RISING TO THE CHALLENGE - Re-Envisioning Public Libraries
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
RISING TO
THE CHALLENGE
Re-Envisioning Public Libraries
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
Re-Envisioning Public Libraries
A report of the Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries
by
Amy K. Garmer
Director
Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries
The Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program
October 2014
This report emanates The Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries invites you to
from the Aspen Institute view the digital version of this report at http://as.pn/libraries.
Communications and Society Share your vision for the future of public libraries on Twitter with
Program. Unless attributed to hashtag #libraryvision.
a particular person, none of the
comments or ideas contained Copyright ©2014 by The Aspen Institute
in this report should be taken
as embodying the views or The Aspen Institute
carrying the endorsement of One Dupont Circle, NW
any individual participant in the Suite 700
Dialogue on Public Libraries or Washington, DC 20036
its working group or the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation. Published in the United States of America in 2014
by The Aspen Institute
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN: 0-89843-611-7
Pub#: 14/016
PHOTOGRAPHY This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-
Noncommercial 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this
Cover photo (middle):
license visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/
Mike Faber with Fisheye
or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite
Photography, courtesy of
300, San Francisco, 94104, USA.
Cedar Rapids Library
Executive Summary, Individuals are encouraged to cite this report and its contents.
(middle photo): Wayne In doing so, please include the following attribution:
Johnson with Main Street Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries, Rising to the
Studios, courtesy of Cedar Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries, Washington, D.C.:
Rapids Library The Aspen Institute, October 2014.
Executive Summary,
(bottom photo): courtesy
of BiblioTech
A project of the Aspen Institute Communications and Society
Program in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD...................................................................................................................iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................vi
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................ viii
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: RE-ENVISIONING PUBLIC LIBRARIES........... 1
A NEW WORLD OF KNOWLEDGE............................................................................ 2
A RENEWED VISION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY...................................................... 7
People, place and platform........................................................................................ 10
Scaling up: Envisioning a national digital platform....................................................... 21
Creating good community outcomes.......................................................................... 24
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS................................................................................... 32
Aligning library services in support of community goals............................................... 34
Providing access to content in all formats.................................................................... 36
Ensuring long-term sustainability for public libraries.................................................... 39
Cultivating leadership............................................................................................... 43
CONCLUSION AND A CALL TO ACTION............................................................. 48
Getting Started: 15 Steps for Library Leaders, Policymakers and the Community........... 49
NOTES AND REFERENCES..................................................................................... 53
APPENDIX
The Dialogue on Public Libraries Working Group Participants....................................... 58
Formal Advisors to the Dialogue................................................................................ 60
Informal Advisors to the Dialogue.............................................................................. 63
About the Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries................................................ 65
About the Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program................................. 66
FOREWORD
The time has come for a new vision of public libraries in the United States. Communities need
public libraries—more people are visiting them and using their services, materials and programs
than ever before—but communities’ needs continue to change.
While the public library was conceived in an Providing access and connecting knowledge
age of information scarcity, today’s networked to the needs of individuals and the community
world is one of information abundance and have always been at the center of the mission
mobility. The spread of powerful digital and purpose of libraries.
information and communication technologies
In fact, public libraries are already at the
has touched every aspect of daily life, creating
forefront of tackling social inequalities by
new opportunities. The Internet has become
providing access to online information and
the critical gateway for accessing information,
supporting digital literacy. They provide
job opportunities, education, financial and
supportive, creative learning spaces for young
government services, healthcare resources
people after school. As a key strand in the
and civic participation. Moreover, these
social safety net, public libraries provide
technologies present new opportunities
an important lifeline to jobs, educational
for local and regional entrepreneurs and
opportunities, literacy, health resources
communities to compete, including at national
and government and community services,
and international levels—economies of small
especially for immigrants and disadvantaged
thriving alongside economies of scale.
populations. Public libraries are highly trusted
But this new world of “information plenty” institutions rooted in the neighborhoods
creates new, essential skills, such as the ability that they serve. Yet some critics question
to gain value from information and produce their continuing relevance in an age when
new knowledge. Access to digital networks information can flow via digital devices to
and digital literacy skills are essential for full virtually anyone, anywhere, at any time.
participation in modern society. Economic,
Enabling all public libraries to fulfill their new
educational, civic and social opportunities
roles will require community leaders, civic
are tied to a whole new set of knowledge and
partners and librarians to share a new vision
skills that barely existed a generation ago, and
for what libraries can be. To meet the needs
people without these skills or access to this
of individuals, the community and the nation
information abundance are quickly left behind.
in the knowledge society, public libraries
Public libraries can be at the center of these must be re-invented for a networked world,
changes: a trusted community resource and an in which the value of networks grows as more
essential platform for learning, creativity and connections are made. Innovations built on the
innovation in the community. Public libraries old distributed model of the lending library
have the DNA needed to thrive in this new will not suffice. What is needed is a new level
information-rich, knowledge-based society. of interdependence that communities and
libraries must embrace together.
iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
FOREWORD
ABOUT THIS REPORT We hope that this report will support the
impactful work that libraries do for their
The Aspen Institute Communications and
communities and provide a resource for
Society Program, in partnership with the
engaging government leaders, trustees and
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, created the
community partners in dialogue to advance
Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries to
concrete actions for transforming public
help advance the work that public libraries are
libraries.
