1. Creation of Social Spaces:
Future Success Mantra for
Libraries
Jitender Sharma
Librarian
NIILM Centre for Management Studies
Plot No. 53, Knowledge Park 5
Greater Noida – 201306
Mob. 09899695953
E-mail: jsharma@niilm.com, jitendersharmaji@gmail.com

2. What does it mean?
• According to Wikipedia, a social space is physical or virtual space such
as a social center, online social media, or other gathering place where
people gather and interact. Some social spaces such as town squares
or parks are public places; others such as websites, shopping malls etc.
are privately regulated.
• In context of libraries, a social space can be a physical space or a
virtual space like social media applications
• Creation of social spaces in libraries offers the users to meet
informally, hold discussions, organize social events or specialized
shows, arranging exhibitions, space for food joints and so on. These
spaces help in engaging users in more effective and meaningful
manner.

3. Some Images of Social Spaces in
Libraries

4. Some Images of Social Spaces in
Libraries

5. Some Images of Social Spaces in
Libraries

6. Some Images of Social Spaces in
Libraries

7. Some Images of Social Spaces in
Libraries

8. Why Social Space is Needed
• Libraries increasingly subscribe to and provide access of digital
information resources. More and more users are using tablets, mobiles
and Internet to get and exchange information. They don’t find any reason
to visit library. Libraries have to attract them back to their premises
through innovative and user-oriented services and ambience.
• Learning is now becoming more and more social and new generation
users prefer library areas that are conducive to study in groups. Libraries
need to provide users social space for group discussions or for
collaborative works
• Apart from bricks and mortar structures, community place and space, a
presence in cyberspace, and a place of self learning and fulfilling hobbies
make a library complete. It encourages emotional, social and intellectual
development of users
• Users are very active on social media. Library has to reach to these users
through presence in social media
• Properly designed social spaces can increase users’ motivation

9. Libraries are facing serious
Competition today
Competition is multidimensional. It my come from
sources like:
• Other libraries offering excellent user services
• Mega online retailers like Amazon or Flipkart
• Food joints like Starbucks, Café Coffee Day, and McDonald etc.

10. What does Competition Offer:
Study and Activities Areas at British Council Library

11. What does Competition Offer:
Study and Activities Areas at American Centre Library

12. What does Competition Offer:
Flipkart.com

13. What does Competition Offer:
Amazon.com

14. What does Competitors Offer
Customer can Leisurely Sit and Work
at Starbucks
Customers using Laptops at Starbucks

15. What does Competitors Offer
Café Coffee Day offers Wi-Fi, Meeting
Facilities
McDonald too offers Spaces for
Meetings with Wi-Fi Connectivity

16. Libraries v/s Online Retailers



Stacks filled with thousand
of books, difficult to
browse through
All searches have to be
made within limited time
available including
issue/return
Monotonous in nature,
provides information about
books, magazines only



Online Retailers offer
contents browsing free of
cost any time anywhere
Material can be ordered
online, automatically refers
to other similar sources,
home delivery
Heterogeneous. One can
find all items at one place
including household
groceries

17. Libraries v/s Food Joints etc.
Places for self study
 Mobiles need to be
switched off or keep in
silent mode
 Silence needs to be
maintained all the time
 Tea/Coffee or eatables not
allowed
 No discussion of any kind

Places for socialization
 Mobiles, laptops or any
other devices can be used
 Can easily hold meetings,
discussions etc.
 Spend time and hold
discussions over a cup or
tea/coffee with eatables
 Places meant for free flow
of discussions


18. Change in Users’ Profiles
• New generation users prefer learning areas conducive
to study in groups
• Heavily dependent upon mobile and electronic
devices for getting instant information
• Very active in collaborative activities
• Always online on social media like Facebook, Twitter,
Blogs etc
• Prefer audio-visual learning approach rather than
reading through books only
• Active in extra curricular activities

19. Need of Attitudinal Change among
Library Professionals
From custodian of library holdings to optimum
utilization of their resources
User friendliness attitude rather than putting barriers
in the name of rules and regulations
Need to understand that library services are driven
by user needs, not by building huge collections or
technological advances alone
Need to understand change in education teaching
and learning processes…

