Stephen Abram presented on trends affecting public libraries, including technology trends like increased use of mobile devices and online learning, demographic trends like aging populations, and programming trends like makerspaces and e-learning. He discussed how libraries are becoming community hubs and destinations through placemaking and partnerships. Abram emphasized the importance of measuring impact and community engagement to demonstrate the value of libraries.

1. Having a Positive Impact:
Libraries & Community Needs
Stephen Abram, MLS
Lighthouse Consulting Inc.
Federation of Ontario Public Libraries
Caledon Public Library Sept. 23, 2016

3. Agenda
 About me
 1.0 Library Trends and Best Practices
 1.1 Lifestyle and Societal Trends
 1.2 Technology Trends
 1.3 Library Facility and Service Trends
 1.4 Public Perceptions of the Library
 1.5 Comparative Survey Results - Ontario Peer Libraries
 1.6 Alternative Visions for Public Libraries of the Future
 1.7 Management & Planning Trends
 1.8 Programming Trends
 1.9 Community and Downtown Revitalization Trends

4. Guest Speaker:
Stephen Abram
Experienced library and
information industry leader
Expert in:
• Strategic & master planning
• Forecasting
• Program development
• Technology
• Training and marketing

5. The Public Library value proposition is strong
and includes (but isn’t limited to):
 Return on Investment: many studies show that public investment in libraries delivers a measurable, positive return on investment
economically, socially and for the capacity of communities to attract businesses and residents.
 Economic Development: supporting small business and entrepreneurs who will drive local economic recovery, growth, and job creation by
providing them with resources such as databases on market trends and information on regulatory obligations;
 Employment Support: providing services and resources for career planning, job search, education, and upgrading skills;
 Welcoming New Canadians: helping newcomers to Canada succeed through settlement support; language acquisition including ESL
programs, accreditation and employment support and maintaining cultural connections;
 Early Literacy Development: supporting success in life and reading and school readiness through a vast array of pre-school and children’s
literacy programs;
 Support for Formal Education and Homework Help: professional help and collections to support learners of all ages to develop advanced
information fluency competencies, do research and complete projects. Open longer hours than school libraries, public libraries are also
critical support systems for adult distance education and home schooling. Across the province, libraries are busier than ever with students
at all ages and stages;
 Serving the whole community: public libraries ensure that the whole community of Ontarians – including those with visual or physical
limitations, from any cultural or language community, natives, and more – receive equitable access to the resources of our society for
success.
 Equitable access to community resources: public libraries are often the only place where all residents can access free computing
resources, the internet, peripherals, training, and assistance to accomplish their goals as citizens, workers, and more.
 Access to Government Services: providing professional support services, accessible locations, and technology infrastructure to serve as a
major access point for e-government. Public Libraries provide cost-effective opportunities to reach Ontarians to deliver government
services for everything from forms and information to advice;
 Questions Deserve Quality Answers: Ontarians have important information needs and deserve quality answers regardless of their economic
status or location. On issues of health, parenting, finance, life choices, and more, libraries go beyond Google to improve the quality of
questions and answers.
 Cultural Vitality: a critical piece of a community’s cultural framework, public libraries are essential to a healthy and sustainable society as
social equity, environmental responsibility and economic viability; and local history heritage.
 Affordable Leisure Activities: offering free borrowing of books, music and movies and exciting library programs for children, families,
seniors, and people of all ages and tied directly to community needs and demand.

6. What is the real role and value of libraries
and librarians?
 Lewis Carroll wrote in Alice in Wonderland that, “If you don’t know where you
are going then any road will get you there.” Two things help you make the
choice to make changes or evolve: your core values and what distinct value
you deliver better than anyone else in your role in the context of your
environment – whether that’s a community, an institution, as an individual
professional, or as an educator.

7. Drivers of Evolution
Technology (social media, learning systems)
Demographics (the generations matrix)
Learning systems and policy (LMS’s, MOOCs, etc.)
Policy frameworks (e.g. OA, DRM, copyright, etc.)

8. Lifestyle and Societal Trends
Technology Trends
Library Facility and Service Trends
Public Perceptions of the Library

9. Trends
 (Fairly) New K-12 Curricula
 Accessibility – Intellectual access vs. physical access
 Digital Divide – access, literacy, fluency
 Demographic changes – Seniors, First Nations, ethnicity, etc.
 Family structure and dynamics – Nuclear family?
 Discretionary time deficit
 Desired use of Leisure time
 Health & Wellness Concerns – chronic vs. emergency conditions
 Environmental and “Green” issues

10. Trends
 Immigration
 Information literacy and fluency
 Labour trends – Knowledge jobs . . . vs. ‘labour’
 Partnership and collaboration
 Private Schools, Alternative Schools and Home-Schooling
 Smart device expectations
 Web-Savvy Library Users
 Zoomers & GenX
 Millennials
 Post Millennials

11. Technology Trends
 Online Learning
 In-Library Wireless Expectations
 Digital Download Kiosks
 Mobile Device Arena
 Beacons
 Web Content for Hand-Held Devices
 Increasing Demand for Audio & Video Live-streaming
 End of the web, Internet of Things IoT

