No, not from Congress- from informed and clever librarians.
This morning's theme:
Creating a New Nostalgia
It's a simple concept, but for many a little difficult to accept. Those warm and fuzzy feelings our patrons have for books and quiet spaces is lingering, yet diminishing as generations turn over. The reason this is difficult for us is the nostalgia is associated with particular symbols that may be fading, but we all know our role has always been sustaining community, and we are even better at that now than we have ever been. So how do we create a new nostalgia that speaks to the emotion of the public, creating a refreshed sense that libraries are indispensable?
Share your ideas here and I'll share what I hear the rest of the day.
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I feel like we need to make sure we focus on stories and information rather than loyalty to any particular medium. A book is just a dead tree without the words it contains, so it's value comes from those words. But its not the only way to connect with them.
ReplyDeleteI think the answer for creating a new nostalgia is mentioned in your last post. We become a place that engages people, adult and children alike, in new activities and experiences.
ReplyDeleteFor example, I remember one patron who attended our travelogue series a few years ago, she stood out because she was much younger than the rest of the attendees (maybe early 20's). After the program, she checked out armfuls of books about Europe and language dictionaries. I saw her come in month after month checking out these books until one day she came with a binder. She showed it off proudly at the circulation desk, explaining to me the trip she had planned for herself across Europe. That story could be satisfying enough if it ended there, but it didn't. She went to all the places she researched and came back to show us pictures and tell us all about her travels. She had never considered travelling on her own, let alone in multiple countries where she didn't know the language, before attending these programs. I'll never forget what she said as she was thanking us: "This library taught me to be an explorer." What a great sentiment. What a lovely thought linked to what we can offer our community outside of the traditional library scope.
I think in order to speak to the emotion of the public we have to continue to expose them to new opportunities and new adventures -- whether they be in the pages of a book, in their own backyard, or across the globe.
In the middle of the night this whole topic of nostalgia popped up and I realized that we are already part of someone's definitions of library nostalgia! We offer much more than books, but we are bringing what the book tells us into action. This story that is shared here by Brandi is one perfect example. The coding camps, creation station, more relevant summer library programs, cardboard super hero cut outs, interactive programming and so much more-all contribute to each of us choosing our own library adventure. My memory of library is the smell of ink, the sound of stampers tapping each book with a date due, that is my nostalgia, the is not my grand-kids version - but as each new generation comes through our doors, the sounds and smells are changing. The smell of food, coffee, bring an element of home. People are invited to sing at programs, to create a winning food dish, or sample a device they maybe not able to afford or don't want to buy until they have tested- they are beginning their journey with us. If they want to cozy up to a good read, they can do that. If they want to drag out the information they just read in a book and try it out, there is a good possibility they can do that - at their library!!
ReplyDeleteAs I reflect on my nostalgia from the library, I came to the conclusion it was books and people that made me return over and over. I spent many, many after school hours at Simmons Library, waiting for my mom to pick me up after she finished work. The staff there helped me find books, do homework, and made me feel safe. I believe the words (like Sean said) will bring people in but it is the staff that will keep them coming back.
ReplyDeleteI think a big part of our patron’s new nostalgia is changing to engage in technology. I remember when internet terminals were first introduced at the branches. My children were using these in school and were able to come in and do their homework more efficiently, as we didn’t yet have a computer. Now, there are many more opportunities provided to learn new devices (and having assistance in doing so through computer classes and tech help.) Our programming and displays are up-to-date with the topics that are relevant and of interest to the community. Smart patrons also know that the library is a great bargain in terms of entertainment.
ReplyDeleteAs a frontline staff member, I have seen toddlers coming in with their families to story times, then growing into readers and starting school. As teens they still value and recognize the resources available to them. The library has been an intricate part of their lives, thanks to their parents who probably were always library users themselves.