Public Libraries

I follow a number of urban and public policy sources in my newsfeed and there’s been a bit of crackle lately regarding new studies on the real costs of loneliness. With a confluence of factors coming together, including the release of DSM-V, the retirement of 10,000 Baby Boomers every day, and the initiation of the Affordable Care Act, policy wonks are examining the problem to see if loneliness should be regarded as a matter of public policy.

I recently read “Expect More: Demanding Better Libraries for Today’s Complex World” by R. David Lankes and I think you should, too. [Did that sound too much like a Reading Rainbow book review? :) ]

Historically, libraries have been the gatekeepers of information so we haven’t been too concerned with justifying our value to the public. “We have the information. If you want the information, come get it.” Well, we had it, anyway. In his article “So You Think You Want to Be a Librarian?” Brian Kenney addresses the issue of change, both in the demeanor of libraries towards the public and the use of technology by libraries. He asserts that in order to thrive, libraries must shift their historical position from focusing on library holdings to focusing on their relationship with library users. We cannot expect users to do the legwork to connect with the library. It’s our job to design the library, both in its physical and virtual states, to be appealing, engaging and easy to use. Libraries must be responsive to the needs of their users and must seek the input of our users to create what Kenney calls “one of the best experiences of the day."