The emergence of new service delivery models – eBooks, open libraries, lockers, outreach vans, etc. – is transforming the way that people access library collections and services. Which is great news for library customers with busy lives.

If the only thing we take from a library survey is a satisfaction score of 8.7 and a nice quote we are doing a disservice to the thousands of hours library users took to answer those questions. Dig deeper and you will find some interesting characters and powerful stories.

I recently got to spend a few days in Echuca in one of my favourite libraries. It got me thinking, once again, about what makes a great library. And while some of this comes from a grand vision, and some from sheer luck, the core still comes down to delivering for your community.

Dear Library Colleagues and Friends - Can we please stop hoarding books? It’s driving me CRAZY!@#$ And it’s doing your community a great disservice. Come on - we can do better.

Analysis of who uses what library service highlights some stark differences by age and gender. And it’s also a cautionary tale about blind acceptance of statistics.

More often than not survey data tells you exactly what you thought it would. And that’s what I found when I did some analysis on why certain people don’t use public libraries and what libraries would have to do to change their mind.

The best library in Australia is the one that: i) delivers what its community needs; and ii) can demonstrate that it makes a difference to that community. Where is it? It could be closer than you think.

If you haven’t already seen it, check out the Australia Reads Research Review snapshot. Some great stats about the positive value of reading for people of all ages.

What does it say about your library-oriented Blog when the two most-read items in 2023 were companion articles published nearly two years ago about people who don’t use libraries! In a quick run-down of the anaLIBRARYse blog in 2023 I’m taking that as demand for more thoughts in 2024 on engaging non-library users.

How do we “create a business case for a library that will cater to the evolving needs of the population over the next two decades” when we have no idea what the world will look like in 20 years’ time? We give it our best shot based on some (hopefully?) sound assumptions.