doing to address community challenges and
to support the transformation of communities The Dialogue and, ultimately, this report
and their public libraries in the digital age. explore the essential role of public libraries in
The Dialogue on Public Libraries is a multi- a networked world and begin to re-envision
stakeholder forum that brings together library the 21st century library in a hyper-connected
professionals, policymakers, technology environment and dramatically changing world.
experts, philanthropists, educators and civic The report is intended to raise the profile of
leaders to explore, develop and champion new public libraries to the center of the knowledge
ways of thinking about public libraries. society, highlight the opportunities and
possibilities, increase support for an expanded
The Dialogue’s work is informed by a
library role in a networked world and spark a
select 35-member working group that met
national conversation and action to re-envision
twice in the project’s first year to examine
the 21st century library as a center of learning,
the evolving societal role of the public library,
innovation and creativity. While the report’s
and to shape and advance a perspective that
focus is on public libraries, we acknowledge the
re-envisions U.S. public libraries for the
importance of school and research libraries in
future. The Working Group’s discussions and
the broader conversations around the future of
individual contributions helped shape the
libraries and communities.
perspective on public libraries in the digital
age that is presented in this report. We are We hope that readers will use this report as the
indebted to them for sharing their vision, basis for exploring how a bold new vision for
knowledge and experience with the Dialogue public libraries, fully realized, can help to make
on Public Libraries. communities stronger, more resilient and the
kind of communities where people thrive.
The Dialogue’s vision is also informed by
a series of engagements and focus groups
with leaders from key public library
associations, including the Public Library Deborah L. Jacobs, Director
Association, the Association of Rural and Global Libraries Program
Small Libraries, the Chief Officers of State Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Library Agencies and the American Library
Association. We acknowledge and thank these Charles M. Firestone, Executive Director
library leaders for their insights and support Communications and Society Program
of the Dialogue’s work. The Aspen Institute
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE vACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Throughout the past year, the Dialogue on
Libraries would not have been possible Public Libraries also convened roundtable
without the generous support and funding focus group and preview sessions with
from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and board members and other thought leaders
the foundation’s Global Libraries Program, led from the Public Library Association (PLA),
by Deborah Jacobs, director, and Jessica Dorr, Association for Rural and Small Libraries
deputy director. These two leaders, whose (ARSL), the Chief Officers of State Library
commitment to strengthening public libraries Agencies (COSLA), the American Library
is recognized in the United States and around Association (ALA) and the International City/
the world, provided invaluable guidance County Management Association (ICMA).
and insight to the Dialogue throughout its Participants in these gatherings provided
activities to date. illuminating insights into opportunities and
challenges inherent in the vision. They also
This report is the first from the Dialogue on provided invaluable venues to test, develop
Public Libraries. Members of the Dialogue’s and refine the themes and future vision for
Working Group met twice to examine the libraries. A list of the participants in these
evolving roles of public libraries in the United sessions and other informal advisors to the
States in light of significant technological, Dialogue appears in the Appendix, and we
economic and social trends. The first meeting thank these associations, their leaders and
took place at the Aspen Institute’s Aspen participating members for their support and
Meadows conference center in Aspen, ongoing engagement.
Colorado, August 3–6, 2013. Salman Khan,
Founder of Khan Academy, and Walter While it is impossible to record the names
Isaacson, President and CEO of the Aspen of all whose ideas have been captured in this
Institute, joined the working group to discuss report, a list of our informal advisors appears
the public library role in the new education in the Appendix. I would like to acknowledge
ecosystem. The second gathering took place in particular Karen Archer Perry, principal
at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., consultant for Clarion Collaborative, who
November 5–6, 2013. The engagement and collaborated on the initial idea of a library
contributions of Working Group participants project at the Aspen Institute. Karen played a
have helped illuminate ways that communities significant role in the creation of the Dialogue
can leverage investments in libraries to on Public Libraries while serving as senior
build stronger civic ecologies and forge new program officer in the Gates Foundation’s
partnerships for achieving local and national Global Libraries Program.
goals. The Appendix to this report identifies
all the Working Group members who shared
their valuable insights. We thank them all for
their contributions.
vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe Dialogue has benefitted from the As the year progressed, the Dialogue
participation of others in the planning and received additional writing and editing
completion of project activities and this support from Bob Rothman and Christine
report. These individuals include Allyson Becker, as well as individual working group
Boucher and Maura Zehr of Spitfire members. The final report is a synthesis
Strategies, and Aspen Institute colleagues of many contributions. Any omissions and
David Devlin-Foltz, Susanna Dilliplane, Robert errors contained in this report are the sole
Medina and Angbeen Saleem of the Aspen responsibility of the report’s final author,
Planning and Evaluation Program (APEP). the director of the Dialogue.
The Aspen Institute Communications and
Finally, I am deeply grateful to Maureen
Society Program staff managed all aspects
Sullivan, past president of the American
of the project with utmost professionalism.
