The Library of the Future May 2013

7/30/2019 The Library of the Future May 2013

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The libraryof the future

A response to Envisioning the library of the futureby Arts Council England Chief Executive Alan Davey


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Introduction

Public libraries are at a pivotalpoint. They are much loved andexpected to continue offeringthe same services as they havefor many years, but they are alsoexpected to respond to big changesin how people live their lives.

More people are living alone, the populationis ageing and more varied, technologycontinues to advance rapidly, and pressureis growing on public expenditure. At

the same time people expect and areencouraged to have a greater say in thepublic services they use.

Recent debate about libraries has beenintense. Much o the ocus has been onshort-term issues o unding, the closureo libraries and a perceived tension betweenbooks and digital technology. As a result, anunderstanding o how libraries will contributeto the uture success and well-beingo this country hasnt developed.

Public libraries have always adapted andrenewed themselves to meet the changingneeds o people and communities. Booksand inormation are supplied at speedsthat were unimaginable a generation ago,changes rom vinyl discs through cassettesand CDs to music downloads have beenmade, and the comedy stereotype o stern

librarians hushing library users has beenconsigned to history.

So, it is time to re-assert the value, role andpurpose o public libraries and point to howthey can respond to change in order toremain at the heart o the community.

Paignton Library, Torbay.Photo: Michael Cameron Photography

Alan Davey, Chie

Executive, Arts

Council England.

Photo: Philippa Gedge


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Arts Council Englandand public libraries

Arts Council England plays a signicant role in supportingand developing public libraries, and local government hasthe statutory responsibility or providing and unding library

services under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act.The long term success o libraries is important to us. So wehave undertaken a major research project which we called

Envisioning the library of the future to understand better

what public libraries could and should look like.

This research examined:

recent innovations and trends likely toshape public libraries in the next 10 years

library experts ideas about what theimpact o these changes is likely to be

the views o people particularly interestedin the uture o libraries (or examplepeople who work in libraries, councillors,authors, academics, and campaigners)

public opinion (users and non-users)voiced through online debate andworkshops around the country

The research built on previous work andwe tested the emerging ndings with ourpartners, experts and commentators.

In total the researchers spoke with over800 people. The online survey had1,400 responses and over 10,000 viewedthe online conversation.

All o the detailed research reportsare available on our website.

That research told us:

There is a clear, compelling andcontinuing need for a publicly fundedlibrary service.

We heard this rom people at every stage

o our research. It didnt matter whetherthey use libraries or not, people are vocaland passionate about their value.

Public libraries are trusted spaces,free to enter and open to all. In thempeople can explore and share reading,information, knowledge and culture.

Three essential ingredients defnethe public library:

a sae, creative community space thatis enjoyable and easy to use, in bothphysical and virtual orm

an excellent range o quality books,digital resources and other content

well-trained, riendly people to helpusers to nd what they want either

independently or with support
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/envisioninghttp://www.artscouncil.org.uk/envisioning


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Public libraries:

develop basic skills and habits o modernliteracy and learning with the help obooks and digital resources

support business and economic growth

by inormation and skills development

help us understand ourselves, our placein the world, and the heritage o thecommunities in which we live

encourage us to explore our ownculture and creativity, and that oothers around us

improve our health and well-being byhelping us to make sense o what is

happening to us and how we canshape our lives

build a healthy democracy by providingree access to reliable inormationthrough which we orm our opinions

The uture public library will be both aphysical and a virtual place somewherepeople visit, and also somewhere to be parto wherever they are. The library will not

stand alone but will be collaborating withother organisations to give people access to awide range o services that meet their needs.

We expect to see a shit rom a serviceprovidedto a community to one in whichlocal people are more active and involvedinits design and delivery. People will be creatingnew content, having conversations and usingnew technology or their own benet, or

their community or their business.

High quality leadership, proessional skills andexperience will remain important but therewill be more emphasis given to community,digital and entrepreneurial skills.

Finding the inormation to answer anyquestion, books to satisy the never-endingdesire or pleasure, learning and knowledge,and the practice o literacy as one o lies

basic skills, will remain at the heart o whatmakes a library, and what will place thelibrary at the heart o the community.

The Arts Council has a big role in developingpublic libraries in England but we cannotand should not attempt this alone. Wewant to inspire a collaboration that willallow the public library service to changeand develop with condence, delivering

national leadership while respecting localaccountability and fexibility.

Pendleton Library, one o a number o public services co-located in Pendleton Gateway, Salord.Photo: Nick Harrison


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Four priorities for a 21stcentury public library service

1 Place the library as the hub oa community

2 Make the most o digital technologyand creative media

3 Ensure that libraries are resilientand sustainable

4 Deliver the right skills or thosewho work or libraries

The key issues emerging in this research aresimilar to those we handle with the widerarts and cultural sector. It is because there

is such a close t with the Arts Councilsve long term goals that we will be able todevelop solutions to these challenges romwhich both libraries and arts organisationscan benet.

