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Public sector cuts have led to a rise in the number of social enterprises running library services, but sustainability is a problem [...] Social enterprises are, however, offering much more than books and computer access – the mixed-use community hub, argues Dunn, is the library model for the next 30 years: "We're open longer now than when the local council ran the libraries. I really believe that there's a wider range of services that we offer from our libraries now... There are things that the local council do well, no question. But they are unable to move quickly and introduce new services quickly when the community asks for it." The reason why social enterprises can, he says, "is that we are the local community – there is no them and us."
Creating Communities Through Libraries and Makerspaces Presented by Buffy J. Hamilton, The Unquiet Librarian
Via Buffy J. Hamilton
“People comment that they prefer coming to the library [rather than the OneStop]. It’s welcoming; it’s open; it’s easy to deal with,” Poland said. “The OneStops had this feel of the unemployment office.” Besides that positive atmosphere (and potentially less stigma), the library is centrally located, and already attracts high traffic, likely making more people aware of the services. (The reverse is true as well: Poland says the services are bringing new people into the library.) But the library location’s most important advantage to CTWorks is what Poland calls “wraparound services”: the career agents refer their clients to the library-offered citizenship resources, language classes, and digital literacy help as needed. “Where better to do that than the library? It’s where we do it anyway,” Poland commented. -Meredith Schwartz
Via Robin Illsley
Stacey A. Aldrich: "When an initiative known as Family Place introduced a new children’s programming model that encourages libraries to go beyond summer reading programs and story hours to reach their full potential as community hubs, the California State Library took notice. As a collaboration that began in 1996 between New York’s Middle Country Public Library and the now-defunct nonprofit Libraries for the Future, the Family Place model promotes spaces within libraries that focus on the learning and literacy of children ages 0–3, while also supporting the needs of the entire family. Family Place principles have now been refined and translated into a replicable framework that gives all libraries the chance to look at their children’s services in a fresh way. More than 300 sites in 23 states are currently part of the expanding Family Place Libraries network. Stacey Aldrich, state librarian for the California State Library, was impressed by Family Place when she was introduced to the concept through Libraries for the Future. "Family Place is amazing," says Aldrich. "They really make libraries think about the environments they’re creating for families. Family Place library spaces are designed for the family to fully engage and interact—parents and caregivers, as well as children."
Via Buffy J. Hamilton
Ariel Schwartz: "It’s not about checking out more books. An initiative is focusing on libraries around the world as centers of social and economic change, as well as centers to help the most disadvantaged citizens."
Via Trudy Raymakers
Private Library Labors to Be Relevant AgainNew York TimesPublished: August 7, 2012. [...] "the Huntington Free Library and Reading Room in the Bronx [...] trying to reinvent itself in a more humble role: that of a traditional community library. It still does not lend books and it remains privately owned and operated. But instead of catering to scholars studying American Indians, it now hosts monthly meetings about Bronx history. It invites children for arts and crafts, and it organizes an annual scavenger hunt for historical artifacts. Last month, it allowed HBO to make over its reading room as a backdrop for the series “Boardwalk Empire.” “We don’t want to be ‘This is what a library used to look like,’ ” said Thomas X. Casey, the library’s president. “We want to be an active participant in the community, not just a museum.”
"For eight years, the Landa Gardens Conservancy, a nonprofit volunteer organization, has been working to make the library more than just a place to check out books.
With more than $1.5 million it raised, the group has transformed the library in the historic Monte Vista neighborhood into a community center where parents can take their children to play and students from nearby Trinity University can sit under shade trees to read.
In 2008, the organization remade the five acres of land that surround the former private mansion by installing 30 benches, a medieval community garden and more than 7,000 plants.
Also that year, the conservancy commissioned Carlos Cortes, the craftsman responsible for the city's public art made of concrete designed to look like wood — called faux bois — to create the pavilion.
In 2011, new playground equipment was installed. This year, shade trees were added near the playground.
The organization strives to make the library an enjoyable place for anyone in the city, not just those in the neighborhood, said the group's former president, Ann Van Pelt, who now serves as a member of the board of directors." Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Library-is-no-longer-just-for-readers-3640773.php#ixzz1y8JEaSbF
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They're hiring social workers, nurses and other outreach workers to serve their neediest visitors
"When considering the design and function of precinct developments, thoughts often naturally run to bars, cafés, sporting venues and theatres. While these spaces are important as community hubs, libraries are taking on a growing role in the world of architecture.
