Adaptability is the key to a library’s future

In a recent article from The Guardian “Why Public Libraries are Glamming Up”, Ken Worpole discusses why budget cuts aren’t all bad news for libraries. Recently, public libraries have seen an upswing in reinvention.  With the economy spewing out a record number of employees, many are looking to further their education.  The library fits the profile with its quiet place to study and Internet access.

According to Worpole, 50% of Europeans live in single person households.  During the past few decades, they have made the library a “home away from home”. This idea reached the United States in the 1990s and has continued to expand.

Many cities spent their funds on large projects – Bilboa in Spain and the Millenium Dome in London – to enhance a cityscape; only to fail.  So, Worpole states,

“Having overseen the costly failure of iconic museum and gallery projects – ostensibly built to put cities on the map – politicians realised they got more bang for their buck if they spent money on a state – of – the- art  library.”

Because they are free to use, libraries do not have the same encumbrances as other buildings.

How are they making other changes?  Gone is a library staff waiting for patrons to check out a book.  By spending “…more time with library users, organizing storytelling sessions, book signings and reading circles,” libraries are adapting to the needs of its users.  Along with the open door policy, the physical building has developed an open plan for browsing where “…lending and reference services are now intermixed.”

Many are not agreeable to the changes but to keep up with a changing society, the library must change as well.

Libraries as Public Spaces

Are libraries obsolete?  No so, according to a recent article from the Project for Public Spaces.  In their article “Libraries That Matter”, Cynthia Nikitin and Josh Jackson state that, “…the new generation of libraries extend their mission well beyond the storage of knowledge.”

These “next generation” libraries are taking advantage of their location – usually in the central part of a community – to become destinations.

And how are they doing this? In previous incarnations, libraries managed their collections.  Now, they are managing their “community spaces”. To do so, they incorporate ideas from “…planners, government officials, and other community leaders.”

Nikitin and Jackson give examples of these libraries that are redefining the role of the library.

Charlotte, NC – ImaginOn children’s library and theater – a cooperative effort between the Children’s Theater of Charlotte and the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenberg County shares a mission of “bringing stories to life”.

Frankfort, Indiana – Following in the footsteps of Kentucky artist Harlan Hubbard, this library has made “life a work of art”. Today, the library includes galleries, studios, and a theater.

Santa Fe Springs, CA – Looking to expand literacy and teach language skills, they provide programs and partnerships which thrill local audiences.  They also reach out to fellow institutions.

One library not mentioned in the article makes its home in Chattanooga, TN.  Its new players, known as the “young guns” have transformed the once downtrodden library.  During their tenure, the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Library has created a community garden and Ms Pac-Man Arcade area; has served as venue for National Hacking Day, recent Gig Tank demonstrations, a rock concert for a local rock school, and a coding camp.

In order to survive in the digital age, it’s necessary for libraries to start fulfilling the role as placemakers.  These libraries are doing just that.