Spaces and places - transforming the public library
1. SPACES AND PLACES
MINDSHIFTS, MAKEOVERS AND MAGIC
THE SHAPE SHIFTING TECH RE-INVENTING THE LIBRARY
Liz McGettigan BA MCILIP ACMI FRSA
Director of Digital Library Experiences
SOLUS
@lizmcgettigan
liz@sol.us
2. QUESTIONS
• What is really essential about
libraries and librarians, today and
tomorrow?
• How do we balance the best of
the virtual and physical worlds?
• What mindshifts do we need to
make?
• What makeovers?
• How do we add the
magic?
3. We’re all in favour of them
and get a warm, fuzzy
feeling about them.
But saying how much we
adore them doesn’t protect
bamboo-munchers or
libraries from extinction.
LIBRARIES ARE LIKE PANDAS
A big part of our business model has been based on the fact that books were scarce and information was hard to find, The public library’s role was once to equalise access to the knowledge and skills required for Joe Public to learn, thrive and succeed and the means to do that was books.
Fast forward and that currency moved from books to equalising access to the internet and online information.
Fast forward again and now the job is equalising access and skills around the new and fast developing technologies from coding and circuit making to self-publishing and augmented reality.
You wont hear me talk a lot about books today and you will hear many librarians don't like e.g. "business,“ income “ customers, advertising," "promotion," and "ROI." Accepting these terms and embrace their function can revolutionize the culture and expand the reach of your library.
Libray use is massive!
Our competition is fierce.
What are we up against in terms of “time – poor” customers and their expectations? Googleshops, Starbucks, McDonalds, Apple??? All providing fab locations and excellence in customer experience.
Like us McDonalds are providing free Internet access and gadget bars and gaming but with the added value of better burgers and coffee. Confronted with huge competition libraries must redefine themselves, their services, business models, and missions. How do we find a new narrative that could shape the cultural changes required to invent that new library?
..and all of this does rather beg the question…? What has your library / service got for me in1/2 years time? I used to ask 5 -10 years time? what will a library be/ do be for her?
for everyone t experiment with new technologies but it needs some serious leadership and creative thinking
I know from the work I do that the space the customer or community wants is critical
Equally so is understanding the shift in customer behaviour to much more visual and interactive way of absorbing information.
People want to touch , contribute, create and to get involved
Learning on giant discovery tables / I pad lets our customers add and interact alone or in groups – Case study has shown amazing results with adults and children with attention or learning difficulties
Great for local history and heritage workshops and classes
Touch, contribute learn! This is an expectation from toddlers too!
A big part of our business model has been based on the fact that books were scarce and information was hard to find, The public library’s role was once to equalise access to the knowledge and skills required for Joe Public to learn, thrive and succeed and the means to do that was books.
Fast forward and that currency moved from books to equalising access to the internet and online information.
Fast forward again and now the job is equalising access and skills around the new and fast developing technologies from coding and circuit making to self-publishing and augmented reality.
You wont hear me talk a lot about books today and you will hear many librarians don't like e.g. "business,“ income “ customers, advertising," "promotion," and "ROI." Accepting these terms and embrace their function can revolutionize the culture and expand the reach of your library.
Self service
What a hoo hah! But it is now in place almost everywhere enabling staff to support customers everywhere
Staff counters are gone and staff are interacting on the floor with customers on content, accounts and many other information areas
3D printing - Now becoming as standard as internet access across the country
A big part of our business model has been based on the fact that books were scarce and information was hard to find, The public library’s role was once to equalise access to the knowledge and skills required for Joe Public to learn, thrive and succeed and the means to do that was books.
Fast forward and that currency moved from books to equalising access to the internet and online information.
Fast forward again and now the job is equalising access and skills around the new and fast developing technologies from coding and circuit making to self-publishing and augmented reality.
You wont hear me talk a lot about books today and you will hear many librarians don't like e.g. "business,“ income “ customers, advertising," "promotion," and "ROI." Accepting these terms and embrace their function can revolutionize the culture and expand the reach of your library.
I was fortunate to be at the NEXT library festival in Denmark and amazed at what has been achieved. But it was achieved through serious and constant work with the community – Listening, talking learning
The result amazing fabulous spaces for everyone and every age It was about building a place for dreams – an extraordinary place to make extraordinary people
E Library
Some new spaces
What about a drive-in Library?
If I had time I’d show you this short film about a drive in library – It came from listening to customers - an answer to busy customers problems
What’s missing from these 4 images?
A library without books was once unthinkable. Now it seems almost inevitable. That decision will be just one milestone in the rapidly developing identity crisis of 21st-century libraries.
I believe If in talking to people they want emerging technologies more than they want books, libraries have to respond to that, even if it means closing up shop and moving entirely online.
This also came from listening to customers - an answer to customers needs
These extraordinary spaces clearly make extraordinary people
Winner of LCL awards 2014 Libraries as enterprise spaces What a difference we can make to the local economy and this LCL award for enterprise libraries has shown this.
We have a huge opportunity to support this agenda today more than ever
Spaces for young people -Libraries letting teens brand their space, choose colours and images
………………….creating experiences - Spaces to enthral new audiences
…and investing in cool chic gadget bars a whole new people’s network