2012 Kay Poustie OAM Travel Scholarship

1. What makes a successful public library?An investigation into the qualities and features that make libraries great 2012 Kay Poustie OAM Travel Scholarship Kirstie Nicholson

2. Incongruity between statements that the book’s days are numbered and the reality that circulation of physical books remains a library’s core business. • The conflict between reports of the decline of public libraries and the continued investment in huge new statement library buildings. • The priority of technology for libraries.

3. Libraries The Netherlands Amsterdam Public Library (OBA) DOK Library Concept Centre in Delft Denmark Copenhagen Main Library Copenhagen University & Royal Library Sweden Malmö Library United Kingdom Tower Hamlets’ Idea Stores British Library Cardiff Central Library Manchester Central Library Liverpool Central Library

4. Children’s Library, OBA

5. Copenhagen Main Library Ariadni Thread, http://flic.kr/p/dq46w4 ; Retrieved 21/1/13.

6. DOK DOK Delft Library, http://flic.kr/p/4AUfny ; Retrieved 3/1/13.

7. The Romance Room, DOK DOK Delft Library, http://flic.kr/p/4AUmeG ; Retrieved 3/1/13.

8. Black Diamond, Copenhagen VisitCopenhagen, http://flic.kr/p/85NNeW ; Retrieved 7/2/13

9. Cardiff Central Library Bookmouse, http://flic.kr/p/azWRwP ; Retrieved 18/2/13.

10. Idea Store Whitechapel Idea Store, http://flic.kr/p/4aEoY3 ; Retrieved 21/1/13.

11. Idea Store Bow Idea Store, Idea Store Bow, http://flic.kr/p/9isX3B ; Retrieved 21/1/13

12. OBA

13. Malmö Library

14. Black Diamond, Copenhagen

15. DOK Library Concept Centre, Delft DOK Delft Library, http://flic.kr/p/4AQcN8 ; Retrieved 3/12/12.

16. DOK DOK Delft Library, http://flic.kr/p/4AUrvL ; Retrieved 3/1/13.

17. Write Idea Festival event, Idea Store Whitechapel Idea Store, http://flic.kr/p/dvp2j5 ; Retrieved 21/1/13

18. Copenhagen Main Library

19. Art Library, DOK L: DOK Delft Library, http://flic.kr/p/4AQ8VF ; Retrieved 3/1/13 R: Sarah Houghton, http://flic.kr/p/9Zdw13 ; Retrieved 7/2/13

20. Idea Store Whitechapel Idea Store, http://flic.kr/p/9iw5zo ; Retrieved 21/1/13

21. Directional signage at DOK

22. Malmö Library’s Calendar of Light

23. Malmö Library’s Calendar of Light

24. Entrance to Balagan Part of Balagan The library for 9-12 year olds, Balagan, at Malmö Library

25. The Rotunda & Information Desk at OBA

26. Non Fiction Shelves, DOK

27. Manchester Central Library Restoration Due to re-open 2014 Manchester City Council, http://flic.kr/p/a2FgRY ; Retrieved 1/3/13

28. Liverpool Central Library Restoration Due to re-open May 2013 Liverpool City Council, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-20972053 ; Retrieved 1/3/13

29. One Focus • Liverpool: Understand your local population and make the service relevant to the local community, seek partnerships and identify priorities. • Manchester: Improving literacy. This improves life skills and opportunities. • Cardiff: Stock – all surveys highlight that people want new books and of a good breadth; outreach programmes. • Idea Stores: The place and physical space. Even in an era of digital content you need a place which people visit and own. There is very little space which is non-commercial – if you have no money, then where do you go? • Malmö: Flexibility of the physical space – wheels on everything, electricity points everywhere. • Copenhagen: Supporting reading skills and guiding people towards quality reading material   • OBA: Good opening hours. • DOK: A local focus. Local information – people won’t find this on global online vendors. It’s good to work with other local services. Anything that is not local you should do with other libraries.

30. Qualities • A focus on the library building and recognition of the importance of an attractive building that people want to spend time in. • A focus on a full events programme. • A holistic approach to people’s needs within the library space. • A wish for customers to see the space as relaxed and personal and an effort to humanise staff. • A desire to evoke their visitor’s imagination and creativity and to create a place of inspiration. • A desire for greater accessibility through opening hours. • The use of art. • A willingness to work in partnership, most often with events, but also for funding initiatives and the building of new libraries. • Planning and action.

31. 10 Actions • Provide wi-fi. • Integrate art into your building and events. • Define your customer approach and know what experience you want your patrons to have when they visit. • The location of the library is important. Know your preference for the location of your building and document it if possible. • Have broad opening hours and plans to further widen them. Seven day a week opening at your central branch, and overall making opening hours consistent. • A sustainable and dynamic events programme. • Plan, have goals and have the ability to articulate your approach. • Make the library space attractive and of high quality and plan for periodic renewal of the environment. • Provide good quality food and drink options. • Make better use of the knowledge your staff already have.

32. Thank you • Applications for 2013 Scholarship now open • Make a donation • Contact details • Kirstie Nicholson • Resources Librarian, City of Armadale • 9399 0135 • knicholson@armadale.wa.gov.au