Originally gave this presentation at the US-Russia Civic Society to Civic Society conference in Washington DC on June 24, 2010.

1. The Third Place
John Blyberg
Assistant Director,
Innovation & User Experience
Darien Library
Darien, Connecticut

2. Weʼve got our eye
on this.

3. But we did some
thinking and
decided ...

4. ... thatʼs not the story.

5. This is.

6. And this.

7. They tell stories.

8. They
make
music.

9. They make friends.

10. They make loud
music.

11. They turn chess
into a sporting
event.

12. They know good
food when they
see it.

13. So we show
them how to
make it.

14. They are moved
by art.

15. Occasionally, we
spot some studying.

16. Actually,
they study a lot.

17. But they play hard.

18. These four sat still for
ten whole minutes!

19. Theyʼre patient when
we ask them to be.

20. But it helps to have
food.
Did I mention the
food?

21. They listen to other
smart people.

22. They share.

23. They learn.

24. Theyʼre productive.

25. They discover
something every day.

26. And they
read like
crazy!

27. But ...

28. This is also the library.

29. Because this needs
to work really well.

30. And this.

31. And this.

32. This too.

33. Because Marianne
wants you to read
these great books.

34. And we want you to find what youʼre
looking for in the catalog.

35. And maybe add your own
two cents.

36. Or see whatʼs going on in
your library.

37. Or the world.

38. Maybe you want to be
untethered.

39. And print a high-quality
business proposal.

40. Or try something
completely new ..

41. .. like surface computing.

42. Or the latest hot game.

43. Or the latest hot gadget.

44. Or produce an event ... From your chair.

45. And
sometimes you
just need to
cool off in our
geothermal air
conditioning.

46. Did I mention weʼre
in a green building?

47. And we like it when
youʼre green too.

48. In fact, we like you.

49. And weʼre your
Third Place

50. Thank-you.
John Blyberg
john@blyberg.net
www.darienlibrary.org