Future of Libraries

I saw this tweet today and it reminded me of a discussion from CNU 24 in Detroit.  This was where I first heard about the Toronto Tool Library.  The neighborhood was trying to encourage the rehabilitation of the neighborhood homes. The tool library is a way to reduce the cost of remodels. I remember thinking what a great concept.  As I recall, the tool library was started by one person donating their tools to the neighborhood library, the details are fuzzy but not important. It was the concept that was cool and was just filed away until I read this tweet.

This caused me to think more about the Shareable movement. As I pondered this tweet and read the article on Shareable.net website, I started to think.  My initial thought was "Is this the future of public libraries?"  While the article seems to imply the trend is for "Thing Libraries" to be moving out of public libraries into their own space.  I still wonder as books are moving more and more to digital formats will the number of physical books in a library reduce?  Will this new free space become thing libraries?

This line of thought has generated several questions for me; How will books loaned out as they move to digital formats?  Is there a digital library future?  Will digital book publishers allow digital library licenses?  These are questions I thought I would have to research further in the future.  As I figured I was not the first one to ask these questions.  As it turns out, I did not have to search that far, I just needed to scroll a little further down through @Shareable Twitter feed.

It seems I am asking many of the same questions others are asking and answering about libraries.  I am glad to see discussions around these questions. It is encouraging that libraries are finding new ways to play important roles in our neighborhoods.

“Several years ago, Shareable reported on libraries’ changing role as community hubs offering gathering spaces, digital media labs, community resource centers, and art spaces. That trend has only grown, as makerspaces, incubators for small businesses, and programs to support entrepreneurs and the new workforce are now commonplace in libraries around the world.”

It is encouraging to see, in our modern society, that libraries are finding new ways to continue their original mission of education and lifelong learning.  I for one am new to many of these services.  I definitely plan to explore my local libraries, both public and thing libraries.  Hope to run into you there.