Creation of social spaces in libraries - future success mantra for libraries

1. Creation of Social Spaces:
Future Success Mantra for
Libraries
Jitender Sharma
Librarian
NIILM Centre for Management Studies
Plot No. 53, Knowledge Park 5
Greater Noida – 201306
Mob. 09899695953
E-mail: jsharma@niilm.com,
jitendersharmaji@gmail.com

2. What does it mean?
• According to Wikipedia, a social space is physical or virtual
space such as a social center, online social media, or other
gathering place where people gather and interact. Some social
spaces such as town squares or parks are public places; others
such as websites, shopping malls etc. are privately regulated.
• In context of libraries, a social space can be a physical space
or a virtual space like social media applications
• Creation of social spaces in libraries offers the users to meet
informally, hold discussions, organize social events or
specialized shows, arranging exhibitions, space for food joints
and so on. These spaces help in engaging users in more
effective and meaningful manner.

3. Some Images of Social Spaces
in Libraries

4. Some Images of Social Spaces
in Libraries

5. Some Images of Social Spaces
in Libraries

6. Some Images of Social Spaces
in Libraries

7. Some Images of Social Spaces
in Libraries

8. Why Social Space is
Needed subscribe to and provide access of digital
• Libraries increasingly
information resources. More and more users are using tablets,
mobiles and Internet to get and exchange information. They don’t
find any reason to visit library. Libraries have to attract them back to
their premises through innovative and user-oriented services and
ambience.
• Learning is now becoming more and more social and new
generation users prefer library areas that are conducive to study in
groups. Libraries need to provide users social space for group
discussions or for collaborative works
• Apart from bricks and mortar structures, community place and
space, a presence in cyberspace, and a place of self learning and
fulfilling hobbies make a library complete. It encourages
emotional, social and intellectual development of users
• Users are very active on social media. Library has to reach to
these users through presence in social media
• Properly designed social spaces can increase users’ motivation

9. Libraries are facing serious
Competition today
Competition is multidimensional. It my come from
sources like:
• Other libraries offering excellent user services
• Mega online retailers like Amazon or
Flipkart
• Food joints like Starbucks, Café Coffee Day, and McDonald
etc.

10. What does Competition Offer:
Study and Activities Areas at British Council
Library

11. What does Competition Offer:
Study and Activities Areas at American Centre
Library

12. What does Competition Offer:
Flipkart.com

13. What does Competition Offer:
Amazon.com

14. What does Competitors Offer
Customer can Leisurely Sit and
Work at Starbucks
Customers using Laptops at
Starbucks

15. What does Competitors Offer
Café Coffee Day offers WiFi, Meeting Facilities
McDonald too offers Spaces for
Meetings with Wi-Fi Connectivity

16. Libraries v/s Online Retailers



Stacks filled with
thousand of books,
difficult to browse
through
All searches have to be
made within limited time
available including
issue/return
Monotonous in nature,
provides information
about books, magazines
only



Online Retailers offer
contents browsing free of
cost any time anywhere
Material can be ordered
online, automatically
refers to other similar
sources, home delivery
Heterogeneous. One can
find all items at one place
including household
groceries

17. Libraries v/s Food Joints etc.





Places for self study
Mobiles need to be
switched off or keep in
silent mode
Silence needs to be
maintained all the time
Tea/Coffee or eatables
not allowed
No discussion of any
kind





Places for socialization
Mobiles, laptops or any
other devices can be
used
Can easily hold
meetings, discussions
etc.
Spend time and hold
discussions over a cup or
tea/coffee with eatables
Places meant for free
flow of discussions

18. Change in Users’ Profiles
• New generation users prefer learning areas
conducive to study in groups
• Heavily dependent upon mobile and electronic
devices for getting instant information
• Very active in collaborative activities
• Always online on social media like
Facebook, Twitter, Blogs etc
• Prefer audio-visual learning approach rather than
reading through books only
• Active in extra curricular activities

19. Need of Attitudinal Change
among Library Professionals
From custodian of library holdings to optimum
utilization of their resources
User friendliness attitude rather than putting
barriers in the name of rules and regulations
Need to understand that library services are
driven by user needs, not by building huge
collections or technological advances alone
Need to understand change in education
teaching and learning processes…

