{"id":109,"date":"2026-09-14T17:31:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T17:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/?p=109"},"modified":"2026-09-14T17:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T17:35:59","slug":"assignment-x-library-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/2026\/09\/14\/assignment-x-library-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Assignment X: Library Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Conversations subvert hierarchy. Hyperlinks subvert hierarchy. Being a human being among <\/strong>others subverts hierarchy.” – The Cluetrain Manifesto<\/strong><\/p>\n

Using the metaphor of a business to describe a library is not the first thing that would jump to my mind, although the similarities are notable: businesses engage with a wide range of people, from all different backgrounds- socioeconomic, religious, political, cultural, and so forth; businesses have a product or resource that they market toward this same wide range of people, so that these people will want\u00a0<\/em>or need<\/em> the thing the business has; businesses have budgets, and staff, and goals that need to be met; businesses must evolve and adapt to current trends- all of which can be applied to what a library does- whether academic, public, or specialized. Swap out the word “businesses” with “libraries.”<\/p>\n

Brian Matthews’ 2012 article, “Think Like a Start Up”<\/a> and “The Cluetrain Manifesto”<\/a> (co-authored by Levine, Locke, Searls, Weinberger, 1999) are my inspirations for thinking about libraries in a way that addresses change and growth through the lens of a business perspective. How can we look to business trends to forecast library trends? What pitfalls can be avoided? What lessons can we learn?<\/p>\n

In thinking about these types of connections, the first example that came to mind is sustainability: Public demand for sustainable, “clean,” products from companies who are transparent with manufacturing, ingredients, processes, and the like have become fairly normal to see as we walk up and down the aisles of a grocery store or wander (or web browse) through large corporate chain stores- thankfully. The concept of sustainability is a selling point. Companies have pivoted to focus on the fast-growing number of mainstream people (customers) who care deeply about the environment and all things related. Libraries have reflected this trend by incorporating seed libraries (my own library has a great one!), tool lending, reuse programs (craft projects that do not incorporate plastic), and programs that teach composting, vermicomposting (worm bins), and offering energy saving kits and mending workshops. The library itself is a cyclical model of share, repair, reuse, circulate. Programs that incorporate these kinds of elements are extremely popular at our local public libraries.<\/p>\n

On the flip side, the article, “Why you should make the library a model for your business”<\/a>, asks businesses to consider taking cues from libraries, using them as a model for building organizations that value curiosity, community, empathy, and long-term impact rather than focusing solely on profit and efficiency. It’s a short article that is worth reading (from August 2025, Fast Company magazine).<\/p>\n

Both libraries and businesses are looking towards one another to see what attributes can be applied to enrich two very different cultures (business culture= profits\/ library culture = community) particularly when it comes to innovation, experimentation, and adapting to change. The “Think Like a Start Up,” article speaks to this idea; startup culture is about embracing a future oriented perspective- change. This business startup comparison does not mean that libraries should turn into businesses, but that (like startups) they are willing to try something, learn from it, and keep moving forward.<\/p>\n

“If you want understanding, you have to reenter the human world of stories. If you don\u2019t have <\/span><\/strong>
\na story, you don\u2019t have understanding. From the first accidental wiener roast on a prehistoric <\/span><\/strong>
\nsavanna, we\u2019ve understood things by telling stories. I don\u2019t mean fiction or stories heavy <\/span><\/strong>
\nwith plot; I mean narratives that string events together in time and show them unfolding.” – The Cluetrain Manifesto<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I love this quote. I absolutely believe in the deep power of stories and storytelling- it is everything. Libraries provide what I see as a campfire setting: we are together in a space sharing our stories- from author to reader, from patron to library staff and vice versa, from patron to patron. Everyone is contributing something to the circle wrapping around the campfire. There is the possibility of unpredictability, there is observation and listening, and there is a united energy. Businesses must work to create this sense of community- and pay a lot of money to research, advertise, and promote it. Libraries naturally, authentically create this. And what is behind the act of creating something? Commitment and connection.<\/p>\n

Libraries and businesses may have very different purposes, but both are trying to understand how people connect, what they need, and what will keep them coming back. Businesses can learn from libraries about creating spaces for community, curiosity, and connection without every interaction having to be transactional. Libraries, in turn, can learn from businesses about experimentation, adaptability, and looking ahead rather than maintaining the status quo. The goal is not for either one to become more like the other, but for both to notice what is working and ask what might be worth bringing back to their own campfires.<\/p>\n

Levine, R., Locke, C., Searls, D., & Weinberger, D. (1999). The cluetrain manifesto the end of business as usual<\/em>. http:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/the-cluetrain-manifesto.pdf<\/p>\n

\n

Matthews, B. (2012, April). Think Like a Startup<\/i>. Facing the Future. https:\/\/vtechworks.lib.vt.edu\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/77d2cb98-ddab-4543-9e47-b011819231b3\/content<\/p>\n

