KPLA 2008 - The Public Library as the "Place to be"

Getting used to our super-tiny new laptop. Like, itty-bitty. Fun stuff!

Kelly Krieg-Sigman:
"In order to know who you are, you must know where you are." Wendell Berry.

3 places we are:
1.Home
2.Work
3. Public places on neutral ground where people can gather and interact in positive ways.

Heart of a community's social vitality
Foundation of a functioning democracy.

Move from Space to Place
S words negative, L words positive.
Common letters are PACE
playfulness - "people rarely suceed at anything unless they are having fun doing it."
"The opposite of work is not fun, it's depression." SHOULD-- how often do we use that? judgemental.
atmosphere - more than the physical space. The psychology of the place. Cluttered?
comfort - do high overdue fines detract from our enjoyability
environment - surroundings

Do we want to be "the place to be"?
Traditional views of libraries
Changing social environment. Library 2.0 is no good without other changes as well.
"Things are just fine in libraries the way they are." ??

Look at job descriptions. Are your employees "culturally literate"?

First break all the rules - best practices of managers

There might be some things, that you just can't change.

Attitude changes. Creating public value Change your ideas. Choose to be positive, not negative.

Energy and engagement.
Are you "in the moment" at work? Or a robot?

We are a neutral public space. No agenda. Not trying to sell you anything.