Our libraries provides access to free resources from books and online material to the Guyra Library's 3-D printer. What, Armidale Regional Council wants to know, should the library of the future include?
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Council is asking 12- to 24-year-olds to complete a survey, as part of their 21st Century Libraries Strategy to modernise the Armidale and Guyra libraries.
"Young people will be using the library a lot longer than everybody else," Cr Debra O'Brien said, "so we need to know what would make them use it."
"We're not thinking tomorrow," librarian Aimee Hutton said; "we're thinking 10, even 20 years from now. Just think outside the box, and don't be scared to share any little burning idea you've had."
The survey is available on Council's website.
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Should the library have adaptable dynamic spaces that can be moved and changed according to community needs? Are e-resources delivered in the best way? Should the library use new apps? Would people prefer self-service? Are community programs actually interesting to the community? Can the library introduce other fun and interesting technology (such as virtual reality for teaching and experience)? Should it be a council shopfront? Should drones deliver books?
"Let's just suspend reality for a while," Ms Hutton said; "let's think big, and see where we end up!"
Library staff have formulated a draft strategic plan, but want to consult the community to see if they're on the right track.
"We don't want to tell the community what they want; we want to hear what they want," Ms Hutton said.
Council surveyed community groups earlier in the year, but found that most respondents were over 45. This survey targets the youth demographic that council needs feedback from.
"We have our own ideas about what youth are looking for, and how they use the library, but we're looking for some validation or actual evidence of that in these youth surveys," Ms Hutton said.
The survey opened on October 11, and will be open for at least another fortnight; Ms Hutton is hoping for a couple of hundred responses at least.
Council had received nearly a thousand responses to their first survey, Ms Hutton said, but were still collating responses, she said, including nearly 200 in hard copy.
"There's enough still to be input that could change those results," she said.
Part of the community consultation, Cr O'Brien said, was to broaden the library's appeal, so it caters to a wider range of people, particularly those who may not use it much.
"There are people right now who have never gone into a library, who just don't see a library as their place," she said. "We want to see what it it is that will make them feel like it's their place."
Some Aboriginal groups, Cr O'Brien said, reported they didn't feel comfortable in the library; Aboriginal art or a flag would send a clear signal they were welcome. People with disabilities might need assistive equipment or technology.
"Libraries, being free, have the potential to break down a lot of these barriers," Cr O'Brien said. "I don't think there's anything more important than community providing that capacity to create a more equitable society through educational informational institutions that are free and public.
"It's a democratic view of libraries: it isn't just one group of well-educated people from the dominant community that should feel welcome; it doesn't just belong to one group. Libraries belong to everyone."