Public libraries are threatened. At least it can feel so when one reads about the reduced budgets and the decreasing use of libraries. When one looks at the changing nature of the…
Abstract
Purpose
Public libraries are threatened. At least it can feel so when one reads about the reduced budgets and the decreasing use of libraries. When one looks at the changing nature of the information world, it can be seen that more and more information is available on the net and people can download music, films and even books. The purpose of this paper is not to concentrate on the threats posed to libraries, but instead try to see the possibilities.
Design/methodology/approach
With some new library models, which the author sees as progressive, some general conclusions are sought for the future of libraries.
Findings
The author's conclusions and recommendations include: looking at peoples' lives not at internal services; be customer‐oriented instead of being system‐oriented; realize that the focus of library service is moving from transactions to relations; emphasize that libraries are social places and living organisms; and realize that we are facing a paradigm shift which confuses both our staff and our users.
Originality/value
If librarians are able to rethink, remodel and renew the libraries, the libraries can be heading for The Golden Age in their history.
Details
Keywords
The Bertelsmann International Network of Public Libraries was created by the Bertelsmann Foundation of Germany to think flexibly about the public library of tomorrow and to…
Abstract
The Bertelsmann International Network of Public Libraries was created by the Bertelsmann Foundation of Germany to think flexibly about the public library of tomorrow and to develop model solutions to address the issues faced by public libraries across the world. From the first meeting, topics of relevance to public libraries were discussed and then the first group of participants had to choose a topic to research and create a model which could be implemented in other public libraries. Summaries of all research papers are available on the Internet at www.stiftung. bertelsmann.de Some models are currently being implemented in libraries of the participants and the new members of the Network are currently working on their research.