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.

I have obviously failed in my quest to eradicate inappropriate use of library data. Here’s another example where simple assumptions about data paint a false picture.

How is it that a contemporary article about the ‘third place’ (the surroundings in which we live our lives that aren’t home or work) doesn’t mention libraries? Why aren’t libraries front of mind in that conversation?

Contrary to predictions eBorrowing does not spell the end of the print book. Having experienced real growth in the past few years downloads of eResources are now settling at around 25-30% of library loans. And future growth looks modest at most.

When it comes to running a community-focused library service, what do libraries do well? And not so well? It’s so much more than collections and programs.

Library benchmarking is supposed to provide objective evidence of comparative performance. Nice theory, but in practice the real world is seldom that simple and you have to get creative to find true meaning.

One of the best ways to find out what makes a library tick, and how it could be even better, is to take a seat, observe, listen and reflect. Yet library managers and staff almost never take the time to do this. I think they should.

New data from a 2022 survey of more than 18,000 Victorian library users shows that now more than ever public libraries are safe and shared places for community connections.

Guest presenter Jacqui Phillips shares her take on a modern library, complete with romance novels, book chatter, heavy school bags and an African drumming class.

On average, 84% of people think that public libraries are a safe place. And this includes feedback from library users and people who don’t use libraries. What is it about libraries that creates this perception?

How do you get non-users into the library? Well, it depends on who they are and why they’re not using the library. You might promote library services, break down barriers to access, change people’s minds, or just leave them be.