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Waynn Pearson Retiring
Waynn Pearson, City Librarian for Cerritos, CA, since 1981, is retiring at the end of July. Under Pearson's leadership, Cerritos built a new library in 1987 that won the ALA/AIA Award of Excellence, and in 2002 opened the world's first "Experience Library." The award winning Library is viewed as a model for libraries of the future and is regularly visited by library delegations from all over the United States and the world.
Hallmarks of the "Experience Library" include: a strong focus on the user's experience; the organization of library spaces by theming around a strong story line; a concierge-style greeting station; and an emphasis on providing "WOW!" customer service. Many of these concepts came from Pearson's experiences as assistant project manager for the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts and from his strong connection with the themed entertainment industry. He credits Marty Sklar, former head of Disney Imagineering and now Disney Ambassador, and Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore, authors of the book The Experience Economy, as inspirations. Ray Bradbury, a friend and inspiration to Waynn, says that Cerritos has created the library of his dreams, and refers to it as "Waynn's library."
Pearson also created the clioinstitute, the learning arm of the Cerritos library, whose mission is "inspiring libraries to inspire communities." It has received grant awards totaling over one million dollars and has originated a variety of programs which have benefited the library community as a whole.
He has written a number of magazine articles and has been widely quoted in library publications. His "Epilogue: The River of the 21st Century Library Runs through User's Experiences" in the book, Last One Out Turn Off the Lights, by Susan Cleyle and Louise McGillis, has been suggested as a "blueprint" for libraries of the future.
One of his most satisfying moments as a librarian was when he heard several teenage girls in the elevator talking and one said, "This place is cooler than the mall!" As Waynn points out, there is no higher praise from a teenager.
What about the future? Pearson says that he plans on slipping into his racing suit and helmet and driving his Porsche in amateur sport car events. He also will do some special consulting related to library leadership and the future of libraries.
Posted on July 25, 2006 2:42 PM | Permalink