Comments on: It’s an asset to the community as a whole, but not for me. http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/ The Library Status Quo Must Go! Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:26:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Jeff http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/#comment-231 Jeff Thu, 14 Jun 2007 22:18:45 +0000 http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/#comment-231 I don't think there is anything wrong with those perceptions. It is part of the whole. I think people have problems with the library when it looks rundown and dirty. This is typical of a downtown library. A downtown library will have downtown problems with transients, crime, and having a rundown appearance. This is why many cities are using library rennovations as the cornerstone of downtown projects. Usually, suburban libraries will be the nice upscale libraries with not quite all the resources, but typically seen as better than braving the downtown library with the downtown scene. I think that is something my library will run into as we build our new library, our downtown library will begin to look rundown in comparison. Luckily, we are planning a full rennovation and expansion of our downtown library right after our new library opens. It also coincides with a rennovation of the entire downtown area. Keeping things clean bright and new are the only ways to change the perception of libraries. The bookstore look also helps. We also just created a teen center that looks just like a bookstore. Cleaning the entire library twice a year, bookstore furniture, fast internet, and new stuff. It just takes a lot of money, and MONEY OFTEN, to keep it up. Something libraries often lack. I don’t think there is anything wrong with those perceptions. It is part of the whole. I think people have problems with the library when it looks rundown and dirty. This is typical of a downtown library.

A downtown library will have downtown problems with transients, crime, and having a rundown appearance. This is why many cities are using library rennovations as the cornerstone of downtown projects.

Usually, suburban libraries will be the nice upscale libraries with not quite all the resources, but typically seen as better than braving the downtown library with the downtown scene. I think that is something my library will run into as we build our new library, our downtown library will begin to look rundown in comparison.

Luckily, we are planning a full rennovation and expansion of our downtown library right after our new library opens. It also coincides with a rennovation of the entire downtown area.

Keeping things clean bright and new are the only ways to change the perception of libraries. The bookstore look also helps. We also just created a teen center that looks just like a bookstore. Cleaning the entire library twice a year, bookstore furniture, fast internet, and new stuff. It just takes a lot of money, and MONEY OFTEN, to keep it up. Something libraries often lack.

]]> By: Ellen http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/#comment-230 Ellen Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:35:57 +0000 http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/#comment-230 It's an interesting problem. You can try to compete with the commercial world for patronage by making the library over and being more like a bookstore or video store (and abandom the Dewey numbers!), or you can cultivate your grassroots appeal and avoid any hint of slickness and go for friendly and fuzzy. But how do we become more relevant to more people? What function do we really serve? Is a physical space really needed? I wish I knew. It’s an interesting problem. You can try to compete with the commercial world for patronage by making the library over and being more like a bookstore or video store (and abandom the Dewey numbers!), or you can cultivate your grassroots appeal and avoid any hint of slickness and go for friendly and fuzzy.

But how do we become more relevant to more people? What function do we really serve? Is a physical space really needed? I wish I knew.

]]> By: nirak.net - Musings of an LIS Student » Marketing in Libraries http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/#comment-223 nirak.net - Musings of an LIS Student » Marketing in Libraries Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:52:12 +0000 http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/#comment-223 [...] the day about how libraries need to become good at this kind of marketing. I came home and saw this post in my feed reader., in which Emily at Library Revolution talked about the insanely poor job [...] […] the day about how libraries need to become good at this kind of marketing. I came home and saw this post in my feed reader., in which Emily at Library Revolution talked about the insanely poor job […]

]]> By: LibraryNation (Kathleen) http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/#comment-222 LibraryNation (Kathleen) Thu, 14 Jun 2007 01:20:42 +0000 http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/#comment-222 I made some generalizations based on my own experiences with public libraries in the communities I've lived in (the main branch was always run down and when people thought of "library" they thought of the main branch). Here's what I'd like to know: Y'all at libraries with big shiny new main branch libraries, do you find a broader spectrum of patronage? If so, do you think this was a result of the publicity surrounding the building of the library, or the nicer facilities, or getting people to "own" their library (as in participation) because they voted on it and their tax dollars paid for it? Or something else? I made some generalizations based on my own experiences with public libraries in the communities I’ve lived in (the main branch was always run down and when people thought of “library” they thought of the main branch). Here’s what I’d like to know: Y’all at libraries with big shiny new main branch libraries, do you find a broader spectrum of patronage? If so, do you think this was a result of the publicity surrounding the building of the library, or the nicer facilities, or getting people to “own” their library (as in participation) because they voted on it and their tax dollars paid for it? Or something else?

]]> By: Rich http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/#comment-221 Rich Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:52:48 +0000 http://libraryrevolution.com/2007/06/13/it%e2%80%99s-an-asset-to-the-community-as-a-whole-but-not-for-me/#comment-221 My opinion is that offering interesting, fun, enriching programming for adults is one of the keys to making the library relevant in people's eyes. Someone who might not have any interest in visiting the library to check out books, dvds, or whatever still might come into the library to watch a documentary, attend a lecture, participate in a book discussion, or take a class on things like using Flickr or starting a blog. The same can be said for innovative web 2.0ish features on a library website. Once they're in the door, so to speak, the library might enter their mental radar more often and they'll start seeing the library as relevant to them, and not just the poor, the old, and children. Who knows? Maybe they'll even check out an actual book shared by thousands of other people! My opinion is that offering interesting, fun, enriching programming for adults is one of the keys to making the library relevant in people’s eyes. Someone who might not have any interest in visiting the library to check out books, dvds, or whatever still might come into the library to watch a documentary, attend a lecture, participate in a book discussion, or take a class on things like using Flickr or starting a blog. The same can be said for innovative web 2.0ish features on a library website. Once they’re in the door, so to speak, the library might enter their mental radar more often and they’ll start seeing the library as relevant to them, and not just the poor, the old, and children. Who knows? Maybe they’ll even check out an actual book shared by thousands of other people!

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