Shapiro, C. (2025, August 5). Why you should make the library a model for your business<\/i>. Fast Company. https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/91379648\/why-you-should-make-the-library-a-model-for-your-business<\/p>\n

\n

Art: Chinese Lantern Plants as Children at Play<\/em>,\u00a01842, Utagawa <\/a>Hiroshige. Public\u00a0domain.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Conversations subvert hierarchy. Hyperlinks subvert hierarchy. Being a human being among others subverts hierarchy.” – The Cluetrain Manifesto Using the metaphor of a business to describe a library is not the first thing that would jump to my mind, although the similarities are notable: businesses engage with a wide range of people, from all different backgrounds- socioeconomic, religious, political, cultural, and so forth; businesses have a product or resource that they market toward this same wide range of people, so that these people will want\u00a0or need the thing the business has; businesses have budgets, and staff, and goals that need to be met; businesses must evolve and adapt to current trends- all of which can be applied to what a library does- whether academic, public, or specialized. Swap out the word “businesses” with “libraries.” Brian Matthews’ 2012 article, “Think Like a Start Up” and “The Cluetrain Manifesto” (co-authored by Levine, Locke, Searls, Weinberger, 1999) are my inspirations for thinking about libraries in a way that addresses change and growth through the lens of a business perspective. How can we look to business trends to forecast library trends? What pitfalls can be avoided? What lessons can we learn? In thinking about these types of connections, the first example that came to mind is sustainability: Public demand for sustainable, “clean,” products from companies who are transparent with manufacturing, ingredients, processes, and the like have become fairly normal to see as we walk up and down the aisles of a grocery store or wander (or web browse) through large corporate chain stores- thankfully. The concept of sustainability is a selling point. Companies have pivoted to focus on the fast-growing number of mainstream people (customers) who care deeply about the environment and all things related. Libraries have reflected this trend by incorporating seed libraries (my own library has a great one!), tool lending, reuse programs (craft projects that do not incorporate plastic), and programs that teach composting, vermicomposting (worm bins), and offering energy saving kits and mending workshops. The library itself is a cyclical model of share, repair, reuse, circulate. Programs that incorporate these kinds of elements are extremely popular at our local public libraries. On the flip side, the article, “Why you should make the library a model for your business”, asks businesses to consider taking cues from libraries, using them as a model for building organizations that value curiosity, community, empathy, and long-term impact rather than focusing solely on profit and efficiency. It’s a short article that is worth reading (from August 2025, Fast Company magazine). Both libraries and businesses are looking towards one another to see what attributes can be applied to enrich two very different cultures (business culture= profits\/ library culture = community) particularly when it comes to innovation, experimentation, and adapting to change. The “Think Like a Start Up,” article speaks to this idea; startup culture is about embracing a future oriented perspective- change. This business startup comparison does not mean that libraries should turn into businesses, but that (like startups) they are willing to try something, learn from it, and keep moving forward. “If you want understanding, you have to reenter the human world of stories. If you don\u2019t have a story, you don\u2019t have understanding. From the first accidental wiener roast on a prehistoric savanna, we\u2019ve understood things by telling stories. I don\u2019t mean fiction or stories heavy with plot; I mean narratives that string events together in time and show them unfolding.” – The Cluetrain Manifesto I love this quote. I absolutely believe in the deep power of stories and storytelling- it is everything. Libraries provide what I see as a campfire setting: we are together in a space sharing our stories- from author to reader, from patron to library staff and vice versa, from patron to patron. Everyone is contributing something to the circle wrapping around the campfire. There is the possibility of unpredictability, there is observation and listening, and there is a united energy. Businesses must work to create this sense of community- and pay a lot of money to research, advertise, and promote it. Libraries naturally, authentically create this. And what is behind the act of creating something? Commitment and connection. Libraries and businesses may have very different purposes, but both are trying to understand how people connect, what they need, and what will keep them coming back. Businesses can learn from libraries about creating spaces for community, curiosity, and connection without every interaction having to be transactional. Libraries, in turn, can learn from businesses about experimentation, adaptability, and looking ahead rather than maintaining the status quo. The goal is not for either one to become more like the other, but for both to notice what is working and ask what might be worth bringing back to their own campfires. Levine, R., Locke, C., Searls, D., & Weinberger, D. (1999). The cluetrain manifesto the end of business as usual. http:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/the-cluetrain-manifesto.pdf Matthews, B. (2012, April). Think Like a Startup. Facing the Future. https:\/\/vtechworks.lib.vt.edu\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/77d2cb98-ddab-4543-9e47-b011819231b3\/content Shapiro, C. (2025, August 5). Why you should make the library a model for your business. Fast Company. https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/91379648\/why-you-should-make-the-library-a-model-for-your-business Art: Chinese Lantern Plants as Children at Play,\u00a01842, Utagawa Hiroshige. Public\u00a0domain.    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":883,"featured_media":126,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/883"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":130,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109\/revisions\/130"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/thebrokenglassclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}