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By John Dove, on March 8th, 2010
Credo is a publisher-neutral provider of reference content and services to libraries of all types worldwide. While we may serve other markets in the future, libraries are the foundation of our business. Businesses in our industry often seek advantages by obtaining exclusive rights to the distribution of certain content to various library markets.
The advantages are obvious. If you have exclusive distribution rights to content then you can charge whatever you want. You have no competitive pressures or market forces that would set the price at its real value to customers. The exclusivity question is not specific to ‘for-profit’ or ‘non-profit’ library vendors. Some of the most prominent ‘non-profits’ in the world of reference publishing are some of the leading examples of businesses that employ exclusivity to their business advantage.
So why would Credo Reference make the conscious choice to eschew exclusivity in any of our content provider relationships? We are unabashedly a ‘for-profit’ company. But we are also a ‘for libraries’ company. And a ‘for employees’ company. And a ‘for learners’ company.
Our board of directors has always been very clear that building a really great company is analogous to creating a thriving ecology. An ecology is healthy if all constituents experience themselves as well-served by their participation. So if we were to seek and then depend on exclusive relationships to obtain important content, we would be creating a significant imbalance between what we’d charge for that content and its real value to customers.
Credo would rather obtain content on a non-exclusive basis. A non-exclusive relationship is basically a statement that we expect the content provider will have other approaches in their markets – and that may include library markets. We seek to provide excellent returns for our publishers—but if they can get better returns by including others in their distribution plans why shouldn’t they? By not obtaining exclusive agreements, Credo indicates to our library customers that we’re not paying huge extra prices for the content we provide them and therefore can provide both content and functionality at a much better value.
This idea of a company being an ecology in which each constituent is served in a balanced way is not unique in the business world. But it does give us unique guidance on how we approach things like exclusivity in content relationships. We’ve also found that it resonates well with many experts in reference librarianship. We’ve heard from many reference experts about how libraries should be able to get the reference titles they need on the platform of their choice. Exclusivity agreements for content would be a direct contradiction of this vision.
The centerpiece of our company’s innovation is the platform on which we deliver reference content. We are sufficiently confident that we have done and will continue to do an excellent job on our interface that we don’t need to shore it up artificially with exclusivity arrangements. Ironically, by not seeking exclusive content relationships we may end up with publishers preferring to have their content on Credo. We’ll be glad for that vote of confidence, but it won’t be something that we seek to artificially prop up with exclusive content agreements.
John Dove
By Credo Reference, on March 3rd, 2010
As promised yesterday, here are more of our eclectic personal reading pleasures of the moment…
From Anne Kail, UK Sales Director:
Why am I never reading Tolstoy or Proust or Ibsen when asked ‘what are you reading?’ Here in the Oxford office it’s our busiest time of the year, so a bit of light-hearted escapism is what’s required.
 Starting Over Dilemma: you can see I’m too much of a literary pseud to be seen curled up with chick lit (or admit it here). Solution: chick lit written by a chap wouldn’t be chick lit, would it?
Nick Hornby and Tony Parsons to the rescue! Absolutely ripped through Nick Hornby’s “Juliet, Naked.” It’s about a handful of guys obsessed with a long-retired rock star who wants nothing to do with them. It doesn’t have the laugh-out-loud lines that I found in “Fever Pitch” and “High Fidelity,” but every so often you want to read bits out loud to whoever is nearby. Oh… that’s just me, then?
Have nearly finished Tony Parsons’ “Starting Over.” It deals with cellular memory syndrome (see, hardly chick lit!). George is in his 40’s, steady job, married with two children; he has a heart attack, gets the heart of a 19 year-old, and starts behaving like a teenager and loses the lot. A real page-turner. How will it end!?
(Note to self: I will definitely read “War and Peace” sometime soon.)
From John G. Dove, Credo President:
 Lemprières Dictionary I am reading “Lemprière’s Dictionary” by Lawrence Norfolk. It was suggested to me by the librarian of the Houses of Parliament (who is getting her PhD on the characteristics of subject encyclopedias). This historical novel is a Dan Brown like thriller which has at its center the famous lexicographer of mythology who grew up on the island of Jersey.