Based on our discussions with members o the publicand the sector, we have identied our priorities to

sustain and develop a 21st century public library service.

Making use o the digital resources at Canada Water Library, London. Photo: Michael Cameron Photography


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We know that, in uture, many people arelikely to lead more isolated lives. More willwork rom home and more will live alone.

Opportunities to meet in ree public spacesor a wide variety o purposes will beincreasingly important. Our ndings showthat libraries will continue to be valued astrusted, sae, democratic places that oervaluable resources and expertise to supportthe activities o the people who use them.

Libraries physical space will be more fexibleand integrated with a virtual presencethat includes web-based reading groups,

social networking and links to other onlineresources. People will engage in creativeand cultural activities as well as readingand learning, exchanging ideas,conversation and knowledge.

Space shared with community based services(such as council, health, business support,and learning organisations) will be betteror local people, and will bring benets suchas skills exchanges, reaching more peopleand cutting costs.

Priority 1: Place the library as the hub o a community

re-think the way library spacesare used to encourage shared andcreative activity while continuingto welcome those who want toexplore on their own

integrate the librarys physical

and virtual spaces

sustain enough spaces offeredby libraries to meet the needsof their communities

The challenge:the use o a librarys space

Libraries will continueto be valued as trusted,safe, democratic placesthat offer valuable

resources and expertise

Storytime at Jubilee Library, Brighton.

Photo: Matthew Andrews


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Digital technology is developing rapidly andwill continue to have a major impact on theway we obtain and consume inormation,culture and the written word. Beyond the

library building, people will expect a moreinteractive experience and to be able to gainaccess to library services all day, every day,particularly while on the move.

Libraries should be at the heart o digitalinnovation. They should develop their role inactively connecting communities and helpingpeople to experience, experiment with andmaster new technologies.

Digital technology will be the key to uturelibrary service delivery but our researchpoints out that its true potential will not be

achieved unless the principle o an open,enabling ICT inrastructure is agreed by localauthorities and library services.

This would allow libraries to innovate, andto share or jointly adopt services moreeciently. By making it easier to developnational services and enable local innovation,people will get access to more resources,inormation and support.

Many assume that digital inormation sourcesand online services are accessible toeveryone. But a digital divide still existsbecause a signicant number o people lackthe condence, the necessary skills or thedesire to make eective use o technology.Some who do, are held back by poor digitalconnections or cant aord them. Publiclibraries will ensure that no-one needs tobe let behind or excluded.

improve the quality and

consistency of the virtual libraryexperience

develop an open ICT infrastructurethat encourages innovation andbetter service

enable libraries to lend the fullrange of e-books, includingremotely

The challenge: using technology

Priority 2: Make the most o digital technology and creative media

Libraries shouldbe at the heart ofdigital innovation.

Using the computers at Truro Library, Cornwall.

Photo: Michael Cameron Photography


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Priority 3: Ensure that libraries are resilient and sustainable

Communities arebecoming moreinvolved in thedesign and deliveryof library services. The challenge: cutting costs,

fnding new sources o unds andnew ways o working

create a positive environmentfor communities and individualsto become actively involved inthe design and delivery of theirlibrary services

encourage the development ofnew approaches to governingand managing libraries thatmake it more likely that theywill survive and succeed

equip libraries to becommissioned to deliverother public services, and tocommission other organisationsto deliver library services

A healthcare consultation at Hamworthy Library,

Dorset. Photo: Michael Cameron Photography

Our research, along with reductions in publicexpenditure, makes clear that libraries willneed to reduce costs and nd other sourceso unding to supplement local authority

support. Alongside this, communities arebecoming more involved in the design anddelivery o library services. To nd the rightsolution, councillors in local authorities areconsidering whether they should changethe way their library service is governed,or whether they can share aspects o theirservice with others.

Our research indicates that, as with manyother public services, this trend will continueand grow, and the debate about communityinvolvement in public libraries needs to

be seen in this wider context. We do notsuggest that any one approach is theright one in all circumstances but we havepublished guidance, based on experienceto date, that we suggest should be takeninto account.

Some library services are already doingthis and we believe that they could be rolemodels, not just among libraries, but or

all public services. This kind o communityinvolvement will become seen not as a cost-cutting tool but as a normal way o working,with sta and users developing ideas andcreating services together.
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/browse-advice-and-guidance/community-libraries-learning-experience-guiding-principles-local-authoritieshttp://www.artscouncil.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/browse-advice-and-guidance/community-libraries-learning-experience-guiding-principles-local-authorities


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Our research indicates that one o the majorchallenges acing public libraries in the utureis ensuring that library sta have eectiveleadership and delivery skills or a rapidlyevolving service.

Librarians will need to be active in theircommunities, encouraging people to getinvolved with their library. That involvementwill include local people identiying whattheir priorities are as well as volunteering andcommunity managed services.

Supporting people in using digital resourcescompetently and condently will becomeincreasingly important. Those who workin libraries will need to improve their skillsin organising and helping users to ndtheir way through complicated inormationsources. They will become more pro-activein inspiring new services in partnershipwith others, and their leaders will needto be more entrepreneurial and adept incommunicating and marketing their services.

