[OPLINLIST] Governing magazine, article of interest

[Jo Budler]

In the latest issue of Governing, there is an article entitled
Revolution in the Stacks which I thought might be of interest to you.
Here is the link to that article: 

 

http://www.governing.com/articles/0806libraries.htm

 

The author cites the OCLC survey - and reaffirms that "two out of three
American, when they think of libraries, think of books."  But he goes on
to talk about the "revolution."

 

Except: 

 

The biggest idea libraries are stealing from retailers - Starbucks, in
particular - is the notion of the "third place." That is, libraries want
to create an atmosphere that is not home and not the office, but where
people will want to spend a lot of their time. Rather than buy, they'll
borrow - and hopefully meet other people in the process. It's a
community-center model as much as it is a library one, and it demands a
focus on social programming, readings and events, as well as
partnerships with arts and theater groups and other community
organizations. It also requires new thinking about how libraries are
designed. The best new library buildings don't devote the bulk of their
floor plan to stacks. Rather, they offer lots of flexible spaces that
work just as well for a poetry slam as they do for an exercise class for
seniors.

 

***********************************

Jo Budler, State Librarian

State Library of Ohio 

274 East First Ave, Suite 100, Columbus, OH  43201

Phone:  614-644-6843; 800-686-1532 (Ohio only)

Fax: 614-466-3584

http://www.library.ohio.gov

"The State Library of Ohio provides services and resources to assist
state government and libraries in providing the best service to all." 

 

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