Could there be a more perfect novel for me to get lost in?
From Heather Blaine, Sales Marketing Manager:
As I wrote about here, I am in the midst of reading “This Book is Overdue” by Marilyn Johnson. I’m further along and really enjoying all the different stories and examples of what leading-edge librarians are doing and have done in the past few years. The book is organized thematically by chapter and I’ve just finished the chapter on “Blogging Librarians” so now my list of blogs to follow has doubled!
 The Sea of Monsters In addition, I’ve started the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series – I’m now on book two, “The Sea of Monsters.” I really enjoyed the Harry Potter series and I LOVED studying Greek Mythology in school so when someone recommended these books to me I thought, why not? Well, I’m pretty well hooked. I think Rick Riordan has done a great job of creating a compelling story that is relatable in today’s world but which is also sneakily educational at the same time.
So, now you’ve had some insight into our reading habits at Credo Reference. What would you suggest we read next?
By Credo Reference, on March 2nd, 2010
It should come as no surprise that an organization that blends technology, libraries, publishing and research would have an eclectic group of people with varied tastes and interests. This latest installment “What We’re Reading” is a perfect example!
From Al Stevens, CTO:
 The Invention of Air “The Invention of Air” by Steven Johnson, a fascinating account of the life of the English scientist and philosopher Joseph Priestley. His religious and political views forced him to flee England and then nearly landed him in prison in the US. Besides discovering oxygen, he helped found Unitarianism, invented soda water and influenced the thinking of George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
From Lisa Hill, Senior Library Relations Specialist:
I’ve recently become immersed in the Karla-Smiley espionage trilogy from author John Le Carre. Begun in 1974 the series takes place during the heart of the Cold War and pits British Intelligence chief George Smiley against his Russian counterpart known as Karla. I’ve just finished “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” which dealt with the hunt for a Russian mole within British intelligence. I’m now nearing the finish of “The Honourable Schoolboy” which has George Smiley and his men following Karla’s tracks in Southeast Asia. “Smiley’s People” ends the trilogy, but I haven’t gotten there yet.
 Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy I’m enjoying the series because it doesn’t follow the standard ‘espionage novel’ template and doesn’t read like a Hollywood movie. Le Carre takes time to develop the characters, flaws and all, so that the reader receives a fully fleshed glimpse of the spy trade. I’ve missed my train stop on more than one occasion. Read “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” and you too can be late for work!
From Nancy King, Product Manager:
 Pedaling Revolution I’m reading “Pedaling Revolution” by Jeff Mapes.
Why am I reading it? Well, I’m desperately hoping for an early spring so that I can get back on my bike and off the subway. It’s an interesting read about bike-friendly cities and how they’re creating a place for cyclists on city streets. If only Boston were more like Amsterdam or even Portland, Oregon… Next up is another transportation-related book – “Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)”
But, wait, there’s more…our next installment will include dictionaries, heart transplants, librarians and Greek gods!
By Heather Blaine, on February 23rd, 2010
 The book's fantastic cover art Last week I had the chance to attend a reading here in Boston by Marylin Johnson, author of “This Book Is Overdue,” which I have just started reading. I was excited for the opportunity to learn about her process and experiences while researching and writing the book.
In introducing the book, she started out by describing it as her “love letter to Librarians;” there were many librarians in the audience and I got the sense that they really appreciated the sentiment!
Of course one of the very first questions from the group was why she chose to write a book about librarians. In answer, she talked about her last book, “The Dead Beat” and her opinion that the most interesting obituaries she read while researching it were of Librarians so she decided they deserved a book of their own.
She described some of her experiences in researching the book – including attending library conferences such as ALA. Hearing the conference described from her perspective as a total outsider made many of the conference veterans in the audience chuckle, myself included.
Johnson talked a lot about the various librarians she met while doing her research and one theme that came across quite strongly was her sense of librarians’ fierce commitment, as a professional group, to enable access to information to anyone who needs it; so this rant by a blogger for the Huffington Post struck a chord with me. A rather off-key chord based on Johnson’s description and my own experiences with members of the profession. I understand where he’s coming from, but I think he doesn’t understand libraries and librarians and how they operate with a different mission than a business.
