Libraries and Denial

Over at Library Juice, Rory Litwin has started an interesting discussion about the mission of libraries today.  He begins:

I would like to propose that the current era in librarianship, which is normally characterized as a “period of rapid change,” is perhaps better described as a period of denial. It is a period in which librarians are scurrying to disassociate themselves from their own profession as it tends to be thought of, with a sense of desperate shame.

What am I talking about? I’ll exaggerate a bit to make my point. I’m talking about librarians who say,

We’re not about books! We’re about computers! Don’t associate us with books! We don’t want to be saddled with that! When people hear the word “library,” we want them to think words like “Future,” “Hi Tech,” “Information Age,” and “Shiny Gadget!” Fellow librarians, don’t even use the word Book! It’s a no-no! Bad word! Hurts! Pretend you don’t even know what one is!

Link: Librarian: Accept Yourself

Here in the Bay Area I just noticed that my local library is pushing a new campaign called Free2, which seems like a big effort to rebrand the library as pretty much anything but a place to borrow books (it's a "21st century community center").  The blurb:

This campaign is designed to raise awareness of libraries in the Bay Area (at least initially). It encourages you to visit more often, whether that means stopping by your local branch to check out the latest video game or accessing the online catalog or participating in a program or activity.

It challenges stereotypes of dusty bookshelves and shush-happy librarians. It promotes how libraries sit in the heart of our communities. It recognizes that our libraries are among our most revered public institutions. It honors their great legacy of innovative partnerships. And it demonstrates an important fact in the Digital Age -- that our libraries are the number one point of Internet access for millions without connectivity at home, school or work.

Indeed, the question is not whether libraries are relevant today. But whether they can keep pace with the increased demand for their services and materials. With your help, they can.

And if you can come up with a good slogan for the campaign you could win an iPod or a video camera!

To their credit, I did find some mention of books on the site.  The video on the front page is of library users saying what they like about their library -- turns out some of them go there for books (who'd have thought?).

Comments

[Lillian Hutchins]

I believe the Bay Area library organization is heading in the right direction. My concern is that they aren't going far enough. Books and information is what used to make libraries different. Most people (in North America) now can afford their own computer with an internet connection. Therefore, libraries should not be putting all their eggs in the technology basket.

As librarians, we have to accept that it isn't the medium that is important, but the information. And with globalization, people expect to have access to information from anywhere about anything.

I believe that books will be used more as trigger points towards other areas of information. The only reason I would go to a library is to access expensive databases that I personally cannot afford to subscribe to, to gain access to information that I cannot get elsewhere. I can go to my local book store, browse, sit down and read, have a coffee, and buy if I want to.

The question remains - what makes libraries 'unique'? Only when we answer that question, will we ensure our longevity.