Library Association, Susan Benton, president
Our C&S Program team includes Ian Smalley,
of the Urban Libraries Council and Susan
who served as senior project manager for
Hildreth, director of the Institute of Museum
the Dialogue; Tricia Kelly, assistant director;
and Library Services. Each has worn many
Rachel Pohl, program associate; Ariana
hats in this project from its inception:
Abadian-Heifetz, program associate; and
participant, consultant, moderator, partner,
Sarah Eppehimer, senior project manager, and
mentor, advocate and friend. With their deep
Jackie Orwick, consultant, who have brought
well of knowledge, keen intuition and vision
the report to life online at our website.
for what it will take to raise every library to
This report is the culmination of a year- great new heights, Maureen, Susan and Susan
long effort and involved many hands. have provided invaluable leadership and
Craig LaMay, associate professor and support, and I thank them.
interim associate journalism dean at
Northwestern University’s Medill School,
served as conference rapporteur for the two Amy K. Garmer, Director
working group meetings and wrote an early Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries
draft. We are grateful for his work capturing
the initial ideas for the vision; Craig’s analysis
and writing are reflected in this final report. October 2014
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE viiEXECUTIVE Expanding access to education,
learning opportunities and social
SUMMARY connections for all is one of the great
challenges of our time. It is a challenge
made more urgent by the rapid
transition from old industrial and
service-based economic models to a
new economy in which knowledge
and creativity are the drivers of
productivity and economic growth,
and information, technology and
learning are central to economic
performance and prosperity.
It is not only the economy but all of society
that is being reshaped by these trends. Amid
these changes, there are divides in wealth,
digital inclusion and participation that
threaten to widen if we as a nation do not
commit to new thinking and aggressive action
to provide these opportunities for all.
This is a time of great opportunity for
communities, institutions and individuals
who are willing to champion new thinking
and nurture new relationships. It is a time
of particular opportunity for public libraries
with their unique stature as trusted
community hubs and repositories of
knowledge and information.
viii EXECUTIVE SUMMARYTHE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Libraries are essential to success and progress in the digital age.
The process of re-envisioning public libraries PUBLIC LIBRARIES AT THE
to maximize their impact reflects: CENTER OF THE DIGITAL AGE
o Principles that have always been at the Public libraries are poised to play a leading
center of the public library’s mission— role in helping individuals and communities
equity, access, opportunity, openness adapt to this changing world. Many libraries
and participation already are linking individuals to information
and learning opportunities, driving
o The library’s capacity to drive
development and innovation, and serving
opportunity and success in today’s
as community connectors. With nearly
knowledge-based society
9,000 public library systems and 17,000
o An emerging model of networked libraries library branches and outlets across the
that promotes economies of scale and country, there is already a significant physical
broadens the library’s resource reach presence and infrastructure to leverage for
while preserving its local presence long-term success.
o The library’s fundamental people, place Enabling all libraries to fulfill their new roles
and platform assets will require library leaders, policy makers
and community stakeholders to re-envision
The Dialogue’s perspective on the 21st-
the public library and take advantage of the
century library builds on the public library’s
opportunities it offers.
proven track record in strengthening
communities and calls for libraries to be
centers of learning, creativity and innovation
in the digital age. No longer a nice-to-have
amenity, the public library is a key partner
in sustaining the educational, economic and
civic health of the community during a time
of dramatic change. Public libraries inspire
learning and empower people of all ages.
They promote a better trained and educated
workforce. They ensure equitable access and
provide important civic space for advancing
democracy and the common good. Public
libraries are engines of development within
their communities.
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE ixPEOPLE, PLACE AND PLATFORM
The emerging value proposition of the public library is built around three key assets—
people, place and platform:
o
PEOPLE. The public library is a hub of civic engagement,
fostering new relationships and strengthening the human
capital of the community. Librarians are actively engaged in
the community. They connect individuals to a vast array of
local and national resources and serve as neutral conveners
to foster civic health. They facilitate learning and creation
for children and adults alike.
PLACE. The public library is a welcoming space for
o
a wide range of purposes—reading, communicating,
learning, playing, meeting and getting business done. Its
design recognizes that people are not merely consumers
of content but creators and citizens as well. Its physical
presence provides an anchor for economic development and
neighborhood revitalization, and helps to strengthen social
bonds and community identity. The library is also a virtual
space where individuals can gain access to information,
resources and all the rich experiences the library offers.
In the creative design of its physical and virtual spaces the
public library defines what makes a great public space.
PLATFORM. The public library is user-centered. It
o
provides opportunities for individuals and the community to
gain access to a variety of tools and resources with which to
discover and create new knowledge. The platform enables
the curation and sharing of the community’s knowledge and
innovation. A great library platform is a “third place” —an
interactive entity that can facilitate many people operating
individually and in groups—and supports the learning and
civic needs of the community.
x EXECUTIVE SUMMARYSTRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
The Dialogue concludes that the long-term health of libraries is essential to the long-term health
of the communities they serve and identified four strategic opportunities for action to guide the
continuing transformation.
1. AINLIGNING LIBRARY SERVICES
SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY
2. PROVIDING ACCESS TO
CONTENT IN ALL FORMATS
GOALS
As the public library shifts from a repository
Public libraries that align their people, place for materials to a platform for learning and
and platform assets and create services participation, its ability to provide access to
that prioritize and support local community vast amounts of content in all formats is vital.
goals will find the greatest opportunities for Libraries face two immediate major challenges
success in the years ahead. Managers of local in providing access to content in all forms:
governments report that it is often difficult
o Being able to procure and share e-books
to prioritize libraries over other community
and other digital content on the same
services such as museums or parks and
basis as physical versions
recreation departments that also serve a
distinctly public mission. What libraries need o Having affordable, universal broadband
is to be more intentional in the ways that they technologies that deliver and help
deploy resources in the community, and more create content
deeply embedded in addressing the critical
Dealing with both challenges have been high
challenges facing the community. This will
priorities for public libraries throughout the
require a level of flexibility and adaptability
country. The challenges have been particularly
to change as community needs change. It will
acute for small libraries, those in rural
also require collaboration among libraries,
communities and in some urban areas where
policy makers and community partners to
limited budgets make access to e-books and
redefine the role of libraries as institutions
upgrades to high-speed broadband difficult
that inspire learning, drive development, grow
despite high community need for and interest
social capital and create opportunities.
in both. Ensuring access to e-books, other
e-content and more-than-adequate high-
speed broadband is a big concern going
forward because it impacts the public library’s
ability to fulfill one of its core missions—to
procure and share the leading ideas of the
day and enable everyone to participate in the
world’s conversations.