After the event was done she stayed and signed books for many of us. I waited in line to say hello and thank her though she couldn’t really sign my book – I have the Kindle version. She did offer to sign my Kindle, or a sticky note to put ON my Kindle, but it’s not quite the same.
I’m not far enough along in the book to offer any kind of review just yet, but I promise one will follow once I’ve finished. What I’ll say for now is that I am finding “This Book is Overdue” to be a fascinating read with stories that range from funny to sad to inspiring to infuriating. Stay tuned…and if you’re reading the book, please let me know what you think.
Salon.com recently posted an interview with Johnson, you can find it here.
By Al Stevens, on August 12th, 2009
 Do you use Twitter? We’ve been tweeting @credoreference for a few months now, and find it an invaluable tool for sharing information with our customers and fans. Never was this more apparent than when Twitter was down last week! We’ve found a number of tools that are useful for managing your Twitter activities:
bit.ly – We use this URL shortening service to shorten our URLs, and to track how often our links are clicked on.
Tweetlater.com – This service allows you schedule your tweets in advance. This is particularly invaluable for tweets that are planned in advance, like our Did you know? and Quote of the Day type posts.
TweetDeck and Seesmic – Some of the many 3rd party Twitter management tools. They allow you to more easily manage your followers and tweets, usually from your desktop or mobile device.
Twibes – A great way to find other Tweeple that share your interests.
Twilerts – Email notification of keywords you are tracking.
Tweetreach – a great new tool for seeing how many people your tweets are reaching.
What are your favorite Twitter tools?
By Al Stevens, on June 17th, 2009
 A recent Zogby International Poll (find the news story about it here) states that “The Internet is by far the most popular source of information and the preferred choice for news ahead of television, newspapers and radio”. It also reveals that only 10 percent of those polled would consider social websites as important sources for news, and an even smaller 4% would use Twitter for timely, topical information.
I wonder how different the results would have been had that poll been conducted today? My Twitter followers, most of whom are libraries or librarians, have been buzzing with information about the political situation in Iran – just a quick glance at the trending topics, which currently include “Tehran” and “#Iranelection”, indicates the prevalence of this topic right now. Reports in the mainstream media indicate that people in Iran are using Twitter to organize protests, and to share information with the rest of the world about what is really going on. More and more people, it seems, are turning to real-time news to get an understanding of the situation.
Where does Credo fit into this increasingly fast-paced world of news and information? Obviously as a reference resource, we don’t have the up to the minute information that a site like Twitter would have. But we do have the ability to provide someone with an awful lot of knowledgeable, credible background information that can help better inform your understanding of current events. For example – a Search in Credo for “Iran” turns up some great entries, including the one from the CIA World Fact Book, which has a lot of valuable information about Iran’s system of government. It is hard to be well informed about a current event when you can’t place it in context – Reference materials, and other resources, can help you do that.
By Al Stevens, on March 30th, 2009
 There is an interesting article in the most recent edition of Public Libraries Magazine (January/February 2009, find it on Library Literature and Information Science Full Text, from WilsonWeb or Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA) from EBSCOhost), titled “What are you doing now? And do your patrons care?”, by Michael Porter and David Lee King. This is a great introductory article for anyone that wonders what Twitter is, or who doesn’t know what they might possibly have to say that would be of interest via Facebook status updates.
The authors make the point that these micro-blogging tools can be important for libraries looking to stay in contact with their users, although some people may dismiss these sorts of communication tools as frivolous and a waste of time. Libraries could post things like updates about their collection, promote events and activities, and just generally use it as a way to stay active in their community.
One of the authors talked about how he enjoys using a particular software program and has mentioned this on Twitter. Employees of that company have begun following him, and he was able to directly voice his suggestions to people who he knew could make the changes and improvements he was requesting. This is certainly something that Credo, and I’m sure many other companies that provide products to libraries, are looking to do. Has anyone had any luck tweeting about a company or product, and getting a response from the people at that company? We’d love to hear any comments about your experiences!
If you haven’t already signed up to follow us on Twitter, please do! You can also follow Anne Kail, our Sales Director in the UK. And if you have questions or comment about Credo Reference, please tweet about it.
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