Hi Nancy – great plan and idea! The Open+ system seems to be working for many libraries across our nation, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for the Memorial Branch. I particularly love how you tied this plan back to the ability for community members to feel ownership over their local library. Oftentimes, community members see libraries as another facility that is running its own show, just like nearby banks, stores, or movie theaters. However, participatory service changes this by allowing patrons to become the hosts rather than the guests. Patrons can own a space. Make it their own, and really feel like they belong. An Open+, self-service system seems to be a the best next step to introduce patrons to this new way of looking at a library.
Thanks for reading, Tina! I’d love to see Open+ library services incorporated in my neighborhood, but I understand there are lots of reasons why it works in some places and doesn’t in others. Hopefully once I enter the library as a working librarian I’ll be able to navigate the realities of the city and system with these inspiring innovations!
Hi Nancy – great plan and idea! The Open+ system seems to be working for many libraries across our nation, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for the Memorial Branch. I particularly love how you tied this plan back to the ability for community members to feel ownership over their local library. Oftentimes, community members see libraries as another facility that is running its own show, just like nearby banks, stores, or movie theaters. However, participatory service changes this by allowing patrons to become the hosts rather than the guests. Patrons can own a space. Make it their own, and really feel like they belong. An Open+, self-service system seems to be a the best next step to introduce patrons to this new way of looking at a library.
Thanks for reading, Tina! I’d love to see Open+ library services incorporated in my neighborhood, but I understand there are lots of reasons why it works in some places and doesn’t in others. Hopefully once I enter the library as a working librarian I’ll be able to navigate the realities of the city and system with these inspiring innovations!