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE xi3. ENSURING THE LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABILITY OF PUBLIC
4. CULTIVATING
LEADERSHIP
LIBRARIES
Leadership is needed across the community—
Perhaps the greatest challenge facing public from elected officials, government leaders,
libraries today is to transform their service business and civic leaders and libraries
model to meet the demands of the knowledge themselves—to build communities and
society while securing a sustainable public libraries that thrive and succeed
funding base for the future. With limited together. Vision is a critical component of
and sometimes volatile funding, however, leadership. Every community needs a vision
such transformations will be uneven and and a strategic plan for how to work with the
incomplete. In addition, the highly local nature public library to directly align the library and
of public library funding and governance its work with the community’s educational,
structures may interfere with both rapid economic and other key goals. It must have
and broad-scale progress—the kind of scale input from all stakeholder groups in the
needed to compete and thrive in a world of community. Key steps in building community
global networks. Challenges that shape the leadership to support the public library include
discussion about long-term public library improving communications with community
sustainability given their vital role in the leaders, developing community champions,
digital era include: strengthening intersections with diverse
communities and communities of color,
o Identifying reliable sources of revenue
reaching out to and engaging with
for daily operations as well as long-term
young-professional organizations and
planning and investment
demonstrating the collective impact of
o Exploring alternative governance partners working together.
structures and business models that
maximize efficient and sustainable library
operations and customer service
o Becoming more skilled at measuring
outcomes rather than counting activities
o Balancing the local and national library
value proposition to consider economies
of scale in a networked world without
compromising local control
xii EXECUTIVE SUMMARYRISING TO
THE CHALLENGE
Re-Envisioning Public Libraries
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE 1A NEW
WORLD
OF KNOWLEDGE
Expanding access to education, learning opportunities and social
connection for all is one of the great challenges of our time. It is a
challenge made more urgent by the rapid transition from old industrial and
service-based economic models to a new economy in which knowledge
and creativity are the drivers of productivity and economic growth,
and information, technology and learning are central to economic
performance and prosperity. It is not only the economy but all of society
that is being reshaped by these trends. Amid these changes, there are
troubling divides in wealth, digital inclusion and participation that
threaten to widen if we as a nation do not commit to new thinking and
aggressive action to provide these opportunities for all.
2 A NEW WORLD
EXECUTIVE OF KNOWLEDGE
SUMMARY“We have experienced a huge
‘Gutenberg-scale’ inflection
point in the last 10 years.
The world has gone from
The digital era has produced remarkable
connected to hyperconnected
changes in everyday life—for the individual
as well as for the community. and from interconnected
to interdependent.”
o Social media connect people across
town and around the world, enabling —THOMAS FRIEDMAN
new kinds of communities that transcend
geographic barriers.
o Mobile technologies provide always-on These environments are shaped by a vast
connectivity to people and information, explosion of easily accessible information and
and they enable us to enjoy more highly new definitions of community, as well as a
personalized and immediate experiences need for new resources and skills. The changes
with information, media, education and their impacts are dramatic:
and commerce.
ECHNOLOGY has made it possible
o T
o Advances in sensors and related for individuals to have instant access in
technology are making individuals their homes or on portable devices to the
healthier and our communities even equivalent of the Library of Congress’s
“smarter” while at the same time creating entire holdings.1
mountains of data to be filtered, analyzed
o C
OMMUNITIES, once defined almost
and turned into new knowledge.
exclusively by geographic boundaries,
o Informed, engaged citizens demand a are increasingly shaped by social media,
stronger voice and greater participation often based on mutual interests rather
in shaping their communities and than physical location. Networks, rather
increased government transparency than neighborhoods, have become the
and accountability. dominant form of social organization.
o Entire industries are upended by o EMPLOYMENT is increasingly transient,
the sometimes disrupting impact of with the average worker staying in a job
digital technologies; new markets, new 4.4 years rather than an entire career.
businesses, and new relationships arise Among workers born between 1979
from the global to the hyperlocal levels, and 1999, average tenure is 2.2 years
in some cases affording greater choice in or less.2 Keeping up with a more mobile
where to live and work. job marketplace requires access to
information and resources and skills to
Among the transformative social changes
navigate vast amounts of information.
brought on by digitization are new information
and learning environments in which
knowledge is no longer stable over many years
and skills quickly become obsolete.
