Why Do Libraries Exist?
What's your mission?
The Basics: Who built your library? When?
Why did the library founders want a library?
What's the purpose of your library today?
If you haven't been indulging in deep philosophical thought about the existence of a place that you probably take for granted, now would be a good time to find answers to at least three basic questions:
- What is the purpose of your library?
- How does your library serve the community?
- What resources and services do staff at your library provide to library users?
Marketers say that perception is reality. For each user, the perception of the library may be different, and sometimes not what you expect!
- To some users, the library is the building, not the collections and services.
- For online users, the web site is the library - if it's not online you don't have it. Needs of different generations or different levels of ease with technology affect perceptions and preferences.
- To another user, one unanswered question might forever represent the capabilities of the reference department.
- For a few vocal users, lousy parking equates to your level of service.
- Some groups of users are in conflict - libraries are just books and they want technology - or libraries have too much technology and nobody reads anymore!
Does your library have a mission statement, written goals, strategic plan, or a policy statement that addresses these issues?
Mission: serve the community
Your library is part of a larger community of libraries in the state, the country, and the world. All are involved in getting information to users.
Mission statements describe how the library can best serve patrons (users) of the library. Serving the public well requires several things:
- Understanding what services the users of the library expect, in-house or with remote services.
- Knowing what resources they need.
- Organizing to help users find those resources in the library collection or through the library web site.
- Respecting patrons' rights.
Whatever you do in the library, you are contributing to the library's mission of public service. This is true whether or not your mission is in writing and whether your library is small or large. You are providing service to users even if you work in a small, cozy corner of the basement surrounded by towering piles of books and never see the users of the library!
What Now?
Complete the Activity, try the Explore section, and then go on to the next page: Public Services.
So, do you have any
GOOD books?
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