Aspen Institute: Future of public libraries

Aspen Institute: Main reading room, New York Public Library

The Aspen Institute’s Dialogue on Public Libraries is convening a multi-year initiative to support the transformation of public libraries for the digital age.

“As trusted institutions, public libraries serve their communities by improving digital skills, helping people access information in new ways, providing a space for learning at every age, and connecting people to jobs, educational opportunities and critical community services. Yet, despite these benefits, libraries face ongoing challenges with budget cuts and the need to adapt in an increasingly diverse, mobile and digital society.

“To help advance the work that public libraries are doing to address these challenges and to support the transformation of public libraries for the digital age, the Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program is spearheading a multi-year initiative to explore, develop and champion new ways of thinking about U.S. public libraries.”

The conversation could not be more essential to this library user, volunteer and aspiring professional. Information service is a rapidly-changing industry and information workers of necessity will have to keep pace with developments.

A working group will assemble representatives from libraries, business, government, community development and education “to create a common vision for public libraries.”

For more information and to view a working group reading list, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/communications-society/our-work/dialogue-public-libraries.