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE 3The knowledge economy requires individuals Importantly, these learning opportunities
to acquire a range of skills and to continuously must be present throughout the community
adapt those skills to changing circumstances. and persistent throughout a lifetime.6 “Now
Author and New York Times columnist the half-life of a skill is down to about five
Thomas Friedman has written about the years, and genres have a lifetime of four or
impact that the evolution to a digitally driven five years, so most learning in the future won’t
economy, with its demand for continual go on in schools,” said John Seely Brown, co-
renewal of skills, is having on individuals and director of the Deloitte Center for the Edge,
communities. Friedman calls it “a 401(k) at the first meeting of the Dialogue working
world—a world of defined contributions, not group. “We’ve shifted from stable stocks of
defined benefits.”3 knowledge and an archived world to a world of
information flows, participation and states of
“We have experienced a huge ‘Gutenberg-
confusion. Now we create as fast as we learn.
scale’ inflection point in the last 10 years.
The game is more complicated.”
The world has gone from connected to
hyperconnected and from interconnected At the same time that the half-life of a skill
to interdependent. This has been such a is shrinking, information is becoming more
shift in degree that it has become a shift in abundant and the means of production are
kind,” Friedman says in a 2014 interview.4 becoming more accessible. This opens up
Driving this big shift is the emergence and new channels for sharing and the distribution
rapid diffusion of four major technologies— of knowledge. A state of information
personal computing, the Internet, abundance places a premium on the ability
collaborative workflow software and search to navigate, create and innovate in this
capabilities (e.g., Google)—which Friedman new environment. The ability to exploit
observes has created “a platform on which these means of production and knowledge
more people from more places could compete, sharing has become the new “literacy.”7 In
connect and collaborate—as individuals or this environment, success will belong to the
companies—for less money with greater “entrepreneurial learner,” the person capable
efficiency and greater ease than ever before.”5 of finding resources anywhere and using them
to read the world and teach themselves.8
To a significant degree, the knowledge
economy gives birth to the creation economy, The sweeping changes underway pose new
a free-agent economy in which opportunities and sustained challenges for communities,
for lifelong learning must be abundant and which are changing as well. Over the next
people need skills as knowledge creators, not three decades, the U.S. population is expected
simply information consumers. to grow to more than 400 million, with most
of that growth coming from immigration.
4 A NEW WORLD OF KNOWLEDGEBy 2050, one in five Americans will be an The Commission went on to say, “Every
immigrant, and 30 percent of the population advance in communications technology
is projected to be Hispanic. The United States expands the possibilities for American
is aging, too: By 2050, one in five Americans democracy, but every information system also
will be over the age of 65.9 Concurrent with creates potential winners and losers.”10
these demographic changes are fundamental
How we seize this moment of opportunity,
shifts in the economy that change how
and the visions and actions that carry us
Americans will learn and earn a living.
forward into the future, will affect not only
In its 2009 report, the Knight Commission the health and prosperity of individuals and
on the Information Needs of Communities families, but the quality of the democratic
in a Democracy described the digital era communities that we nourish and sustain
as a moment of technological opportunity in the 21st century. Will they be thriving,
“unleashing innovation in the creation and prosperous and sustainable communities that
distribution of information” and requiring attract new residents? Will they be places
“new thinking and aggressive action.” where we will want to live?
WHAT PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES NEED
TO FLOURISH IN THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
LIFELONG ACCESS to an THE ABILITY TO USE, ACCESS TO
ever-increasing and ever- UNDERSTAND AND CONVERSATIONS
changing body of knowledge PROCESS INFORMATION AMONG CREATIVE
and tools to ensure that IN MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE in their areas
their skills remain relevant FORMS including text, of interest so that they
to the current economy as it data, audio and video and can innovate and develop
continues to evolve to evaluate the quality of or maintain a competitive
information from different advantage in the
THE CAPACITY AND sources and understand knowledge economy
DISPOSITION TO LEARN its relevance.
IN SMALL, QUICK DOSES People and
rather than wade through PLACES TO GATHER, communities need
mounds of links and piles collaborate and contribute PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
of data that provide too to knowledge development
much information and too
little knowledge
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE 5Approaches to managing the opportunities The library, the most
and risks of this new era can differ widely
democratic of public
from community to community, but there are
approaches that are emerging as indicators institutions, is the essential
of success. One of these is re-envisioning civil society space where this
the role of the public library as a vital new America will make its
learning institution and engine for individual, democratic character.
community and civil society development.
The library, the most democratic of public
institutions, is the essential civil society
space where this new America will make Civil society performs a number of critical
its democratic character. The library is a functions: It provides a buffer between the
core civil society institution, democracy’s individual and the power of the state and
“maker space.” In a healthy democracy, the market, it creates social capital, and it
civil society is the piece that makes the rest develops democratic values and habits.11 Civil
of the democratic machinery possible and society is where citizens become citizens. By
workable. Most simply, civil society consists design and tradition, the public library is the
of everything that falls under the rubric of essential civil society institution. Through
voluntary association, from churches to the provision of space, information and
neighborhood associations, softball leagues inspiration, it enables all the others.
to garden clubs.
The institution of the public library is
uniquely positioned to provide access, skills,
context and trusted platforms for adapting
in this new society.
6 A NEW WORLD OF KNOWLEDGEA
RENEWED
VISION
OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
America’s public libraries have changed with the times with remarkable
skill and agility over their long history. The nation’s nearly 9,000 public
library systems remain highly trusted community anchors where
resources are universally available and everyone is welcome. Libraries
are stable, reliable, nimble and always there.
