Information+Co-working space = Gold

Mike_Timpani · June 25, 2018, 4:11pm

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]
Feel free to reach out to me about this article and my idea.

AdventureUwe · June 25, 2018, 5:58pm

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

···

On 25 Jun 2018, at 19:11, Mike Timpani [email protected] 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]
Feel free to reach out to me about this article and my idea.

–

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tonybgoode · June 25, 2018, 7:20pm

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

···

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 1:58 PM, AdventureUwe [email protected] 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] 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]
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.

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alex · June 25, 2018, 7:30pm

I’m super into this too - similar to what Tony suggested about having the IC trained in connecting people to people rather than simply information. Talented coworker staffers already serve this role, sometimes in less formal ways and other times with more formal practices. This is an area that we’ve been investing heavily in terms of how to teach people who are hired to run coworking spaces how to create value in unique and scalable ways.

More related to libraries, my biz partner gave this talk a few years back while helping a local chapter of libraries and library staff learn coworking-oriented and community building skills that allow them to create new kinds of value. There’s so much overlap between these two worlds, the opportunities to experiment with helping each other are very exciting!

Thanks for sharing here - I’m hopeful it will bring some more bibliophiles out of the woodwork

-Alex

···

The #1 mistake in community building is doing it by yourself.

Better Coworkers: http://indyhall.org

Weekly Coworking Tips: http://coworkingweekly.com

My Audiobook: https://theindyhallway.com/ten

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 1:58 PM, AdventureUwe [email protected] 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] 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]
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.

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Mike_Timpani · June 25, 2018, 7:32pm

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 • Coworking.org

Is your space on the Coworking Visa yet?

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 1:58 PM, AdventureUwe [email protected] 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] 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]
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.

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Mike_Timpani · June 25, 2018, 7:36pm

so am I Alex, I know several librarians in my area in DC who are out of work…this new, (to me anyway) idea, is a new audience they can appeal to and hopefully help out with their information resources and skills.

···

On Monday, June 25, 2018 at 3:30:46 PM UTC-4, Alex Hillman wrote:

I’m super into this too - similar to what Tony suggested about having the IC trained in connecting people to people rather than simply information. Talented coworker staffers already serve this role, sometimes in less formal ways and other times with more formal practices. This is an area that we’ve been investing heavily in terms of how to teach people who are hired to run coworking spaces how to create value in unique and scalable ways.

More related to libraries, my biz partner gave this talk a few years back while helping a local chapter of libraries and library staff learn coworking-oriented and community building skills that allow them to create new kinds of value. There’s so much overlap between these two worlds, the opportunities to experiment with helping each other are very exciting!

Thanks for sharing here - I’m hopeful it will bring some more bibliophiles out of the woodwork

-Alex

The #1 mistake in community building is doing it by yourself.

Better Coworkers: http://indyhall.org

Weekly Coworking Tips: http://coworkingweekly.com

My Audiobook: https://theindyhallway.com/ten

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 3:21 PM Tony Bacigalupo [email protected] 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 • Coworking.org

Is your space on the Coworking Visa yet?

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 1:58 PM, AdventureUwe [email protected] 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] 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]
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.

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tonybgoode · June 25, 2018, 7:45pm

Hey Mike,

Have you visited existing DC-area spaces to see if you can pilot a super super simple lightweight version of the idea with them?

So much of this movement has been built on small steps using the resources within your reach!

Tony

···

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 3:36 PM, Mike Timpani [email protected] wrote:

so am I Alex, I know several librarians in my area in DC who are out of work…this new, (to me anyway) idea, is a new audience they can appeal to and hopefully help out with their information resources and skills.

On Monday, June 25, 2018 at 3:30:46 PM UTC-4, Alex Hillman wrote:

I’m super into this too - similar to what Tony suggested about having the IC trained in connecting people to people rather than simply information. Talented coworker staffers already serve this role, sometimes in less formal ways and other times with more formal practices. This is an area that we’ve been investing heavily in terms of how to teach people who are hired to run coworking spaces how to create value in unique and scalable ways.

More related to libraries, my biz partner gave this talk a few years back while helping a local chapter of libraries and library staff learn coworking-oriented and community building skills that allow them to create new kinds of value. There’s so much overlap between these two worlds, the opportunities to experiment with helping each other are very exciting!

Thanks for sharing here - I’m hopeful it will bring some more bibliophiles out of the woodwork

-Alex

The #1 mistake in community building is doing it by yourself.

Better Coworkers: http://indyhall.org

Weekly Coworking Tips: http://coworkingweekly.com

My Audiobook: https://theindyhallway.com/ten

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 3:21 PM Tony Bacigalupo [email protected] 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 • Coworking.org

Is your space on the Coworking Visa yet?

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 1:58 PM, AdventureUwe [email protected] 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] 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]
Feel free to reach out to me about this article and my idea.

–

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alex · June 25, 2018, 7:45pm

Hey Mike,

If I were in your shoes, I’d be connecting directly to members of coworking spaces more than trying to convince operators of the value. If you can get the MEMBERS to ask for it, and there’s minimal overhead for the space operator, you go from having a vague, conceptual offer (which is hard to get people to buy into) to something that operators actively want because they know members are asking for it.

