The Bon Air Library is the neighborhood library I have visited for the last 20 years. I have seen a few renovations in that time. All have been “user centered.” The largest physical change was the doubling of the size of the building in the early 1990s with the cooperation of the Richmond City and Chesterfield County library systems. This renovation opened up this library in Chesterfield County to me, a resident of the city of Richmond. Things stayed the same for a while, nice areas for children, lots of bookcases and a few computers for catalog access.
Then came the technology change about 10 years ago. First with the addition of a few Internet accessible computers, then the addition/conversion of a former reading space into a “computer room.” Patrons signed up at the reference desk to use these computers for entry into the virtual world outside of the walls of the library. This was a very user centered move as the computers replaced reading spaces and allowed users to engage in other than information seeking/reading activities traditionally associated with the library. They could now “talk” to others all over the world via the email function. And of course they could engage in traditional library functions (information gathering/reading) as well, but this time beyond the walls of the physical space.
But soon, these computers were not enough. Another change, designed with patron needs in mind, was made to offer wireless access to users. A free Citizen Wi-Fi service is available in the libraries and other county buildings to people with wireless-enabled devices. This is a useful and valuable user-centered service for library patrons. My concern however, is that it has been made at the sacrifice of other long valued user centered services, print material and a place to read it. I was dismayed during a recent visit to find the Bon Air Library did not subscribe to print versions of many popular science magazines such as Nature, Scientific American or Discover. In addition, it’s shelves had no significant STEM materials, encyclopedias or otherwise. While I appreciate the changes opening up the world to the patrons, I miss the standards of a few good books in print.
See my next posting for my conversation with the long-time reference librarian and more details about recent changes and changes for the future-all for the library user.
I like that the County is providing Wi-fi throughout the county owned buildings. I would definetely define that as user-centered.
ReplyDeleteI was really surprised to read that the Bon Air library did not subscribe to those major science magazines in print. You make a good point that new user services are often provided at the expense of traditional user services. It’s so difficult to provide both in an era where library budgets are being cut, but expectations from library users are growing, even as use of libraries is growing.
ReplyDeleteHaving the county on board with the Wi-fi more people in the county buildings and visiting the county buildings can have access to the library. More patrons may view the magazines electronically than the number of patrons that came to the library to read the magazine.
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