the long shadow

Last night I attended The Junto at P’unk Ave in South Philadelphia where the topic was ‘Rethinking The Library’. The topic of the library as a whole in Philadelphia conjurs up intense debate as many of our branches were set to close due to budgetary issues. Last night a panel discussion was held focusing how we look at the library system. Much of the discussion was looking forward and and pointing out what the library was lacking for those in attendance, which was made up of mostly middle class well to do folk. I agree that the library needs to be changed but it needs to change in a way that focuses on the majority of constituents it serves. This means there is no easy umbrella answer. Each branch in the library system is different and the community they serve are equally as different. It is great fun to have these great discussions about how things should be if they revolved around you but unfortunately that is not the case. Getting the community involved and give their input is no easy task …

However, a small side discussion that occurred within the framework of the future of the library discussion was how the hands of the library system are somewhat tied in reference to upgrading the online services of the system as far as privacy goes. This conundrum might be for something like Refresh Philly to undertake. The idea of creating a side project tied into the library system where users can opt-into things that the library itself can not provide. There are many projects out there that would lend themselves to this and take away the need to build something from scratch from the ground up. The need to buy into or build a custom system in many instances is overkill and a waste of resources. Rethinking the Library and the way it serves I believe is one of those times where applying a solid foundation based on new media services could go a long way and save a bit of money by creating a public partnership program to build them.