Join a space, or float around a few of them. Get to know people. Maybe offer to teach a workshop on how IC skills can be used in a business setting.

IMPORTANT: Don’t show up and “sell.” Show up, listen, and look for ways to be helpful.

Another approach would be to look for a coworking space that I actually wanted to JOIN, and and then start doing what you describe ad documenting it in public. Blog about the kinds of connections and help you’re able to create in that particular community - with permission from the people you are helping, of course. Another way to prove the concept and earn the trust you need to get folks on board with this concept!

-Alex

···

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 3:33 PM Mike Timpani [email protected] wrote:

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 • Coworking.org

Is your space on the Coworking Visa yet?

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 1:58 PM, AdventureUwe [email protected] 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] 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]
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.

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Mike_Timpani · June 25, 2018, 7:49pm

Tony and Alex these are both great ideas, I’ll try several approaches and see what works. Thanks

···

On Monday, June 25, 2018 at 3:46:00 PM UTC-4, Tony Bacigalupo wrote:

Hey Mike,

Have you visited existing DC-area spaces to see if you can pilot a super super simple lightweight version of the idea with them?

So much of this movement has been built on small steps using the resources within your reach!

Tony

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 3:36 PM, Mike Timpani [email protected] wrote:

so am I Alex, I know several librarians in my area in DC who are out of work…this new, (to me anyway) idea, is a new audience they can appeal to and hopefully help out with their information resources and skills.

On Monday, June 25, 2018 at 3:30:46 PM UTC-4, Alex Hillman wrote:

I’m super into this too - similar to what Tony suggested about having the IC trained in connecting people to people rather than simply information. Talented coworker staffers already serve this role, sometimes in less formal ways and other times with more formal practices. This is an area that we’ve been investing heavily in terms of how to teach people who are hired to run coworking spaces how to create value in unique and scalable ways.

More related to libraries, my biz partner gave this talk a few years back while helping a local chapter of libraries and library staff learn coworking-oriented and community building skills that allow them to create new kinds of value. There’s so much overlap between these two worlds, the opportunities to experiment with helping each other are very exciting!

Thanks for sharing here - I’m hopeful it will bring some more bibliophiles out of the woodwork

-Alex

The #1 mistake in community building is doing it by yourself.

Better Coworkers: http://indyhall.org

Weekly Coworking Tips: http://coworkingweekly.com

My Audiobook: https://theindyhallway.com/ten

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 3:21 PM Tony Bacigalupo [email protected] 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 • Coworking.org

Is your space on the Coworking Visa yet?

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 1:58 PM, AdventureUwe [email protected] 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] 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]
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.

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Caner_Onoglu · June 25, 2018, 9:55pm

Hi Mike,

I think this is a great idea. I have been thinking and working on business processes, information management for many years and I came to a realization that especially creative people are very poorly organized, very bad at document and information management. Our brains are not good at multitasking. When people concentrate on doing something they are quite bad at planning, recording, tracking, storing information. How many times you noticed you didn’t record a very important contact, or can’t find an email? Myself many times. So I would love to have coworking staff managing my files, data, contacts, plans and act as my personal assistant. I imagine a 5-10 minute session face to face or on phone with my coworking assistant and we go through what I have done that day. Whom I met. Which files I created and if I saved them in appropriate folder. Recording new contacts to my CRM. Bookmarking web pages I visited. Creating a reminder about meetings. Knowing what I have been busy with my assistant will assist me for finding help when I may need, introduce me to other members of the coworking, if notices I am idle may recommend me to participate in other’s projects, tasks…

Caner

···

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018, 22:16 Mike Timpani [email protected] 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]
Feel free to reach out to me about this article and my idea.

–

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Mike_Timpani · June 25, 2018, 10:18pm

Thanks for the suggestion and support, Caner.

···

On Monday, June 25, 2018 at 5:56:55 PM UTC-4, Caner Onoglu wrote:

Hi Mike,

I think this is a great idea. I have been thinking and working on business processes, information management for many years and I came to a realization that especially creative people are very poorly organized, very bad at document and information management. Our brains are not good at multitasking. When people concentrate on doing something they are quite bad at planning, recording, tracking, storing information. How many times you noticed you didn’t record a very important contact, or can’t find an email? Myself many times. So I would love to have coworking staff managing my files, data, contacts, plans and act as my personal assistant. I imagine a 5-10 minute session face to face or on phone with my coworking assistant and we go through what I have done that day. Whom I met. Which files I created and if I saved them in appropriate folder. Recording new contacts to my CRM. Bookmarking web pages I visited. Creating a reminder about meetings. Knowing what I have been busy with my assistant will assist me for finding help when I may need, introduce me to other members of the coworking, if notices I am idle may recommend me to participate in other’s projects, tasks…

Caner

On Mon, Jun 25, 2018, 22:16 Mike Timpani [email protected] 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]
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].

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