The many facets of libraries

I was particularly pleased with this week’s readings, specially since we don’t have a strong link with public libraries in Mexico.

In Battles’s text, one of the things that caught my attention was how Panizzi, through the design of the library catalog, aimed to develop a more independent reader. I was wondering how that spirit has changed throughout the years, specially since we are used to receive information that is tailored to us depending on our online behavior. In that sense, it was no surprise to see this initiative by the Brooklyn Public Library.

After reading the strategic plan of the library and the expansion of the capabilities public libraries have across the country (Mattern), I started wondering about labor, budgets and what it means to be a librarian nowadays.

It seems to me that the role of libraries is to work as bastions of Democracy and truth, at the same time, they are being challenged with limited budgets in a time were they need to incorporate new technologies and people who know how to work with them.

  • Are academic programs tackling the needs of public libraries?
  • Has the role of library foundations and group of trustees become more important?
  • Is the collecting of data going to affect the distribution of books and activities that are available for the public?

One Reply

  • Thanks for this excellent post, Alonso. I particularly appreciate the “comparative” perspective you bring to this topic. You pose some great questions — many of which I’m hoping we can address during our visit today! David Giles is particularly well equipped to answer your questions regarding trustees / leadership and data-driven planning. As for academic programs addressing public libraries: I wish more were paying attention! Library and Information Science is of course invested in the field. Some sociologists and anthropologists and economists study libraries as social infrastructures and economies of exchange. And I’m happy to say that more design, art, and tech grads are applying their skills in libraries.

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