Re-envisioning Public Libraries: The Aspen Report

1. Rising to the Challenge; Re-envisioning Public Libraries The Aspen Report Prepared for Summer Summit 2015 Mary Soucie State Librarian

2. What is the Aspen Report • The Dialogue on Public Libraries is a multi-stakeholder forum that brings together library professionals, policymakers, technology experts, philanthropists, educators and civic leaders to explore, develop and champion new ways of thinking about public libraries. • The Dialogue on Public Libraries also convened roundtable focus group and preview sessions withboard members and other thought leaders from the Public Library Association (PLA), Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL), the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), the American Library Association (ALA) and the International City/ County Management Association (ICMA).

3. Why is it important? • It gives librarians/libraries of all sizes the same framework for discussing the role of public libraries today • The process included stakeholders outside the library field • It is a national conversation on the importance of libraries • I believe it applies to all library types, not just public libraries, and that the principles can be applied across the board

4. The report… • is overwhelming! Agree • has too many pages. Agree • doesn’t apply to my library. Disagree

5. Where do I start? • Read the Executive Summary • Jump to the Strategies for Success and the Action Steps http://csreports.aspeninstitute.org/documents/Strategies_for_Success.pdf

6. The Cliff’s Notes Version (or Where do I start?) • The Executive Summary • Strategies for Success • Action steps for the library, community, and policymakers

7. The Executive Summary Expanding access to education, learning opportunities and social connections for all is one of the great challenges of our time. It is a challenge made more urgent by the rapid transition from old industrial and service-based economic models to a new economy in which knowledge and creativity are the drivers of productivity and economic growth, and information, technology and learning are central to economic performance and prosperity.

8. The Executive Summary The process of re-envisioning public libraries to maximize their impact reflects: • Principles that have always been at the center of the public library’s mission— equity, access, opportunity, openness and participation • The library’s capacity to drive opportunity and success in today’s knowledge-based society • An emerging model of networked libraries that promotes economies of scale and broadens the library’s resource reach while preserving its local presence • The library’s fundamental people, place and platform assets

9. The Executive Summary How many of you have heard something similar to this… “Why do we need libraries when we have Google/the Internet/nobody reads anymore…?” This report helps to answer that question: LIBRARIES ARE AT THE CENTER OF THE DIGITAL AGE

10. The Executive Summary Public libraries are poised to play a leading role in helping individuals and communities adapt to this changing world. Many libraries already are linking individuals to information and learning opportunities, driving development and innovation, and serving as community connectors.

11. The Executive Summary Enabling all libraries to fulfill their new roles will require library leaders, policy makers and community stakeholders to re-envision the public library and take advantage of the opportunities it offers.

12. Strategies for Success Align library services in support of community goals How do we do that? What is the first step? What is the key component to knowing the community’s goals?

13. Strategies for Success Provide access to content in all formats Are you providing access to e-books, downloadable formats, traditional formats? Are you providing access to enough bandwidth for the community to access all resources in your building?

14. Strategies for Success Ensure long-term sustainability of libraries • Identify reliable revenue resources for both daily operations and long-term planning and investment • Explore alternative governance structures and business models that maximize efficient and sustainable library operations and customer service • Become more skilled at measuring outcomes rather than counting activities • Balance the local and national library value proposition to consider economies of scale in a networked world without compromising local control

15. Strategies to Success Cultivate Leadership • Improve communications with community leaders • Develop community champions • Strengthen intersections with diverse communities and communities of color • Reach out to and engage with young-professional organizations and demonstrate the collective impact of partners working together

16. Action Steps • There are 15 action steps for the library, the community and the policymakers • Identify 3 steps on each list that you are either currently doing or could easily implement • Identify the 3 most difficult steps on each list. Identify why these are the hardest steps and what the barriers are to implementation.

17. Wrap-up • What are the questions you still need answered before you will begin to implement the Aspen Report? • What additional assistance would you like from NDSL in regards to the Aspen Report?