Library developments have gained prominence in recent months, with home developers and interior designers placing heavy importance on private libraries and commercial and government entities investing heavily in the development of public library spaces."
Via KrisPaterson, nickcarman
"With free information online, many people question the value of public libraries. Unfortunately, they're overlooking how important these institutions are to our community..." "Here are Mindful reasons (from Public Libraries online) for why we should revisit our local libraries: Community builders: Local libraries not only address local social problems, but also preserve historic artifacts and relevant histories. Centers of diversity: They provide information about diverse cultures. They also offer programs and sources for immigrants and non-English speakers. Centers of art: Public libraries provide space and information for free art exploration and expression. Education: Writers of this Public Libraries article call libraries “the people’s university,” providing knowledge for all, regardless of socioeconomic statuses. Guardians of knowledge: Our libraries help with child development, not only by providing books but also programs like summer reading and tutoring."
By Meredith Schwartz: "The home base for the New York Public Library (NYPL) Labs is a strange mix of old and new. A bunch of modern cubicles hover incongruously amid the stately marble walls of what used to be a courtyard in the venerable Schwarzman Building, before the need for more space convinced the library to press it into service. It’s not a bad metaphor for what the labs do: turn the library’s substantial historical holdings into something new, useful, and a little bit quirky.
Thus far, the labs has spearheaded four projects, all of them aimed at not only digitizing physical collections but at turning their digital versions into data that can be sliced and diced with all of today’s tools. Ben Vershbow, manager of NYPL Labs, sees the first stage of his mission as “extending the machine-readable data so it can be recontextualized—the library as data clearinghouse.” As a vision, it adheres more strictly to the library’s traditional role of information collector and provider than many of today’s library reinventions—library as community center, for example. At the same time, it removes the “book warehouse” or even “digital book virtual warehouse” connotations by giving the library a front and center role in parsing the data into meaningful categories that make it usable."
"One-off performances and workshops by poets, musicians, and other entertainers are hugely popular in libraries and serve as valuable additions to a library’s program roster. But long-term partnerships or residencies mean that an artist works closely with a library to facilitate a suite of programs, integrating inspiring performances with hands-on learning opportunities. Artists-in-residence may be visual artists, writers, or performers. An excellent example of a poet-in-residence program is found in the Cafe Poet project in Australia. Established by Australian Poetry in 2009, the Cafe Poet program “aims to promote poetry while strengthening community relationships.” So far about fifty poets have been placed in cafes, bookshops, and, in the City of Melbourne’s case, the City Library. The exchange is beneficial for everyone: poets are given space to write (and complimentary tea/coffee), as well as the chance to engage with their community; the host gets to be part of the poetry community, plan events in conjunction with the poet, and (hopefully) increase foot traffic."
Via Buffy J. Hamilton
"With heat index values expected to reach nearly 105 degrees on Friday, June 29 and Saturday June 30, Harford County Public Library's 11 branches will serve as cooling stations for Harford County residents in need of relief from the heat. Each Harford County Public Library will be open to the public during normal hours of operation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. The one exception is the Darlington Library which is open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Branch location information can be found at http://hcplonline.org/locations/branches/
Via Afroditi Fragkou
TRISTAN HALLMAN,The Dallas Morning News: Library helps Texas tornado victims find photos -Times Record News "...The Lake Arlington Branch Library has collected more than 800 photos — and counting — strewn about by the April 3 tornadoes that destroyed or damaged roughly 1,300 homes and businesses, according to the state. About three-fourths of the photos have been claimed so far, said Debi Wood, library services manager. "It feels like we're keeping people's memories for them," Wood said. More than 40 people have brought in photos so far, and Wood said she expects more. Atwood and Woodland West Church of Christ volunteers cleaned, dried and sorted the photos and a few documents. There's a photo of a woman at a party dressed as Winnie the Pooh. A poem dedicated to the loving memory of Grandma Mary Garner. Vacation photos. A boy and a girl and a donkey. Birthday parties. Posed school pictures. A baby smiling in a bathtub. A man in a red flannel shirt and his pug in front of a Christmas tree. All moments frozen in time."
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An update to the original draft of 1973 guidelines!