12. Technology Trends
 E-Book Readership & Sales
 Publishers, Libraries & e-books
 Next Generation e-Book Readers
 User Contributions to Content – self publishing
 “Cloud” Computing
 Hardware Size Shrinking but Space Needs Growing
 Computer Training Space and Equipment
 Making: Latest Technology Tools
 Libraries as Centres for Technology and Innovation

13. Library Facility and Service Trends
 Libraries are Destinations: Placemaking
 Libraries as Multi-Service Providers: Culture, Art, History, Museums,
Archives, Social work
 Libraries Fostering Community Engagement
 Libraries with Maker Spaces
 Libraries with a Customer-First Focus

14. Public Perceptions of the Library
 Market Probe 2015 Report
 OCLC Reports and Studies
 FOPL Marketing and Tagline research

15. Alternative Visions for Public Libraries of
the Future

16. Management & Planning Trends
 Statistics vs. Measurements, Analytics, Value & Impact
 Peer comparisons
 Community Mapping exercises
 Social Services Mapping exercises
 Culture Mapping exercises
 Business Mapping exercises
 Community Calendars

17. Community Engagement Trends
 Surveys and Polls (PollDaddy, SurveyMonkey, etc.)
 Pokémon GO and augmented reality
 Interactive social media narratives
 Social marketing (Facebook, blogs, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram,
etc.)
 FOPL Engagement Project

18. Programming Trends
 Maker
 Photography
 Film
 3D Printing
 Laser cutting
 Knitting, sewing, tools, crafts, etc.
 Experience based programs aligned with collections and community interest/need
 Technology
 Training programs aligned with collections and community interest/need
 Technology applications (social networks and social media, business and student
applications, eBay/Kijiji, Photoshop, Adobe, etc.)
 Photography (Taking, sorting and organizing, editing photos)
 Film (editing, green screen, stop motion, etc.)
 3D Printing and other 21st Century skills
 Laser cutting (teens and business)
 Knitting, sewing, tools, crafts, etc.

19. Programming Trends
 Online Programs
 Many programs are available online and can be delivered inn an asymmetrical/asynchronous
fashion. Some include certificates.
 Examples include Lynda.com or Gale courses
 MOOCs
 Certification
 Many courses are accredited by IACET and the library can also offer certificates to show
accomplishment.
 Business
 Focusing on small and medium sized enterprises
 Job hunting and professional development
 Seniors
 Goal is to focus on personal interests and social isolation
 Knit and Natter
 Sometimes connected multi-generational activities and teen/senior alliances.
 Topics include personal finance, personal investing, chronic health issues, travel, cooking and
other topics that are adult learning oriented, or grandparent alignment, technology, etc.

20. Programming Trends
 Teens
 Attract more
 Drones, games, app development, coding (Minecraft), weekend destination programming, Music lending, dance,
hip hop, lyrics, poetry slams, and performance.
 Adult Learning
 Advanced, introductory and levelled programs
 Starts with ‘low hanging fruit’ and extends to certification
 Some is recreational
 Supports technology and business skills
 Pre-School and Kids
 Invest strategically in outreach to P&R and Daycares
 Move more programs to attract working parents
 Reading
 Book Clubs
 Community Reads
 Summer Reading
 Forest of Trees
 Author events

21. Programming Trends
 Pop-Ups
 Libraries have Pop-Ups that show up and engage the community at events, fairs,
malls, and everywhere. Mobile systems allow for cardholder sign-up and lending.
 Hobbies
 Cooking
 Travel
 Anything – can be led by staff or patrons
 Culture
 Performances
 Music
 Readings and Panels
 Local experts (stars, ants, geology, trails)
 Galleries and displays

22. Programming Trends
 Integrated Programming
 Partnerships with other local or government programs.
 Outreach
 Homebound (volunteers?)
 Schools
 Day Cares
 Social Services, Anti-poverty
 Community organizations
 At risk populations

23. Community Revitalization Trends
 Library as the community living room
 Neighbourhood and community centres
 Anchor institutions
 Cultural Centres
 Libraries as foot and tourism traffic generators
 Small and Medium-sized business incubators
 Social institutions free of barriers and anxiety
 Wellness centres
 Trails Lending – fishing rods, binoculars, telescopes, etc.

24. Staff Development
 Upping your game
 Learn HQ
 Education Institute
 Territorial programs, Library-centric programs, etc,
 Reading widely
 Finding inspirations
 Stephenslighthouse.com, Feedly, RSS

25. Major Trends Relevant to Yukon
 Co-working spaces
 Study Spaces
 Flexible Program Spaces
 Technology training and experience spaces
 SME Support and partnerships
 Social Spaces, Learning Spaces, Clubs
 Culture Space (Art, Gallery, Performance)
 Demonstration Spaces (Kitchens, Technology, Crafts, etc.)
 Short Term Tech: Social media engagement, Smartboards, Presentation Tech, BYOD,
Gaming/Coding, Mobile, etc.
 Medium Term Tech: Smart Rooms, Makerspaces, etc.
 Long Term: Internet of Things, Augmented Reality, Beacons, etc.
 Partnerships and MOUs (Social Services and Parks & Recreation)

26. Questions?

27. Have more questions?
416-669-4855
Stephen.abram@gmail.com
www.stephenslighthouse.com
Need more information?