RISING
RISING TO
TO THE
THE CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE 77“Libraries can help you get
from too much information
to knowledge.”
While remaining committed to their essential —NORMAN JACKNIS
mission of providing access to knowledge and
promoting literacy, 21st-century library roles
extend far beyond book lending. For example, Libraries’ eagerness to embrace changes in
when Hurricane Sandy ravaged Queens, New society, while retaining the foundations that
York, in October 2012, the Queens Public have made them trusted, welcoming places
Library joined the response effort by providing for everyone, make them ideal partners in the
emergency supplies, comfort and referrals, digital age. In fact, libraries, more than any
and served as a steady and visible resource to other institution, have the stature and capacity
a community in need. Within three days of the to make the promise of the knowledge society
storm, the library opened a mobile site near available to all Americans.
the hardest hit areas of the borough to provide
A report by International Data Corporation
information, referrals and a safe place for
found that in 2010 the quantity of information
storm-weary residents.12
transmitted globally exceeded one zettabyte
Public libraries have continued to evolve for the first time and is doubling every two
both to respond to immediate challenges years.14 The International Federation of
and to build their capacity to address long- Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
term individual and community needs, further identified five trends as particularly
opportunities and challenges. The breadth important developments that communities
of their work in the communities they serve and their libraries will have to watch and to
today is staggering, including lifelong learning which they will have to respond:
opportunities, workforce development, civic
NEW TECHNOLOGIES will both expand
engagement, disaster recovery, public health,
and limit who has access to information.
environmental sustainability and more. Yet
in the face of the new realities of the 401(k) ONLINE EDUCATION will democratize
world, even public libraries must define their and disrupt global learning, but going
contributions, not just their benefits. global and mobile does not mean you
have to lose tactile and local.
Public libraries are poised for this
transformation. “We lament when institutions THE BOUNDARIES OF PRIVACY AND
dig in their heels and embrace the status quo,” DATA PROTECTION will be redefined.
says Julia Stasch, then-vice president of U.S.
HYPERCONNECTED SOCIETIES
programs for the John D. and Catherine T.
will listen to and empower new voices
MacArthur Foundation, in an interview for a
and groups.
2012 special edition of National Civic Review
on Public Libraries and Civic Engagement. “In THE GLOBAL INFORMATION
contrast, libraries on the whole are eager to ECONOMY will be transformed by
embrace changes in society.”13 new technologies.15
8 A RENEWED VISION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY“Persistent education and learning are the reality...
the library as people, place and platform is the new
knowledge institution that can serve all those needs.”
— LEE RAINIE
These are issues that library leaders, As public libraries acquire new roles as
policymakers and the public will need to platforms for lifelong learning and economic
address as public library models and services and social development, they likely will need
evolve in the digital age. The Dialogue’s to consider new organizational, governance
discussions and conclusions raised these same and business models in response to these
issues and concluded that a willingness to pressures and trends.
engage in new thinking around issues such as
“The grand theme is that ubiquitous education
privacy and data protection, and to develop
and learning rises with ubiquitous computing,”
new approaches to preserving these in the
notes Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research
digital age, are needed. Libraries will have to
Center Internet Project. “Persistent education
contend with these issues if they hope to be
and learning are the reality as people march
at the center of this transformation, helping
through their days with their smartphones
individuals, communities and leaders navigate
and, soon, the Internet of Things embedded
the big shift to a digital society.
everywhere. The library as people, place and
While libraries have long played an important platform is the new knowledge institution that
role in helping individuals navigate changes— can serve all those needs.”
such as offering services and resources to
support new immigrants in the community—
the digital transformation and its effect on
all aspects of life is dramatic, comprehensive
and permanent. The pace and complexity of
change are likely to increase rather than ebb.
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE 9PEOPLE, PLACE AND PLATFORM
The role of the 21st-century library in the digital era is built on its three key assets:
people, place and platform.
THE LIBRARY AS PEOPLE The public library comes alive when it is
teeming with people from all walks of life:16
Take away my people, but
o P
ARENTS reading with their children in
leave my factories, and colorful, comfortable chairs
soon grass will grow on the
o TEENS learning how to write code for a
factory floors. Take away my new video game in a noisy learning lab
factories, but leave my people,
o STUDENTS meeting in a library
and soon we will have a new classroom for group discussion as part of
and better factory. an online high school course
—ANDREW CARNEGIE o JOB SEEKERS working on résumés
in career centers, with guidance from a
business librarian
The library as people reflects the shift away
o ENTREPRENEURS preparing
from building collections to building human
presentations in coworking spaces, using
capital, relationships and knowledge networks
the library-provided Wi-Fi and creating
in the community. People are at the center of
new products in maker spaces
the library’s mission to inspire and cultivate
learning, advance knowledge and nurture o IMMIGRANTS learning English in
and strengthen communities. While there are classes and improving their job-seeking
thousands of stories in the public library, the skills with the help of community mentors
ones that matter most come with the people
o RETIREES using new online tools
who use the library.
to create digital scrapbooks for
their grandchildren
o AUTHORS publishing books on new
library publishing platforms
10 A RENEWED VISION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARYIn this people-driven environment, skilled As the library’s roles change and expand,
librarians help people navigate new library staff have refined and broadened
technology, manage vast amounts of data their skills to meet new needs and define the
and meet their information needs. With library’s continuing value to the community.
the resources and know-how to deliver They serve many roles, as coaches, mentors,
individualized learning and social experiences, facilitators and teachers more than as sources
the public library delivers a high-touch of information. Measuring outcomes is
participatory experience to support personal more important than measuring outputs. An
goals. Library staffs anticipate individual intelligent community, not large circulation
and community needs and connect people to numbers, is the primary library goal.
available resources, both locally and globally.
