(29 Aug 2023) Whether on a university campus, at a local school, or in a metropolitan neighborhood, libraries are continually evolving how they engage with their users to make the most impact within their communities. This evolution recently has included a renewed emphasis on proactively shaping experiences around library spaces, programming, collections, and staff development.
Conducted in partnership between OCLC Global Council and OCLC Research and Market Research teams, the 2023 survey explored themes such as community engagement, collaboration, and innovative programs that meet library users’ continually evolving needs and expectations. The results of that survey provide insight into ways that library leaders and workers expect changing library experiences to create more meaningful engagement and positive impacts.
From the Report:
While the survey garnered data across a wide variety of questions, a few findings stand out as particularly notable with regard to the subject of changing library experiences:
- Libraries will increasingly play the role of “space providers”
- Demand for open access in academic libraries will intensify
- Resource sharing through consortia will increase
- Partnerships with non-profit and government agencies will increase for public libraries
- Academic librarians expect increased partnerships with consortia and other libraries
- Library workers may see more flexible working options and access to mental health care
- Additional need for data analytics is expected
More findings can be found here.
