Libraries as creative industries here :-)/
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It's funny 
If this is a subtopic it could be here too because diferentiation of libraries products is demand based
Anyway, for me it is a new perspective towards libraries and I need to think more about it.
Hi - I've really enjoyed the discussions on 'libraries as creative industries' and I completely agree with those of you favoring the use of electronic devices as a reading tool. In order to survive in the new digital age, traditional libraries need to re-invent themselves. Books piled on dusty shelves will probably become a thing of the past within several decades, especially in highly-developed countries. I can definitely see the advantage of this trend in attracting readers and saving trees! 
But then again, there's a certain sense of history, culture and even nostalgia evoked by (ancient) paper books. Anyone remember the short story 'The Fun They Had' by Isaac Asimov? Perhaps this will be us in the future...
OK, may be it's still early to talk about that:)
I feel I did not explain what I mean:)
I was recently researching the outreach activities of Veria library in Greece. That's the library which won the Access for learning Award last year. Amongst the other amazing things it is doing it supports two mobile libraries which serve about 30 000 people in rural remote areas of North Greece by providing books, Internet, information literacy instruction and diverse seminars. It was in the distant 1994 when Veria library launched the first electronic mobile in Greece in the frame of a big international project. What striked me most in the final report was that the management staff considered as its biggest challenge to motivate people to use the new modern nicely designed and furnished library. Then, it was reported that the greek staff invested much more time to motivate people than the other international partners because they decided that they need 'to create new needs'. That's how the Veria's mobile library susseccful story started...
Of course, there is a lot of similar stories. Milena just shared in ' Libraries for social development' about a bulgarian project 'Information literacy for youth raised in social institutions", that run into the same challenges.
That is way I would suggest a title which to embrace the wto aspects, e.g.
Library on demand/ library to create new demands.
It will also see the 'next library' as proactive, creative and flexible entity... and socially responsible, of course
Sounds great, but not many libraries would do that.
Hello,
I enjoy your discussion about the “Next library”, but I miss something: libraries and reading for pleasure. I mean the great world literature which has the power to create values, to develop the imagination, to change visions and attitudes, etc. I think public libraries should be more proactive in the promotion of reading through the new technologies. I have noticed that some of my students, who have bought kindles, are becoming even more passionate readers. Why not libraries to promote reading through e-reading. I’m thinking of launching some "e-youth reading club" in our school. Libraries can do it even better in a more informal and cool atmosphere out of schools. Does it make sense?
P.S. Thank you for inviting me to share a teacher’s view
Of course, it makes sence! I think it would be a perfect example of a user-driven approach and I think libraries should try it. And thank you for your valuable observations about youth reading! We need to consider that and to be relevant.
And yet, I like your raising the the question of 'reading for pleasure':) Modern libraries are so overwelmed by all kinds of expectaions that sometimes we forgot about their primary function - to connect people with the great world literature and to attract them to certain cultural practices...
Kindle reading rooms and e-youth reading clubs! Wow!
That's cool
I know that many university libraries provide e-book collections but it is interesting to know how far public libraries identify, providing e-book collections as their priority?
Good question:))
Certainly there are public libraries which provide e-book collections, but how far it is their priority - I do not know:)
It's interesting to check whether it's a priority on international institutions' level:)
I think Penny was talking in our initial discussion about libraries' responsibility to connect people with the most advanced technologies. I have read mainly about some university libraries using 3D in their education programs. There are already some public libraries which can afford the most advanced technologies, too like the public library in Singapore or that one in Eindhoven and others, and as far as I know they have raised couple of times their attendance. Probably there will be much more in the future. It depends very much on the cultural context and the national policy, but also on the libraries proactive policy, new management styles, partnerships, etc. I believe introduction of the ever developing new technologies by libraries for the average people is a niche which could be developed further...
A friend of mine asked me some days ago whether the advanced public libraries use technologies for example to meet people with the expensive arts such as opera, balley, classical music, etc. That's a reasonable question, I think, having in mind that those arts are inaccessible for many and also need some preliminary knowledge and a key to their acceptance. I do not know libraries which do that, but it's worthy to think about that.
Many libraries provide such services, but with the use of the most advanced technologies they would really make a difference in people's life. Great idea!
Using kindles for enhancement of reading is a wonderful idea. I have a kindle myself and I love it. It is a really nice modern version of reading. It is better that the PC reading and at the same time reminds of the paper books. I like it so much that I'm getting addicted I read a lot more that I ever did. I found amazing e-books for free. And I noticed how different my spare time is since I got a kindle. I watch TV and serials on my laptop a lot less than usual and that makes me happy I feel more active and I can bring several books with me, weighting only 200 grams. For young people, which lose interest in reading, kindles are a refresh Technologies attract. Libraries should use that, but it's not very cheap.
P.S. I love classical literature and I read it with pleasure. Before I got my kindle, I didn't find time for that, but now it's a different story For a month I already read Chekhov and Steinbeck. It's modern and romantic at the same time
Kindles: a hope for the classical literature:))That's interesting:)
Seriously -I think some reaserch is needed.If this is the case, the 'library on demand' should consider it!
OK, so I'm still learning how to properly post in a chronological order but my other point (also raised by Milena) is about storage space. Imagine the volumes and volumes of world literature in the palms of your hands, all at the same time and thanks to modern technology! This is what I call the 'wow' factor!
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