LIBRARY AS PEOPLE: Parents who aren’t able to attend programs
with their toddlers can use the app to try
GROW A READER out literacy skills and behaviors at home.
EARLY LITERACY Grow a Reader, which was designed by the
APP library’s Virtual Services and Children, Teens
and Families departments with involvement
The Calgary Public Library’s of a video production company and an app
developer, features 35 videos starring 10
Grow a Reader app takes the
library children services staff. The app can
fun, interactive contents be updated easily by library staff so that
from popular early childhood vendors aren’t needed on an ongoing basis.
literacy programs and delivers Calgary has a rapidly growing population
and an ongoing “baby boom.” In less than
it to parents via their mobile
two months, the Grow a Reader app was
devices. downloaded 1,200 times. It has also made
some library staff popular stars among young
readers. One toddler seemed mesmerized
© Urban Libraries Council. Edited and reprinted by his teacher during a parent-child Mother
with permission. Urban Libraries Council, 2013
Top Innovators Goose session because, his mother said, he
enjoys watching the videos on mom’s phone
and recognized one of the library stars!
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE 11Andrew Sliwinski, co-founder and chief “We are no longer gatekeepers;
maker at DIY.org, addresses the need for new
we are navigators.”
competencies and skills within libraries:
—SUSAN HILDRETH
“Continuously extending the definition of
the librarian is neither sustainable nor really
in the long-term interest of the institution.
The better response, she says, is to talk of
Rather, specialization is needed with a focus
librarians as “curators” for their communities,
on maximizing the ability for the human
and communities themselves as curators. The
capital within the library, which is one of its
skill set libraries need is domain expertise, and
largest resources, to engage with patrons. It is
for that libraries need to draw on the people
through this engagement that the values and
in their communities to help design what
the assets within each library can
Jefferson calls “collaborative filters” designed
be most fully realized and leveraged
with the public interest in mind. Commercial
by society.”
search engines are great, but “their algorithms
Domain expertise is one of the new scarcities are designed with a for-profit point of view.
in a world otherwise overflowing with Libraries are in a different business. Curation
information. How does a library achieve in the public interest is distinctly missing.”
such specialization without just hiring new
Building strong relationships with those
librarians? How does a library get more
who are providing content is an important
librarians engaging with more people? In part,
goal of the people-focused public library.
by leveraging its infrastructure to allow for
This includes not only publishers but
this domain expertise to be shared outward,
also journalists, filmmakers, artists and
widely, from urban to rural and to draw from
information workers. Publishers and libraries
the expertise in the community.
have had a healthy relationship for a long time
Beth Jefferson, president and CEO of despite more recent controversies over e-book
Bibliocommons, says a common descriptor access and pricing. Digital technologies
given to librarians in the new information have disrupted the traditional publishing/
marketplace is “guides.” But there is simply library supply chain. Consequently, libraries
too much information for that to be a realistic need to be sensitive to and engaged with the
goal, she says, and while collecting and mining ecosystem that produces the content that
data might be useful, “you need tons of data gets into libraries, whether user-generated or
and the smarts to make sense of it.” professionally created content. This includes
a recognition that an increasing amount of
content produced is in new forms, especially
large amounts of visual content, including
video, photographs, maps and other forms of
digitized and visualized data.
12 A RENEWED VISION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARYTHE LIBRARY AS PLACE In an increasingly virtual world, physical
library places are community assets. They:
The library is first and
o
ESTABLISH PERSONAL
foremost a place…a place that CONNECTIONS that help define
promotes development in community needs and interests
society. It is the family room o
PROVIDE AN ANCHOR
of a community. That’s the for economic development and
vision, that’s the future. neighborhood revitalization
—AKHTAR BADSHAH o STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY
IDENTITY in ways that yield significant
return on investment, including drawing
Today’s library is both a physical and virtual people together for diverse purposes
place, but it continues to be the physical o
PROVIDE A SAFE AND TRUSTED
presence of the library that anchors it most LOCATION for community services such
firmly in the community. Research and as health clinics, emergency response
experience show that geography and place still centers, small business incubators,
matter.17 The Pew Research Center’s survey workforce development centers and
on library usage found that a large proportion immigrant resource centers
of Americans, even those who seldom
visit a library, consider libraries important o
CREATE CONNECTING PLACES
institutions in their geographic communities in new locations that draw people
and believe that their communities would together—shopping malls, big box
suffer a loss if the library closed.18 stores, airports and mobile buses
PUBLIC LIBRARY USERS AND PROPONENTS ARE NOT A NICHE GROUP19
0 20 40 60 80 100
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE 13The library’s virtual presence
must be as engaging as
it’s phyical space and fully
serve the library’s mission
“Libraries have always been an economic
driver of communities,” says Robert Harrison, built around equitable
city administrator of Issaquah, Washington. access, learning and civic
“Libraries are like Starbucks without the coffee: development.
an important place to build social connections.
Anyone can use it.”
