Thanks Tony, that is exactly what I'm trying to do in DC.. reach out to a coworking realty group and make them see the benefits of this new model, but so far, no one is taking me up on it. I think the realty groups are only working from a cost-benefit side and not seeing the librarian benefit side of how an information person can help their clients, with whatever information needs they have.
On Monday, June 25, 2018 at 3:21:10 PM UTC-4, Tony Bacigalupo wrote: > > Hey Michael, > > Neat perspective! The idea of having someone available who is more than > simply a desk receptionist is one that I strongly believe is a good > direction to head towards. > > In particular, I think this person could be not just someone who could > help find information, but who is specifically trained to help people with > whatever challenge or need they are trying to address that's specific to > their situation. > > So if a member comes up to this "IC" person and says they are trying to > figure out how to get more clients, or manage their time better, or learn a > new skill, this person might point them to specific resources or best > practices that can help them—and maybe encourage the member to connect with > others in the community who share an interest in that topic as well. > > It sounds like you have a passion behind this idea and you want to spread > this to other communities—I think the best way for you to do that is to > partner with a coworking space in the DC area to prove the concept, and to > share your breakthroughs with us and others as you go. > > Looking forward to more updates! > > Cheers, > Tony Bacigalupo > > *---* > New Work Cities <http://nwc.co/consulting> • Coworking.org > <http://coworking.org/> > *Is your space on the Coworking Visa yet?* <http://coworking.org/visa> > > > On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 1:58 PM, AdventureUwe <[email protected] > <javascript:>> wrote: > >> Dear Michael, I am glad you mention this! I wrote an article about that >> idea and had some Brainstormings on that topic. Maybe you have a read into >> this: >> https://medium.com/p/8b75429135f1?source=linkShare-a75ac532cd83-1529949414 >> >> >> With best regards, Uwe >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On 25 Jun 2018, at 19:11, Mike Timpani <[email protected] <javascript:>> >> wrote: >> >> Lets put the two together: an IC and Coworking space. >> >> >> >> What is an IC? >> >> >> >> Wait, let me start from the beginning. I’m getting ahead of myself. >> >> >> >> Ever been helped by a librarian in your life, in a public library or >> through your academic career in college or high school? Maybe you are in a >> profession that uses librarians. They can be found in law firms and >> hospitals helping doctors and attorneys and even in the government helping >> everyone find the information they need. Yes, even in this “Google era” >> Librarians are more needed than ever before, to help find the RIGHT >> information and not a lot of it. >> >> >> >> My new concept would be to add a live person to the co-working amenities >> available to the tenants. I call it an “information concierge”. Someone >> with a library degree, like an MLS, would be on site at one of the >> properties of a co-worker company. The “IC” would be exclusive on-site in >> person to the tenants of that specific office space and virtual to all the >> other tenants in the same companies spaces around the area. >> >> >> >> For example: Hire a librarian and set that person up in a permanent >> office at your co working space. The “IC” would be there on a regular >> workday schedule, 9-5 for the physical tenants. The “IC” would also be >> available virtually by phone or computer to all the other tenants in the >> same co-worker company spaces around that one office they are set up in. >> >> >> >> The “IC” would help all the tenants with their projects or research that >> they would need to be doing to complete their work in the city they are >> visiting. It could be a day, a week or a regular renter on a monthly basis. >> The “IC” could help the clients with any of the traditional library duties, >> borrow books, buy articles or research reports, assist them with whatever >> their needs would be. >> >> >> >> So, let’s make this happen. Hire a librarian or an “IC”!!! >> >> >> >> Since my idea is a new one it can be tweaked to fit several different >> situations. >> >> >> >> The basic Librarian model that I see this working as is the "public >> librarian" model. When you go into a public library, you don't give the >> librarian money to find a book or information for you, the salary of the >> librarian is paid by the state or county where the library is located and >> the librarian's knowledge and services are free to the patrons. >> >> >> >> So in my model, the IC services would be free to the clients or tenants >> who rent out your space. That person's services would be part of the >> buildings or space amenities. >> >> >> >> But, I would have the services be free up to a point. if the tenant is >> using the IC services and knowledge heavily like 2-3 hours, then the IC >> could start charging the person and their company maybe 10 dollars an hour, >> and if the IC ordered anything for them, like a book or reports or >> articles, they would also have to pay those prices. >> >> >> >> This would all be upfront in a document the tenants sign when they rent >> your spaces, whether they use the IC or not, they sign it as an >> understanding, and if they have any questions, they can ask the IC about >> the guidelines. >> >> >> >> So, I challenge you in your personal Co working "sandbox" to talk to an >> information specialist in your area. Most cities or regions in the U.S., >> have library associations you can reach out to. Be the first realty group >> to make this happen and start a trend. >> >> >> >> In my case, I am trying to make this model work in the DC area, with, I >> imagine, a more diverse cross section of people looking for information, >> although my years of experience is mostly in legal research and working >> with and for attorneys. >> >> >> >> Michael Timpani, MLS >> [email protected] <javascript:> >> Feel free to reach out to me about this article and my idea. >> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Coworking" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected] <javascript:>. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Coworking" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected] <javascript:>. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. 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