Public libraries will avoid being relegated to the scrap heap of history in a digital age as long as they continue to serve as platforms for learning, creativity, and innovation that strengthen their communities.
Thatâs the conclusion of a new report âRising to the Challenge: Re-envisioning Public Libraries,â which the Aspen Institute has produced in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
There are nearly 9,000 public library systems and 17,000 branches and outlets across the U.S. Nearly seven in 10 Americans say they have at least âmediumâ levels of engagement with their public libraries. And nearly a quarter of U.S. adults use their local libraries for Internet access.
âThe public library is a key partner in sustaining the educational, economic and civic health of the community during a time of dramatic change, [and] there is already a significant physical presence and infrastructure to leverage for long-term success,â the report states.Â
As important, the library "is a core civil society institution, democracyâs 'maker space,'" the report asserts.Â
Â
Â
But as public libraries shift from being repositories for materials to platforms for learning and participation, their ability to provide access to vast amounts of content in all formats will be vital. âLibraries face two immediate major challenges in providing access to content in all forms,â the report says. âBeing able to procure and share e-books and other digital content on the same basis as physical versions, and having affordable, universal broadband technologies that deliver and help create content.â
A 21st-century library will remain relevant only if it is built on three key assets: people, place, and platform. The report observes that libraries are âshifting from building collections to building human capital, relationships, and knowledge networks in the community.â
While a library is both a physical and virtual place, the report believes its physical presence âanchors it most firmly in the community.â But the library as a learning center is also becoming more of a destination, âa way station on the learning journey.â In that capacity the library in a digital age should also be âa virtual space accessible from anywhere 24/7.â
A libraryâs goal, says the report, should be to enable individuals and communities âto create their own learning and knowledge.â So a library âplatformâ needs to be adaptable to the individualâs needs. âThe library as platform radically reshapes [its] daily activities, shifting away from the old model of organizing and âlendingâ the worldâs knowledge toward a new vision of the library as a central hub for learning and community connections.â
To be successful in a digital age, libraries, says the report, will require a different kind of access and distribution infrastructure, more sophisticated analytics âthat will enable the library itself to become a âlearning organization,â and the ability to scale themselves to facilitate innovation and competition.
Â
Â
The report recommends four strategic opportunities for action to guide librariesâ transformation: aligning their service to support community goals, providing access to content in all formats, ensuring the long-term sustainability of public libraries through greater attention to potential financial resources, and cultivating âleadership.âÂ
But library professionals face several leadership challenges, such as taking advantage of digital tools; building the libraryâs capacity, which might benefit from exploring best practices outside the U.S.; thinking harder about succession planning; including trustee and âfriendâ groups in leadership development activities; and developing strategies that can keep pace with larger disruptive changes.
Libraries and their communities must also be watchful, and be prepared to respond to, several important developments and trends, including new technologies and their impact on a global information economy, online education, the boundaries of privacy and data protection, and âhyperconnectedâ societies.
Related Stories
| Jul 8, 2013
RSMeans cost comparisons: hotels, motels, and apartment buildings
Construction market analysts from RSMeans offer construction costs per square foot for hotels, motels, and apartment buildings.Â
| Jul 8, 2013
Learn from the worldâs fastest animal: speed isnât everything
Every schoolchild knows that the cheetah is the worldâs fastest land animalâ70 mph, no sweat. And, as we all know from National Geographic television documentaries, it is speed that makes Acinonyx jubatus such a fearsome hunter, right?
| Jul 3, 2013
Mid-year special: Top 13 stories for 2013 (so far)
Every six months, we like to take a look back at the stories that generated the most interest from our readers. Here's a roundup of the top 13 articles on BDCnetwork.com for the first six months of 2013.Â
| Jul 3, 2013
World's biggest freestanding building opens in China
Measuring a stout 100 meters high, 500 meters long, and 400 meters wide, the New Century Global Centre in the Tianfu New District of Chengdu, China, is officially the world's largest freestanding building.
| Jul 3, 2013
Mall of America will double in size after $2.5 billion expansion
The nation's largest indoor mall will undergo a $2.5 billion, 10-year expansion project that will add attractions like an NHL-sized skating rink and an indoor water park.Â
| Jul 3, 2013
Architects team with HUD to promote 'Rebuild By Design' competition for Hurricane Sandy recovery effort
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today announced a communications campaign urging its membership to enter the âRebuild by Designâ multi-stage regional design competition announced by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan on June 20.
| Jul 2, 2013
LEED v4 gets green light, will launch this fall
The U.S. Green Building Council membership has voted to adopt LEED v4, the next update to the worldâs premier green building rating system.
| Jul 1, 2013
Firestone Building Products Company LLC Announces Sustainability Report
Firestone Building Products Company, LLC, the leading manufacturer of superior âRoots to Rooftopsâ products for commercial building performance solutions, today announced the release of its 2012 Sustainability Report. The report, the first for Firestone Building Products Company, covers the fiscal 2012 year and is available for download at firestonebpco.com.
| Jul 1, 2013
LEGOLAND builds 12-foot replica of One World Trade Center
The LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester in Yonkers, N.Y., celebrated the completion of a LEGO replica of One World Trade Center by lighting the 12-foot-tall, 100-pound model.
| Jul 1, 2013
Report: Global construction market to reach $15 trillion by 2025
A new report released today forecasts the volume of construction output will grow by more than 70% to $15 trillion worldwide by 2025.