Libraries are not only about what they contain within their shelves. They are about the patron experience, community engagement, and reinventing themselves to keep up with the latest demands and needs. To achieve these goals, libraries must assess and reflect upon the environment they create for their patrons both virtually and physically (SJSU, n.d.).
Libraries are using social media as an environment that is entertaining and engaging to connect with their patrons. This setting presents the library as an enjoyable and exciting place to learn more about. A great example of staying relevant and relatable to patrons is New Zealand’s Invercargill City Libraries and Archives. They have an incredible presence on Facebook by consistently posting about the services they have, new books added to their collection, behind the scenes pictures and videos with library staff, and comedic posts with pop culture media in mind like Pokémon Go, Mean Girls, and their most popular parody, Keeping Up with the Kardashians (Invercargill Libraries, 2018).
Invercargill Libraries (2018)
When we think about a library’s environment, naturally we think about a physical space. First impressions say a lot about someone or something. Library space must be inviting and attractive as well as strategic and useful to make the most of the area available. You can attract patrons by choosing colorful and bright colors for the interiors. You can use furniture with cool designs in mind that serve both decorative and practical purposes. Libraries are transforming their shelves from the traditional organization into dynamic designs that are customer-experience focused that you would typically find in a bookstore or café with the book covers facing the public and being organized by genre or themes. Ipswich Libraries have found that this is not only aesthetically appealing, but it increased their collection circulation (Ipswich Libraries, 2018).
Ipswich Libraries, 2018
A safe and welcoming environment is also providing materials and collections that patrons want and will use. The Galinwin’ku Library taken the necessary steps to really get to know their community. The library staff learned that the Yolngu culture is essential to the people of Galinwin’ku as it shapes the way they view the world and affects what information they consume. This library has removed organization through the Dewey Decimal system and instead organized books by their cultural values and norms such as art, language, and culture; natural environment; true stories; and miscellaneous. They recognized that their community wanted to see more materials by local authors that they can relate and look up to (Thompson & Trevaskis, 2018).
Galinwin’ku Library, 2018
Taking this into consideration, libraries around the world are changing and transforming their spaces and services to be more user friendly, more aesthetically inviting, and more aligned with what patrons need and want. By implementing these key changes, libraries are proving that they are an indispensable part of a society that give people free and unbiased accessibility to information, technology, and a safe place to be.
References
Invercargill Libraries. (2018). Invercargill “Keeping Up with the Librarians” Presentation from APLIC18. Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference. https://www.dropbox.com/s/onsho3q3uvh6kst/KeepingupwiththelibrariansWithNotesFINAL.pdf?dl=0
Ipswich Libraries. (2018). Ipswich Marketplace Presentation from APLIC18. Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference. https://www.dropbox.com/s/huh8erbu9veosd9/Market-Place_01%202.pdf?dl=0
Ischool professor Dr. Michael Stephens returns to Australia to give closing keynote at an international conference. SJSU. (n.d.). https://ischool.sjsu.edu/community-profile/ischool-professor-dr-michael-stephens-returns-australia-give-closing-keynote
Thompson, J., & Trevaskis, L. (2018, August 21). Remote Library closes the book on the dewey decimal system. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-22/remote-galiwinku-library-closes-book-on-dewey-decimal/10147024
I’m so excited by libraries removing the Dewey restrictions and shelving by commercial standards. If I were going to do a thesis instead of a portfolio, writing the book on how to make this transition would be my topic.
Yes, I agree! This weekend, I had a patron ask me for help to navigate our non-fiction section which is categorized by the Dewey system. I gave her a form that had the whole system and how it was broken up, but it’s so many numbers to get familiarized, let alone memorize it! While we do have signs with text and pictures next to the numbers so it lets patrons know what section they are viewing, I completely understand the need and want for a system transition!