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It is almost blasphemy to talk about being open or daring in library settings. After all, our stacks can be "closed," our policies "limit" behavior, and our subject headings constitute a "controlled" vocabulary. It isn't much of a mental jump to the stereotype of a picayune, straight-laced librarian bent on imposing rule.

Change, though not a dirty word, is rife with issues. "Proposal X" may have met with resistance in the past, institutional policy might not allow it, staff isn't comfortable with it. That's frustrating when you come into an organization fresh and can easily see all the areas that could be enhanced. You have a unique perspective, it seems, that is not valued. It is almost offensive that "they" (your co-workers) are blind to the improvements that can easily be instituted if only they had the will and the way. Thus, the struggle begins, creating a feeling of division. All forward motion grinds to a halt. Suddenly, you are D.O.A. (Dead on Arrival).

But, you can dodge being D.O.A. In fact, you can be "dead on" by assuming and demonstrating a sense of moderation. This is often lost on energetic new employees, mostly because it demands that you regulate and control your expectations. Turn "D.O.A." around! Redefine D.O.A., instead, as something toward which you should strive: Be "DARING, OPEN, and ACTIVE."

• Be DARING - willing to challenge the status quo and go where one’s institution has not gone before (resolute in pursuit of new technologies, new instructional approaches/techniques, and looking at human resources in a new way).

• Be OPEN - willing to admit failure, ready to embrace change, and eager to explore new ways of dealing with both patrons and vendors.

• Be ACTIVE - play with new trends in libraries and technology to get a feel for their appeal, and constantly pilot ways to adapt to what new generations of patrons want.

These are all qualities that the public (including faculty and/or staff) doesn't associate with librarians. Rather, most people still see us as "quiet," "stern," and "stuffy" (1, 2, and 4, respectively, according to the Family Feud "survey says" chart). Only recently, thanks to CSI and other influences, are paradigms beginning to shift closer to those characteristics we need to be most successful in the long run.

Starting out, you already know there is so much to gain in terms of improved service, image, and job satisfaction by avoiding the temptation to do things "the way we've always done them." But, because of this image problem and the delicate nature of office politics, being daring, open, and active can run you straight into a brick wall of resistance. And, that crash can lead to injury - to your image and credibility, as well as your energy level. This often leaves you in danger of becoming dead wood - just showing up for work and considering it more of a job than a career. Remembering to balance all sides of the D.O.A. mantra helps you avoid this trap. Here are some ideas we have for easing into a "dead on" mentality:

Daring

Yes, the word daring can be scary. But, we're not talking crazy daring here. What's daring in one library may be normal at another library. Maybe it's daring for you to try virtual reference at your institution, while others have been doing it for years. This semester, one of our librarians is piloting a late night research pajama party in one of our dorms. The PJs will be conservative, but the idea is daring for us. Don't be scared to look ridiculous, but don't get so tied to ideas that you can't abandon ones that don't work. That's what being open is all about.

Open

Being open means being willing to admit failure. That can be difficult to do, but it's necessary if you're going to be truly daring within your organization. One of our librarians tried a class exercise generating keywords using an article with a humorous subject – which bombed. The students didn't find "puppy day spas" nearly as funny as she did. We'll skip that one in the future.

Being open means being willing to explore new ways of dealing with patrons. Do they want you to reach out to them via their cell phones or iPods? Or, do they have great ideas that would help when redesigning your library web page or renovating your library? You won't know unless you ask, or are open enough to notice. This semester, one of our librarians "caught" some students using Facebook during a class session. Turns out the students were using this social software to share their articles and links. (Good thing she didn't play the stern librarian and reprimand them!)

Don't forget that being open applies to interactions with vendors as well. Don't assume that a vendor can't offer you something better. Maybe you won't get an ideal offer, but maybe you will, or you'll at least get closer. To be effective at being open and able to negotiate, you need to remain active, network, and be aware of new trends and technologies in libraries.

Active

Beyond just knowing that new trends and technologies exist, you need to try them out. Of course, you won't want to implement everything, but it helps to experiment with different technologies. Try them at other libraries, at conferences, or invite vendors to do demos at your library. You may decide to forego a particular technology right now, but maybe you'll want to re-evaluate it in the future.

Or, just jump in. A librarian in our library experimented with a free web-based blog service. She created a blog for our library in about an hour. If it catches on with students, that will be great, if not, we haven't lost much.

We're not saying you need to try every idea before you leave work today. In fact, you're likely to run into that wall of resistance if you try everything all at once. Rather, pick your priorities and tackle those first (remembering that a "priority" may be what's most doable rather than what's most important). Listen carefully to what those around you are saying, and consider where they are coming from (a place of fear, frustration, desperation, obstinacy, hope...)

Recognize that everyone wants to succeed and flourish; we just sometimes disagree about how to get there. At first blush, the culture may seem resistant to change, but that isn't entirely true - or the organization would not have sought your talent.

Rebecca Albrecht Oling is the Coordinator of Instruction and Literature Librarian at Purchase College, State University of New York. She has worked in libraries for 9 years since receiving her MLS in 1997. She started her current job in 2000 and in the last 3 years has started two others as a mom.

Leah Massar Bloom started her position as the Natural and Social Sciences Reference Librarian at Purchase College, State University of New York in August 2005 after receiving her MLIS from Simmons College.