20. Need of Attitudinal Change
among Library Professionals
More than a decade ago, in one of the interactions Late Mr.
Jambhekar, librarian, IIM Ahemdabad had said
“If a book is stolen from our library, we do
not get worried unnecessarily but get more
copies of the same as we consider it a
worthy book that users want to read”
Such a big attitudinal change from a custodian of books to
optimum user friendliness is what librarians need to undergo

21. Need of Attitudinal Change
among Library Professionals
Government is trying to provide tablets to more and more
college and school students. But libraries don’t allow users to
use mobiles and laptops in libraries. They don’t provide power
plug facilities in libraries.
Libraries need to create within them separate social spaces
to accommodate changed reading and learning habits
They need to open up a dialogue with users to know their
requirements. Rest follows.
In brief, librarians need to shake off their stereotype image
and attitude and embrace new technologies and
approaches to support learning through new ways and
means in the 21st Century

22. Success Mantra
Social spaces are necessary in today environment. But at
the same time, libraries need to identify
goals, scope, resources and constraints of library before
creating social space. Each library purpose, users and
facilities differ. For example
• A defence library can’t create social space for general
public, however, it may provide social space for its own
clientele needs
• Public libraries can create social spaces for all types of
people irrespective of their gender, caste, race or religion
Each library can improve upon their ambience, informal
and formal sitting arrangements and may open up small
cafeteria facilities and Wi-Fi enabled places so as to
attract users in large numbers

23. Success Mantra
Libraries need to convert themselves to multipurpose entities
without losing their core focus of information and knowledge
provider. They can arrange social functions, cultural, sports
and educational events or competitions for different age
groups
Social media tools like Facebook, Twitter etc. can be used by
librarians for continuous library alerts and news updates
Librarians can reach to a larger users segment using
these online social space media. Same is the case with
other Chat applications
Libraries can develop separate space and offer Internet, WiFi, Power points and informal sitting facilities for users
Libraries can provide access and guidance on use of its
resources and reach out to more and more users in need of
support

24. Success Mantra
Libraries need to understand today user. He is
impatient, creative, expressive and social. He
doesn’t believe in structured format or
environment. Libraries need to equip themselves
to handle new breed of users and design their
services, spaces accordingly
Libraries also need to remember advantages they
have over bookstores, online retailers, food joints
etc. Users still need a place to study, reflect, and
escape from the noisy environment surrounded
them. Moreover no commercial venture is free in
comparison to libraries which generally offers free
or highly subsidized services.

25. Success Mantra
With just an extra effort in terms of providing social
spaces and the information in the format that users
want, libraries can overcome challenges posed by
competitors
This way libraries can bring transformation much
beyond the conference theme “bricks to clicks”
to “from collection to connection” or even “from
collection to creation”

26. Success Mantra
A famous book “The Great Good Place” by Ray Oldenburg
defines the significance of the third place in a healthy society.
Neither work nor home, the third place is a neutral
community space, where people come together voluntarily
and informally in ways that level social inequities and
promote community engagement and social connection.
There can’t be a better place than libraries to fill the space of
the third place. As libraries are purpose-driven
organizations. They are socially responsible and socially
responsive. With no profit motive, they have the ability to
identify and respond to community needs as neutral social
space unlike home and workplace.

27. Small Initiatives at NIILMCMS
NIILM-CMS library has developed a separate
room with 20 power points connection and
informal sitting arrangements where users can sit
and read at their leisure
Wi-Fi connectivity in enabled there like at all other
places in the institute
NIILM Cafeteria are also Wi-Fi enabled and
students can sit there any time in groups
preparing for their presentations, assignments
and so on
NIILM has created blogs for its students, alumni
etc. where faculty and students keep posting
information about new developments

28. Concluding Words…
To be successful libraries need to pursue new approaches in
their design and services. They need to provide platforms for
social engagement, move away from fixed and rigid
frameworks and designs to comfortable, open-ended venues
for people and participatory activities. Like social media where
people have built up their own community spaces, libraries too
can fulfill those aspirations of their users.
Libraries are places where critical thinking is encouraged
to thrive. Hence, it is an urgent need that we create new
social spaces in libraries so as to stimulate intellectual
discussions, innovative ideas through group interaction
and much more.

29. Thank You
All