Context of change in public libraries
Society is experiencing profound, high-speed changes. Most notably, these include:
- The information revolution through the Internet has profoundly changed our ways of working, finding information, relating to one other, learning and communicating. The normalisation of technology use and the digital world directly affects basic library services: online access to information, e-books, and music and film streaming.
- Learning is increasingly based on empirical processes, i.e., learning by doing, through practice and experience.
- Creativity is a rising value. Fostering curiosity, questioning, reflecting and being critical are increasingly important. Libraries must be able to incorporate a cultural programme that strengthens all these elements.
- Change in the role of information consumers. Citizens want to be more active and participative. They want to be knowledge generators and distributors.
- CitizensÕ involvement and participation has increased to make decisions regarding their own environment.
- Innovation is no longer the exclusive preserve of research and business, because technology and the digital environment also enable citizensÕ participation.
- The importance of cross-sector, open, collaborative and participative work. There is a need to find spaces for sharing professional, relational and personal experiences.
This context of social change and transformation directly affects libraries, manifesting itself as a change in usersÕ habits and how they use the services. Changes in usage data reveal the following trends:
- Decrease in the document loans service.
- Growth in online and digital services.
- Increase in Wi-Fi service.
- Increase in services associated with participation in the cultural programme or non-formal education courses.
The changes in these indicators in public libraries, together with the social context, clearly show the need to invest in the digital transformation of libraries and change their service provision model. In these terms, it makes sense for public libraries to evolve and rethink their relationship with users, their way of working and the definition and choice of cultural, educational and leisure activities. Such needs require innovative projects that involve the different stakeholders (public administration, libraries, citizens and businesses).
Historically, the services and objectives of public libraries have been based on four lines of action:
- Promoting reading.
- Universal access to information and knowledge.
- Support for lifelong learning.
- Cultural leisure and fostering social and public inclusion.
Thus, BiblioLab seeks a change in emphasis and mentality, so that libraries can carry on being what they have always been, while focussing change in two key aspects: knowledge and community.
The radical nature of change does not mean completely overhauling their activity: Public libraries preserve their essence by maintaining the services they have always offered (access to knowledge) while opening up to innovation and knowledge generation. It is an opportunity to introduce many of the elements that could accompany libraries as they evolve, incorporating creation, creativity, participation and experimentation.
One of the reasons for investing in community and knowledge relates to the problem in getting certain members of the public, such as youths and young adults, into libraries. With activities and projects to promote citizensÕ creativity and innovation, these groups can once again be included.
All the actions carried out so far have been based on the values of:
- Singularity: BiblioLab proposes a shared model but a singular project. Understanding libraries as a space for social transformation clearly means no two projects can be the same, as each has its own social ecosystem in which it develops.
- A cross-sector approach: libraries cannot take this path alone. The actions carried out to date also include this vision.
- Sustainability: projects have to be sustainable, rather than creating structures and projects that later disappear. The aim is to produce systemic change.
- Empowerment: above all, BiblioLab is a project for social empowerment; the aim is to empower the community through learning, knowledge and critical thinking, as well as empowering public librarians in this role. And this approach is present in the different projects.