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An implementation of a “third place.”
Andy Barnett, McMillan Memorial Library
Declining AV circulation (format extinction)
Declining print usage
More online services = fewer reasons for in-person use of library
Self-service = less time in library
High tech AND high touch
Questions about the future and necessity of public libraries
Time to create our future
Document value of online services
Display oriented library
Reshaping collections to new reality
Programming, esp. creatorspaces
More explicitly educational
More interactive
Outward facing (Harwood Institute)
Commons
Grows out of Information Commons
Based on Third Place concept
Public library mashup◦ Remix of these with new elements
◦ Government, library tradition, educational, lifelong and voluntary
A commons
Separate from home and the workplace
In The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg argues that third places are important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement and establishing a sense of place
Robert Putnam discuss third places in Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital
Free or inexpensive (no monetary barrier)
Food and drink, while not essential, are important
Highly accessible: proximate for many
Involve regulars
Hospitable
Both new friends and old should be found there
Rapidly disappearing
Neutral ground
Leveler
Conversation is a main activity
Accessibility and accommodation
The regulars
The mood can be playful
A home away from home
Somehow, they didn’t think of libraries
Part of larger trend
Important piece of development
Sense of place / destination / brand
User friendly / stickiness
Community focus
Zoning of space
Builds user base at all ages
Guided by our mission - Strengthening our community through lifelong learning
Outgrowth of Ron McCabe’s book Civic Librarianship
An internal expansion project, converting former storage space
Opened in 2005
Zoning (matching purpose/ design/ ruleset)◦ Adult (collections)
◦ Technology (quiet, privacy)
◦ Youth Services (collections, social, programs)
◦ Meeting rooms (programs, social)
◦ Commons (social, collections)
Commons visibly different from other zones -décor and furniture
High use (AV) or high browse (magazines / newspapers) collections
Mixed use at all times, but with differing mixes depending upon time of day.
Beverages allowed in most of facility, food allowed in Commons and main meeting room
Ties to hospitality, programming, community focus, stickiness
Coffeehouse
Iterations
Supervising the space – esp. after school
Finding balance in rulesets
Coffeehouse failed as a commercial venture, but succeeded as a staffed service
High level food with low level prep
Need to expand coffeehouse for dual use
Shift to more wireless users
Change of main entrance required rethinking
Presentation online at slideshare.net
McMillan Memorial Library
Andy Barnett, Director
