Libraries of the Future: A Public Sector Perspective

Chris Batt

Public Knowledge in a Networked

World

Which future are we talking

about?

“We cannot be sure that someone born at the

beginning of the 21st century will have any particular

nostalgia for a paper book”

We struggle to make sense of

today

Global financial crisisClimate change

Technological change and diffusion

Different sectors, different speeds

PRIVATE SECTORmedia, retail, music

industryPUBLIC SECTOR

Reports, pipes, institutional juggernauts

THIRD SECTORsocial networking and

influence

SWOT the public library

New buildsThe

People’s Network

Pre-school engagement

Innovation

Reading groups

S

“Public library leaders

display stronger transformational

leadership behaviours”

DCMS, MLA, CILIP, LGA, CLG, DCSF,

SCL

DCMS, MLA, CILIP, LGA, CLG, DCSF,

SCL

DCMS, MLA, CILIP, LGA, CLG, DCSF,

SCL

Fragmented

The leadership paradox

Lack of resources to explore a collective

present

££££?

W

Knowledge and creativity

Learning for life

Network and brand potential

Knowledge management

Community interface

O

Networked library

Community place ofencounter

Developmentagency

X

O

Public good value not recognised

Lack of national coherence

Private sector creep

T

Failure to plan for change

Library workers of the country unite

Be reflective, do some practical scenario

planning

Find some new friends

Build a common narrative

From librarian to knowledge

warriorOut with the

education

juggernaut, in

with the

learning society

The key questions are not about media wars and exactly when change will happenWe must ask, “what are the unique and enduring roles of libraries and how, at any given time, do we ensure they deliver maximum value to the user?”

From librarian to knowledge

warrior

A knowledge sector that can…mediatedefine manage

…the public landscape of the learning society

lead

Content first,

institution

second

It’s a big landscape folks!

It’s a big landscape folks!

From librarian to knowledge

warrior

New skills, new structures, new partnerships

From librarian to knowledge

warrior

A mission to remove all barriers to access

The new

revolutionaries

The integration of knowledge into everyday life

Empower every citizen to want to learn and discover more about the world

every day