The physical library will become less about In an article for Library Journal, architect
citizens checking out books and more about Peter Gisolfi contrasts “the ways we were”
citizens engaging in the business of making in the 20th century model—quiet, large
their personal and civic identities. As more areas of stacks and extensive collections of
information moves to digital formats, public printed material, an imposing circulation desk,
libraries will hold less material locally in their modest community room—with emerging
physical collections. Library users will be trends that recognize varied and new uses.
able to access information digitally wherever These trends range from greater transparency
it resides through library networks. While among spaces, larger spaces for children and
traditional computer work stations remain teens, meeting and activity rooms of different
important and in demand, personal or shared sizes to accommodate public events and
mobile devices that provide easy connections performances or coworking and collaboration
to library Wi-Fi and high-speed broadband and technology-centric spaces.
networks are becoming a dominant form
Gisolfi advises, “Whether you build a new
of connection. The reduction in physical
library or transform an existing one, do not
materials, greater customer mobility and the
build the best library of the previous century.
desire for more collaboration and creation
Create an environment that facilitates new
are changing the nature of the public library’s
patterns of interacting, learning and accessing
physical space.20
information and is sufficiently flexible to
The physical library must undergo a transition accommodate changes that inevitably
that embraces the openness and flexibility will come.”21
needed to thrive in a world of constant
The public library remains a destination
change. Central to this flexibility is creating
for many users, serving many purposes—
spaces that can adapt to the changing
personal quiet time for reading, research or
operational models of libraries.
homework; supervised afterschool activities
until parents get home from work; public
events and performances; innovation labs,
hacker and maker spaces; and coworking and
collaboration spaces.
14 A RENEWED VISION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARYMany libraries are creating spaces that are Websites, online discussion groups, classes,
rich with tools and technologies that inspire book clubs and library-hosted Wi-Fi hotspots
and facilitate learning, discovery and creation are examples of the growing community
and where experimentation is encouraged presence of the always-open virtual library.
with trained library staff and community
The library as it exists within virtual space
mentors. People and technology meet at the
must be considered as a wholly independent
library. But as a learning place, the library
but highly integrated experience; that is, the
becomes more than a destination, a term that
library’s virtual presence must be as engaging
suggests an end or arrival point. Instead, the
as its physical space and fully serve the
library becomes a way station on the learning
library’s mission built around equitable access,
journey, a place that one passes through on
learning and civic development. Platforms
the way to some other destination. This shift
must be conceived that address not only the
in role will impact the physical space of the
operational and practical benefits of libraries
library, the ways in which people interact with
but also benefits that are emotional and
it and the types of services provided there.
highly social.
In addition to being a physical space, the
library in the digital age is a virtual space
accessible from anywhere 24/7.
LIBRARY AS PLACE:
NEW CONNECTIONS AND NEW PLACES
A theater in a library and a library in an airport are two examples of
today’s library as place.
The Ron Robinson Theater, part of the Central The theater is also used by other groups
Arkansas Library System’s main library such as the Little Rock Film Festival and the
campus, is a 315-seat multi-use venue with Clinton School of Public Service. It enriches
state of the art technology. At the theater, and strengthens the cultural, economic and
the library provides a range of programs, educational life of the community.
including films, music performances, plays,
The Free Library in Philadelphia partnered
readings, lectures, speakers and children’s
with the Airport Authority to open a virtual
activities. The library sought and won a bond
library at the Philadelphia International
issue to fund the construction of the building
Airport. While relaxing in comfortable lounge
in a public-private partnership. In addition
chairs in a virtual reading room, customers can
to the library’s theater, the building includes
log on to the airport’s free Wi-Fi to access the
retail stores, offices and a restaurant.
Free Library’s e-books, nearly 1,200 author
podcasts, and other digital
RISINGcontent.
TO THE CHALLENGE 15This requires thinking beyond the transaction
that characterizes many online library
experiences today. The public library should
define what makes a great online public space.
Yet there are hurdles to developing the online
library experience beyond simple transactions
and information retrieval, including the
expertise to do so, insufficient financial and
SCHOOL
technical resources and the lack of adequate
broadband capacity and digital literacy skills in
many areas. BANK/FINANCIAL INST.
Library Wi-Fi in disadvantaged neighborhoods
may address an issue that is echoed in the HEALTH INSURANCE CO.
Pew Research Center’s library user topology
survey, From Distant Admirers to Library GOVT. AGENCY
Lovers–and Beyond, which found higher
rates of library use among the wealthier and
better-educated members of the community JOB/EMPLOYER
and comparatively lower rates of library use
0 20 40 60 80 100
in poorer and less-educated communities.22
Easily accessible Wi-Fi may provide the spark
needed to encourage residents to come into
the physical library and explore the programs, “From day one, we have worked to increase
workshops and services it has to offer. Internet connectivity and knowledge for
our residents because today’s digital skills
In a new twist on providing Wi-Fi, the New
are 21st-century workforce skills,” said
York Public Library and Chicago Public Library
Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the time Chicago’s
have launched programs that provide take-
“Internet to Go” program was announced.25
home Internet access (Wi-Fi “hotspots”) and
digital training for residents in neighborhoods In keeping with the public library’s focus on
where digital access is low. people, Chicago Public Library Commissioner
Brian Bannon said during a panel discussion
on the future of libraries at the 2014 Aspen
Ideas Festival that the program “is less about
the technology, more about the support of the
individual, the family and the community.”26
16 A RENEWED VISION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARYYou can also read
