Librarians as Creators
Librarians are not always creators or creative, but social media, marketing and programs are increasing the necessity for creative, creator librarians.
When viewing the typology of creativity (creators, critics, collectors, joiners, spectators) you can see information professionals easily fit their activities into many of the roles. However, as the creator the librarian has the most power and influence over a project – and is thus more responsible for the success or failure of a creative project. This can be incredibly taxing – particularly with social media which requires the librarian to be actively maintaining their creation. Does expecting librarians to be prolific and innovative creators put an unfair amount of pressure on information professionals who may already be taxed with extra duties due to budget cuts?
Librarians as Creativity Promoters
You can’t force your patrons into creativity but you can encourage creativity by providing tools and spaces (both in-library and online) for creative collaboration.
Through instruction & information-providing practices (ex. teaching about creative commons, tech how-tos, etc.) information professionals often provide tools for patrons to be social media creators and knowledgable repurposers.
Libraries can also help provide online social tools by providing software and subscriptions to online services. This can be particularly useful for people like artists and musicians who are increasingly using the online world to collaborate. For example, the online notation service Noteflight often has collaborative music-creation projects, but requires a paid subscription for anyone who wishes to create more than 10 scores.
Collaborative creativity between librarians and patrons
Library social media efforts sometimes start with a librarian that encourages others to also create. For example, LIBRARY BOOKFACE, initiated by the Carrol County Public Library in Maryland on tumblr encouraged patrons to join and share their own photos of ‘bookfacing’ (people with books over their faces).
