Libraries & the Inspiration Business

With federal, state, and county budgets drying up as record numbers of users flock to libraries, now is an excellent time for introspection about our profession. What exactly is our line of work?

Librarians, keepers of those great cultural storehouses, used to be in the information business, with an emphasis on obtaining records and preserving knowledge. Then a shift occurred in which we became purveyors, interpreters, teachers, and guides—ostensibly part of the service industry. Personally, I see us as being in the inspiration business. Librarians today do more than simply organize, provide, and interpret information. We transform users' experiences, collaborating with them along their path toward self-improvement.

In my library, for instance, as in most academic libraries, we offer one-on-one reference consultations. These interactions afford us the opportunity to sit down away from the busier areas in the building and really talk to students about their assignments. Students typically arrive somewhat confused and are apologetic for not knowing how the library works.

After exploring their topic for an hour, I usually notice a dramatic shift in their attitude. I am not just showing them how to navigate through library resources but working with them to learn the best ways to examine problems and explore solutions. They leave these sessions filled with confidence, a renewed sense of determination, and the ability to complete their task successfully. One hopes they also leave with a positive perception of the library and the self-assurance to use scholarly resources independently and more effectively in the future.

We can't just wait around for our patrons to schedule these appointments for inspiration themselves. Consider a recent study by a team of University of Illinois (UI) librarians (www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6644726), which found that UI students were largely unaware of the services the library offered. The study's findings, presented as part of the Association of College and Research Libraries' (ACRL) 2009 Virtual Conference, suggest that we need to be more evangelical in our outreach efforts. We can't assume that patrons will learn about the library on their own. Instead, we need to design encounters to help them discover the resources, services, and encouraging values we can impart.

While conducting research for a renovation project, I spent several months talking to numerous students, listening to their stories about how they used our learning spaces and how that usage had changed over time. One common thread that emerged was the notion that each trip to the library had an intended purpose. Users visit our buildings with a goal: to study, to meet with a group, to research, to write, or to brainstorm. Productivity was the central theme; the library is the place where students go to get things done.

It's not just the environment, collections, services, or technology we provide that helps users focus on these pursuits; it's also other people. When students see other students studying around them, they feel that they, too, should be working on their assignments. By emphasizing communal interactivity in increasingly transparent environments, libraries are helping to foster a sense of camaraderie, companionship, mentorship, and positive influence.

In a March 4 blog post titled “Libraries Might Not Provide Content in the Future & It's Okay” (www.walkingpaper.org/1436), Aaron Schmidt, digital initiatives librarian for the District of Columbia Public Library, predicted that libraries will become less about offering materials in the future and more about creating “excellent programs and experiences based around content and conversation.” In response, LJ editor in chief Francine Fialkoff offered up an alternative, more middle-of-the-road view (Editorial, LJ 4/1/09), writing that “we needn't abandon providing content in any and all formats, but we can enrich that role in ways Schmidt and others suggest.”

While building collections and providing assistance remain significant, there is definitely an evolving shift toward this more proactive role for librarians as facilitators who not only change the way patrons use content but also aim to enrich their lives.

No matter what type of library you work in, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day or distracted by such things as budget cuts, promotions, and emerging technologies. But let's not forget about the emotional value patrons receive from their library encounters. One of the great things about our profession is that we have the chance each day to make a positive impact on our community. Don't miss out on your opportunity to inspire someone today.