Evolution of public libraries

The public library was once seen as one of the greatest inventions of the modern age—a physical representation of the Enlightenment-era belief that citizens should be able to have free and equal access to knowledge. Over the years, libraries became temples to the printed word and the buildings that they were housed in were often monumental spaces of grandiose design. Today, the library’s role is changing from that of a quiet sanctuary of books to a community hub with information on offer in varying formats from books to digital solutions, and they have even grown beyond their walls so that people can interact with them from home.

The metamorphosis of the library sector from repository of books to digital hub has not been an easy one so far and the ripples of disruption are being felt all over the world. International Library Week, celebrated on slightly different dates around the world took place in March. The United States had a major drive around transformation while in the UK libraries are fighting to survive. In South Africa, the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) celebrated with the theme #libraries4lifelonglearning, so addressing the South African struggle of equal education for all citizens.

“Lifelong learning is seen as episodic and progressive training within the framework of the formal education system. However, this concept has broader scope and consequences and would benefit significantly from access to well-resourced libraries. The levels of education among South Africans – especially the older generations – vary widely, largely due to a historic politically enforced agenda of inequality. Herein lies the potential to make a difference by bridging the gap between a traditional system of formal education and a broader system of learning. Established schooling infrastructure does not necessarily support adult basic education or other informal learning needs, so a role is opened for libraries to contribute to this effort by providing materials, space, information and professional expertise.” Reads a release on the LIASA website.

Libraries across the country hosted programmes geared to developing interests in skills in communities. They included storytelling, poetry reading, public speaking competitions and a variety of arts and crafts programmes.

UK Closures
In the UK at the moment, libraries are under fire. Funding has been cut, doors are closing and of the greatest concern, paid librarians are being replaced by volunteers in many instances. Uniquely in the UK, the situation is a political one and comes down to funding.

“Although the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act obliges local councils to provide free libraries, much of the funding that enables those councils to provide such services has until now been received from central government,” writes Alistair Horne on Publishing Perspectives.

Since the 2010 UK elections, that funding has been cut by 30 percent, leaving local councillors having to make decisions about where and how to reduce spending, and for some, child protection and care for the elderly are more important than library staff.

Although funding is being cut in certain communities, a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “Libraries are cornerstones of their communities and are part of the fabric of our society, so it’s vital they continue to innovate in order to meet the changing demands of those they serve. Government is helping libraries to modernise by funding a wi-fi roll-out across England that has benefitted more than 1,000 libraries and increasing access to digital services and e-lending. The Libraries Taskforce is also consulting on a new vision for public libraries that will help reinvigorate the service and ensure they remain relevant to local communities.”

Elizabeth Elford, of the Society of Chief Librarians, commented to the BBC: “I think inevitably there will be fewer public libraries when we come out the other side, but they will be better and more innovative… we are really trying to be attuned to the needs of customers, above and beyond books.”

Developments in the US
In the D.C. area in the United States, children under the age of five will receive one book in the mail each month as part of the District of Columbia Public Library’s “Books From Birth” program. By simply registering their child online, families will receive a book in the mail free of charge, regardless of income. For their first book, children will get a copy of the 1930s classic The Little Engine That Could.

The program was created in partnership with the Imagination Library, a free-book program for kids in Tennessee created by country music singer Dolly Parton in 1995.

Library officials in D.C. hope the “Books From Birth” program will be a jumping-off point for kids to get interested in reading and that it will usher in the next generation of library users.

In March this year, the Digital Public Library of America (DLPA), launched Open ebooks, a new program and e-reader app that will make thousands of popular, top-selling ebooks available to low-income children free of charge.

The initiative offers access to high quality digital content and since its launch, more than 20 million students reportedly have been connected to highspeed broadband in their schools and libraries, and millions more are said to be taking advantage of its free private sector resources.

“Open eBooks aims to complement digital infrastructure by providing an opportunity for children to have a worldclass e-library accessible at home,” sates a release by the DLPA.

The Open ebooks program is made possible by a coalition of literacy, library, publishing, and technology partners. In a blog post, DPLA Executive Director Dan Cohen writes, “Qualified kids will be able to read any of these ebooks on a whim, and at the same time, unlike with apps that require a reader to check a book back in before it can be read by someone else. This is truly “all you can read” for children in low-income areas of the United States.

Scotland offers automatic library membership
Scotland has established a program in which every child will automatically receive a library membership in a plan that aims to foster literacy from a young age.

The yearlong pilot project begins in September, with different libraries trying out a variety of enrollment schemes, including cards issued at birth, at three to four years, or when kids enter their first year of primary school. Libraries will work with schools and communities to encourage kids to use the resources available to them.

As increased access to resources promotes education, library visits also help nurture a love of reading.

Growth in digital lending
OverDrive, the tech company that distributes ebooks, audiobooks, music and video to 34,000 libraries, schools and colleges around the world, continues its growth and recently announced that three more library systems in Germany, Austria and Switzerland will begin using their digital library distribution services.

OverDrive recently announced that in 2015, it loaned out over 165 million ebooks, audiobooks and streaming video to library patrons around the world, an increase of 20 percent over 2014. Audiobook lending grew by 35 percent over 2014.

OverDrive was acquired by Japanese e-commerce company, which also owns ebook retailer Kobo, in March 2015 for around 24 billion yen (ZAR3.3 billion).

In other digital advances, Canada moved forward in ther fair ebook pricing initiative late last year with Penguin Random House announcing that it would reduce ebook prices for public libraries in both the US and Canada — setting a maximum of $65 (US and CAD) per title in January. That was a serious reduction in cost, from US$85 and CAD$95.

“Public libraries are key players in the publishing industry, both as major purchasers of books and ebooks and promoters of reading and literacy. Our goal is to give readers access to the content they desire, whether it’s in print or digital format. We very much wish to work with multinational publishers to arrive at a reasonable solution that works for all parties involved.” Said Ana-Maria Critchley of the Toronto Public Library that led the initiative.