to be all things to all people

Characteristics of Entrepreneurial:
• Mission directed
• Team oriented
• Integrated responsibilities
• Decentralization and empowerment
• Accountable for outcomes
• Focus on what’s best for customer
• Emphasis on performance
• Quality defined by meeting customer expectations
• Value focused
• Multiple choices
• Self-supporting
• Niche focused

* These lists Adapted from Jim Thalhuber National Center for Social Entrepreneurs