Modern
Libraries @ Moving from Traditional Library
Now a day’s Library is in changing aspects mood by adding
a relational side to all its processes.
Modern libraries are fluctuating from concentrating on transactional
services, and have become relational which creates more value for the users.
For more insights @ Discussion with Mogens Vestergaard,
Manager of Library and Citizen Service at Roskilde Libraries in Denmark is
attached below for your kind reference.
Modern libraries: Moving from a transactional to a relational library
Whilst the library of the past was defined by
transactional services – lending and returning of books – nowadays the dynamics
of the library has changed by adding a relational side to all its processes.
This way, modern libraries are shifting from focusing on transactional
services, and have become relational which creates more value for the users.
To learn more about the ways this transition is made, we
have had a brief discussion with Mogens Vestergaard, Manager of Library and
Citizen Service at Roskilde Libraries in Denmark.
Traditional library: a transactional library
Like most countries, all citizens in Denmark need to have
free and equal access to knowledge because, as Mogens Vestergaard points out, “the first
Danish public library act established in 1964 (and updated in 2000) stipulated that each municipality had the
obligation to run a public library either run by itself or in cooperation with
other institutions”.
Traditionally, libraries were defined by transactional
procedures such as lending and returning of books and other materials, or
helping users with their questions about the collection. As this was the case,
the main purpose was to fulfill the need for knowledge and education. Mogens
Vestergaard highlights that “in the old
days you just came in as a user with a certain need, books or a specific
question. Librarians didn’t have to create a relationship in that case, they
just had to create a transaction to make sure that the users got what they
needed”.
#Libraries were
defined by transactional procedures such as #lending and returning of #books
and other materials, or helping users with their questions about the
collection. Click To Tweet
Accordingly, in the beginning, the means to fulfill the
libraries purpose was books, which extended to music, periodicals and now, to
multimedia and electronical materials. When asked which one is more important,
the purpose or the means, Mogens adds that “it is the
purpose that is the most fundamental thing and the means becomes the secondary
choice that can be adapted. Libraries are inclined to use any means they can
think of in order to promote the purpose. There are of course limitations, but
it really gives a lot of freedom to run a public library.”
It is the
#library 's purpose that is the most fundamental thing and the means becomes
the secondary choice that can be adapted. #librarylife Click To Tweet
While the number of book loans has gone down, the library usage has increased over the
last few years (usage – measured in the number of visitors to the
physical libraries). The library’s physical location has gained more
purposes, than just ensuring the place for a transaction and people are using
it for a lot more activities: “they are
using in huge numbers the physical location (the computers, the makerspaces,
the areas), they use it for gatherings, study groups, small courses on
different subject, especially technology and a lot of other things. So, the
purpose of the library is not fulfilled only by the medium but also by the
spaces, by having these libraries locations around.”
Students present their culture
projects in the library for 7th grade Social Studies with Coach Chambers.
Students researched their heritage, presented the results and sampled
traditional dishes from various cultures. Way to go! pic.twitter.com/tHxQ5Vcbab
— Bowie Middle School (@BowieMSOdessa) December 19, 2017
The shift to a relational library
The library is no longer defined by the number of books
it has on its shelves, but rather it is now about being a living space for the
users. When asked why there has been this shift, Mogens adds that “the libraries have always been good at being
aligned with what people want. That is a very important thing. Regarding the
technology, libraries were the first movers around ’96 – they were the first
ones to get computers to the library and to try to educate people on how to use
computers. It is the
library’s obligation to be at the edge of different uses of culture and uses of
technologies.“
It is the
#library’s obligation to be at the edge of different uses of #culture and uses
of #technologies. Click To Tweet
Today, people are more focused on learning activities and
they want social interaction together with the possibility to share their knowledge
with others. Therefore, the “relational library” is a new development where
libraries become a meeting and interaction place
for people. Mogens adds that “the transactional
library is where people are getting in the library, they ask for a book and the
librarian gives it to them. As opposed to the relational library, where people
enter the library and they are working together with the librarian. For this to
happen, you have to establish a relation with the patron. The library
transforms into a meeting place, and you have to facilitate that meeting. This
is another way to establish relations. That means you are in need of new
competencies.
The #library
transforms into a #meeting place, and you have to facilitate that meeting.
#modernlibraries #librarians Click To Tweet
Therefore, the library’s physical spaces
and the needs of the different target groups of the library must be highly
considered when defining the library’s structure.
Also, did you know that you can
research your family history for free in our traditional local studies library,
also based at the museum? We also have this service available in Leigh #OurDay pic.twitter.com/40bAS9tFie
— Wigan Council (@WiganCouncil) November 21, 2017
What is next?
When thinking about what other developments might appear
at the library, Mogens explains that:
1. One thing that we started using now in libraries is design thinking. It is a
common thing and what it implies is that we are going out and talking with the
users. We are actively interacting with them, not just thinking about what new
services we could add at the library. We had to create a whole new strategy
because of the new dynamics at the library.
To rethink our activity, we went and talked with the
citizens in their own homes, in their environment, we listened to their needs
and wishes. We wanted to know how their interest in a specific topic would
manifest. By doing that, we learned a lot of things about the users. It was
also interesting to find out more about the library user groups. There are many
different groups that come to the library constantly; students, families with
children, etc. But another thing that we noticed is that there are some
traditional groups that are not using the library constantly. They are using it
in a transitional way, that means when people hit a transition to a new stage
of their lives (ex: retiring from work), the library is coming up into their
mind.
Design Thinking for Libraries:
strategies, tools and a case study @ARLIS_NA @sched – 3 phases: inspiration, ideation,
implementation pic.twitter.com/KLaqcukm6u
— Katie Pierce Meyer (@kpiercemeyer) February 26, 2018
2. One future that might be plausible for the libraries
is the library as the Fifth Branch Of Power. The media
are defining themselves as the fourth power of state because they see
themselves as controlling the three main powers in the state. What I think is
that they have that problem, they are not looked upon as credible, and they are
sometimes very close to the political system.
What the libraries are representing is people, ordinary
people in huge numbers. In that way, the library can establish a new way of
control. Libraries offer what people need; a wide range of information, and we
are helping people have access to that information. So, in that perspective, we
are the fifth power in the state.
Link | https://princh.com/modern-libraries-from-a-transactional-to-a-relational-library/#.WqdmPOfhWM8
Regards
Prof. Pralhad Jadhav
Master of Library & Information Science (NET
Qualified)
Senior Manager @ Knowledge Repository
Khaitan & Co
Mobil @ 9665911593
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