Justine Hyde, State Library of Victoria and Stephanie Chase, Hillsboro Public Library

Concurrent session 16
Thursday 16 February 2017, 2:30pm - 2:55pm

Abstract

Recently, Stephanie and Justine had the unique opportunity to travel both together and separately to libraries across Canada, the United States, Australia, and Europe. While representing two very different organisations – a large Australian State Library undergoing significant physical and service changes, and a medium-sized US public library looking to innovate and update its service model – the two presenters were often struck by the same methods, practices, and design choices made by the libraries.

While learning about these various libraries in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, often considered some of the most innovative in the world, is fascinating, what the presenters chose to do with this learning following the visits is perhaps even more useful. What are libraries in North America, Australia, and these European countries doing that we could all learn from? What could we learn from connecting outside our own regions and learning together?

With a spin on the traditional travelogue, full of photographs and details of the libraries visited, this presentation presents the unusual opportunity to take a multi-country view on what is happening in libraries around the world, from the perspective of two Director-level librarians deeply concerned with service design and delivery.​ 

Paper - Available now.

Presentation - Available now.

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