Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Librariesaka “The Aspen Report”

As the knowledge and creativity economy grows, the public library stands to be the hub for communities, providing access to education, learning opportunities, technology and social connections, driving the economic growth and prosperity for all members of the community.

“Innovations built on the old distributed model of the lending library will not suffice. What is needed is a new level of interdependence that communities and libraries must embrace together.”

Presented by Cindy Fesemyer, Library Director, Columbus Public LibrarySlides by Jon Mark Bolthouse, Library Director, Fond du Lac Public Library . . . whatever . . .

Three key assets build the library’s value proposition in the community

People Place Platform

People - Librarian as navigator, not gatekeeper (or expert of all)

Continuous extension of the definition of “librarian” is not sustainable

Leverage the library’s infrastructure to allow for domain expertise to be shared outward, to draw from the expertise in the community

Curators for the community

Place – The Physical Library building Establishes personal connections

“Starbucks without the coffee” (Maybe!) Provides an anchor

...for economic development ..for neighborhood revitalization

Place – The Physical Library building Provides a safe and trusted location

health clinics emergency response centers small business incubators workforce development centers immigrant resource centers

Creates connecting places New locations:  shopping malls, airports, big box stores

Platform Library As “Third Place”

Interactive entity facilitating people operating individually or in groups Coexisting with geographical area (canopy or “cloud”) Objective and trusted platform

Library as a Service (LaaS) abundant Wi-Fi devices for borrowing Content from own collection or anywhere in the cloud

Challenges ahead decentralized model Traditional Catalog as Platform model No scalability Competition of platforms (Amazon / Netflix)

Strategies for Success Align Library services in support of community goals

Develop community relationships less autonomy, more collaboration

Provide access to content in all formats broadband access National Digital platform

Strategies for Success Ensure the long-term sustainability of public libraries

Funding models alternative governance structures outcomes rather than outputs

Cultivate leadership vision (for the library and community) communication with community leaders go beyond the walls of the library Libraries as connection between Community Based

Organizations and citizens