Reporting to the Community

Seattle Public Library reports on the results of its 10-year building program "Libraries for All".
http://www.spl.org/pdfs/libraries_for_all_report.pdf

Technology Trends

Consoles, Clikers and Chat: Tools for the Library of Today [The Alliance for Information Science and Technology Innovation]
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/hubbardj/aisti/print.pdf

Stephen's Lighthouse

Stephen Abram, SirsiDynix Institute Chief Strategist and the past-President of the Canadian and Ontario Library Associations. He was listed by Library Journal as one of the top 50 people influencing the future of libraries. His blog for library professionals is Stephen's Lighthouse: http://stephenslighthouse.sirsi.com/

Libraries to Watch

In planning for our future, we need to be aware of what other library systems are doing in terms of innovation and trend-setting. These are some of the libraries that stand out as libraries to watch.

Richmond Public Library http://www.yourlibrary.ca/index_ie6.cfm
Ann Arbor District Library http://www.aadl.org/
Carnegie Library of Pittsurgh http://www.clpgh.org/
Charlotte-Meckleburg http://www.plcmc.org/
Cuyahoga http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/
Fayetteville http://www.faylib.org/
Gail Borden http://www.gailborden.info/m/
Hennepin http://www.hclib.org/
King County http://www.kcls.org/index.cfm
Maricopa http://www.mcldaz.org/default.aspx
Multnomah http://www.multcolib.org/index.html
Orange County http://www.ocls.info/Default.asp?bhcp=1
San Jose http://www.sjlibrary.org/

Fact and Fiction - The Future of Public Libraries

In 2003, A UK report warned that British “libraries are sleepwalking to disaster; it is time they woke up.” This webpage summarizes the debate within the profession about where libraries should be headed.
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/library/future-libraries.htm

Redesigning Libraries Using Retail Touchpoints

Paco Underhill (Envirosell) explores the dynamics of customer behaviour at California libraries.
http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/sjpl/sjway/SVPL-HPL_final_report.pdf
http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/sjpl/sjway/Envirosell_presentation_CLA07.ppt

Public Libraries in UK Told to Innovate or Die Out

"The challenge faced by public libraries was to reposition themselves “centre stage” among 21st-century communities with strong competition from the internet, online booksellers and other sources."
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3496617.ece