20. Need of Attitudinal Change among
Library Professionals
More than a decade ago, in one of the interactions Late Mr.
Jambhekar, librarian, IIM Ahemdabad had said
“If a book is stolen from our library, we do not
get worried unnecessarily but get more copies
of the same as we consider it a worthy book
that users want to read”
Such a big attitudinal change from a custodian of books to optimum
user friendliness is what librarians need to undergo

21. Need of Attitudinal Change among
Library Professionals
Government is trying to provide tablets to more and more college
and school students. But libraries don’t allow users to use mobiles
and laptops in libraries. They don’t provide power plug facilities in
libraries.
Libraries need to create within them separate social spaces to
accommodate changed reading and learning habits
They need to open up a dialogue with users to know their
requirements. Rest follows.
In brief, librarians need to shake off their stereotype image and
attitude and embrace new technologies and approaches to
support learning through new ways and means in the 21st
Century

22. Success Mantra
Social spaces are necessary in today environment. But at the same
time, libraries need to identify goals, scope, resources and
constraints of library before creating social space. Each library
purpose, users and facilities differ. For example
• A defence library can’t create social space for general public,
however, it may provide social space for its own clientele needs
• Public libraries can create social spaces for all types of people
irrespective of their gender, caste, race or religion
Each library can improve upon their ambience, informal and
formal sitting arrangements and may open up small cafeteria
facilities and Wi-Fi enabled places so as to attract users in
large numbers

23. Success Mantra
Libraries need to convert themselves to multipurpose entities
without losing their core focus of information and knowledge
provider. They can arrange social functions, cultural, sports and
educational events or competitions for different age groups
Social media tools like Facebook, Twitter etc. can be used by
librarians for continuous library alerts and news updates
Librarians can reach to a larger users segment using these
online social space media. Same is the case with other Chat
applications
Libraries can develop separate space and offer Internet, Wi-Fi,
Power points and informal sitting facilities for users
Libraries can provide access and guidance on use of its resources
and reach out to more and more users in need of support

24. Success Mantra
Libraries need to understand today user. He is
impatient, creative, expressive and social. He doesn’t
believe in structured format or environment. Libraries
need to equip themselves to handle new breed of users
and design their services, spaces accordingly
Libraries also need to remember advantages they have
over bookstores, online retailers, food joints etc. Users
still need a place to study, reflect, and escape from the
noisy environment surrounded them. Moreover no
commercial venture is free in comparison to libraries
which generally offers free or highly subsidized services.

25. Success Mantra
With just an extra effort in terms of providing social
spaces and the information in the format that users
want, libraries can overcome challenges posed by
competitors
This way libraries can bring transformation much
beyond the conference theme “bricks to clicks” to
“from collection to connection” or even “from
collection to creation”

26. Success Mantra
A famous book “The Great Good Place” by Ray Oldenburg defines
the significance of the third place in a healthy society. Neither work
nor home, the third place is a neutral community space, where
people come together voluntarily and informally in ways that level
social inequities and promote community engagement and social
connection.
There can’t be a better place than libraries to fill the space of the
third place. As libraries are purpose-driven organizations. They are
socially responsible and socially responsive. With no profit motive,
they have the ability to identify and respond to community needs
as neutral social space unlike home and workplace.

27. Small Initiatives at NIILM-CMS
NIILM-CMS library has developed a separate room
with 20 power points connection and informal sitting
arrangements where users can sit and read at their
leisure
Wi-Fi connectivity in enabled there like at all other
places in the institute
NIILM Cafeteria are also Wi-Fi enabled and students
can sit there any time in groups preparing for their
presentations, assignments and so on
NIILM has created blogs for its students, alumni etc.
where faculty and students keep posting information
about new developments

28. Concluding Words…
To be successful libraries need to pursue new approaches in their
design and services. They need to provide platforms for social
engagement, move away from fixed and rigid frameworks and
designs to comfortable, open-ended venues for people and
participatory activities. Like social media where people have built up
their own community spaces, libraries too can fulfill those
aspirations of their users.
Libraries are places where critical thinking is encouraged to
thrive. Hence, it is an urgent need that we create new social
spaces in libraries so as to stimulate intellectual discussions,
innovative ideas through group interaction and much more.

29. Thank You All