Our research indicates that not enoughpeople working in libraries are equipped

to tackle these changes and take on theseroles, and that current training is not alwaysrelevant or the current and uture needs othose working in public libraries.

Priority 4: Deliver the right skills or those who work or libraries

ensure those responsible forlibraries have the right range ofskills and experience to lead theirservices successfully

encourage those working inlibraries to offer creative andinnovative ways to use libraryspaces, books and other resources

ensure that library staff have the

skills to develop and respondto digital developments and tosupport digital users

The challenge: developing theskills o those who work inlibraries

Ensuring librarieshave effectiveleadership anddelivery skillsfor a rapidlyevolving service

Library user at Oadby Library, Leicestershire.

Photo: Michael Cameron Photography


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The role of the Arts Councilin developing the library

of the future

The Arts Council has an important role in developingpublic libraries in England. We will secure nationalpartnerships which open up unding opportunities romwhich public libraries can benet. We will encourage

libraries in their cultural and creative role (as we are

already doing in projects supported by our Grants or thearts unding), and we will continue to involve them in ourlocal conversations with arts and cultural organisations.

We also recognise that to build an eective21st century library service, we will needto work in partnership with a range oagencies, who have their own distinctive

responsibilities: Department o Culture, Media and Sport

where the statutory oversight o publiclibraries in England sits

Local Government Association whorepresent the local authorities with thestatutory responsibility and democraticmandate to ensure public library servicesare provided

Society o Chie Librarians who are theleaders o public library services

Chartered Institute o Library andInormation Proessionals who are theproessional organisation or librarians

British Library the national hub oknowledge, inormation and expertise

This is only the start and we will be invitingother partners rom across the library,cultural, commercial, voluntary and academicsectors to work with us to make real this

ambition or public libraries in England.

We are condent that we now have a robustset o evidence to provide a ramework orwhat happens next. We want this evidenceto inspire a collaboration that will makeit possible or the public library service tochange and develop with condence.

By combining our resources we expect to bemaking progress on a shared programme

o activity by the end o the year. So weinvite all those involved in libraries and thosewho care about their uture to embrace thendings and to work with us on the nextstage o their development.


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The library of the future

Envisioning the library of the future suggests the public librarywill be a place where people create, learn, discover and share.Many o the eatures identied in our research already exist in

Englands libraries, but they are not consistently present and

not all together in one place.

So we can expect to see a shit rom aserviceprovidedto a community to onein which local people are more active and

involvedin its design and delivery. Librarieswill be recognised as connecting individuals,communities and organisations to innovate,create and provide new library based servicesand ideas.

People will be using libraries to do more witheach other and this activity will crossover between physical and virtual spaces.They will be creating new content, having

conversations and using new technology ortheir own benet, or their community ortheir business.

Those working in libraries will be lessoccupied in straightorward transactionsand more involved in linking people andorganisations together in using library spacesand resources or new activities. There willbe a greater emphasis given to community,digital and entrepreneurial skills. In this

context, volunteers oer new ways toadd capacity and skills.

Libraries role out in the community, reachingvulnerable and excluded people, willextend to popping up temporarily as localcircumstances demand and allow. This mightinvolve using vacant spaces, or being invitedin to other community services or workplacesto meet particular needs.

I the library o the uture will look dierentrom those o the past and present, theirenduring role and purpose means that some

things will eel amiliar. A high value willcontinue to be placed on the importanceo quality leadership, proessional skillsand experience. Books will sit comortablyalongside digital and other cultural resourcesin a rich and diverse library collection.

Finding the inormation to answer anyquestion, books to satisy the never-endingdesire or pleasure, learning and knowledge,

and the practice o literacy as one o liesbasic skills, will remain at the heart o whatmakes a library, and what will place thelibrary at the heart o the community.

Our national role means that we arewell-placed to stimulate debate and oersupport to the development o publiclibraries, and we want to work with ourpartners based on the thinking that hasemerged in our research. How that is

refected locally will be determined by eachcouncil based on their own priorities and theneeds o their communities.

It is this combination o enduring values,new thinking, collaborative leadershipand fexibility that will equip public librariesto create economic and social benets orthis country and its communities long intothe uture.


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Arts Council England

14 Great Peter StreetLondon SW1P 3NQ

www.artscouncil.org.uk

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0845 300 6200

Textphone: 020 7973 6564

Charity registration no 1036733

You can get this publication in Braille, in large

print, on audio CD and in electronic ormats.

Please contact us i you need any o these ormats.

To download this publication, or or the ull

list o Arts Council England publications, see

artscouncil.org.uk

ISBN: 978-0-7287-1534-9

Arts Council England, May 2013

We are committed to being open and accessible.

We welcome all comments on our work. Please

send these to Executive Director, Advocacy &

Communications, at the Arts Council England

address above.
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The Library of the Future May 2013

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