Burning platforms and melting icebergs: An exploratory analysis of present strategic challenges and cross-pressures in the public libraries

TY - JOUR

T1 - Burning platforms and melting icebergs

T2 - An exploratory analysis of present strategic challenges and cross-pressures in the public libraries

AU - Pors, Niels Ole

PY - 2010/3/23

Y1 - 2010/3/23

N2 - Purpose – The public libraries face several challenges. The most important is probably the economic situation. A second is discrepancies between the profession's perception of the roles of the libraries in the local community and the users' much more traditional views of the constituting elements of a public library service. The third challenge is the rather overwhelming introduction and proliferation of new services and the prioritising of these services. Recent research indicates a possible gap between the public library users and their perceptions of the elements constituting a library and the library profession's struggle to place the public library in the centre of the perceived development of society. This paper seeks to analyse this gap and address questions concerning the traditional roles of the library and the discourses in the profession concerning the public library as a place and an agent for social capital, integration, entrance to the public system, a player in the field of emerging social technologies, and to discuss possible consequences in relation to the significance users, and nonusers, place on different types of service provision. Further, the paper aims to analyse and discuss how public libraries can bridge the gap between the traditional roles and the role as an agent of change or innovation using existing data and user surveys. Design/methodology/approach The primary data for the study consist of three large surveys. The first was a nationwide survey of high school students' use of libraries and information resources. The second was an indepth survey of users and nonusers in a municipality in the Copenhagen area. The third survey is an analysis of perceptions of citizens' services in the public libraries. Supporting data draw from the National Library Statistics and analyses of statements and opinions in the professional literature. Findings The results of the surveys analysed indepth indicate a clear, very marked and possibly increasing discrepancy between the users' rather traditional perceptions of what constitutes a public library. The analysis employs different segmentation methods, and offers a differentiated view of behaviour and perception in segments of users and nonusers, indicating a very diversified picture of behaviour, perceptions and priorities for different kinds of services. The paper focuses especially on the possible gap between the perceived importance of traditional services and new services and discusses these problems in relation to declining resources and use. Practical implications The paper addresses the problem about balancing users' traditional views on public libraries and the need for innovation of both services and service delivery. Originality/value The paper presents a dramatic appraisal of trends in Danish public library use, which are applicable to modern public library services worldwide.

AB - Purpose – The public libraries face several challenges. The most important is probably the economic situation. A second is discrepancies between the profession's perception of the roles of the libraries in the local community and the users' much more traditional views of the constituting elements of a public library service. The third challenge is the rather overwhelming introduction and proliferation of new services and the prioritising of these services. Recent research indicates a possible gap between the public library users and their perceptions of the elements constituting a library and the library profession's struggle to place the public library in the centre of the perceived development of society. This paper seeks to analyse this gap and address questions concerning the traditional roles of the library and the discourses in the profession concerning the public library as a place and an agent for social capital, integration, entrance to the public system, a player in the field of emerging social technologies, and to discuss possible consequences in relation to the significance users, and nonusers, place on different types of service provision. Further, the paper aims to analyse and discuss how public libraries can bridge the gap between the traditional roles and the role as an agent of change or innovation using existing data and user surveys. Design/methodology/approach The primary data for the study consist of three large surveys. The first was a nationwide survey of high school students' use of libraries and information resources. The second was an indepth survey of users and nonusers in a municipality in the Copenhagen area. The third survey is an analysis of perceptions of citizens' services in the public libraries. Supporting data draw from the National Library Statistics and analyses of statements and opinions in the professional literature. Findings The results of the surveys analysed indepth indicate a clear, very marked and possibly increasing discrepancy between the users' rather traditional perceptions of what constitutes a public library. The analysis employs different segmentation methods, and offers a differentiated view of behaviour and perception in segments of users and nonusers, indicating a very diversified picture of behaviour, perceptions and priorities for different kinds of services. The paper focuses especially on the possible gap between the perceived importance of traditional services and new services and discusses these problems in relation to declining resources and use. Practical implications The paper addresses the problem about balancing users' traditional views on public libraries and the need for innovation of both services and service delivery. Originality/value The paper presents a dramatic appraisal of trends in Danish public library use, which are applicable to modern public library services worldwide.

KW - public libraries, users, statistics preferences recipes discourse

U2 - 10.1108/14678041011026838

DO - 10.1108/14678041011026838

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1467-8047

VL - 11

SP - 9

EP - 24

JO - Performance Measurement and Metrics

JF - Performance Measurement and Metrics

IS - 1

ER -