ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
Abstract:
It can be invaluable for library staff at all levels to visit other libraries and gain first-hand knowledge of a service concept in action, or to experience a new or redesigned library space in person. Over the past 18 months, Justine Hyde (State Library Victoria, Melbourne, Australia) and Stephanie Chase (Hillsboro Public Library, Hillsboro, Oregon, USA) traveled together and separately to visit libraries in Australia, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Canada, and the United States to investigate what libraries at the cutting edge are offering and implementing.
Through these visits, as well as opportunities to meet with library staff and key leadership, it quickly became clear that libraries around the globe are grappling with similar issues, and are looking toward the implementation of similar trends to respond to these issues. Time and time again, the work of these innovative libraries was focused on the same six areas. Those areas are:
- Emphasis on reading
- Spaces for doing and learning
- Responsive, multi-use spaces
- Co-located services
- Shift to self-service
- Urban regeneration.
Through the sharing of best practices, lessons learned, implementation suggestions, and a significant number of images of the concepts in place in spaces, libraries around the world can take advantage of the innovations of our colleagues.
