Future of the Library and Literacy

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April 2009 Library Literacy Virtual Summit Speakers in Washinton DC

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently surveyed the library community to determine the priorities for the Library of the Future. Of those responding, a little over 10% thought that literacy was an important role for the library. About 15% thought learning was an important role. The respondents included Digital Literacy as part of literacy.

Here are the roles that library staff and library leaders thought were most important:

1.  Help navigate and curate information 32%
2. A community center or gathering place 30%
3. Provide community programs and services 24%
4. Provide technology access and training 20%
5. Will be a space for learning 16%
6. Bridge the digital divide 15%
7. Provide literacy programs (just over)10%
8. Stay the same (just under 10%)

As you can see, there is not an overwhelming consensus on what your library should be doing by 2018.

What do you think the role of the library should be in five or more years?  If, you work within a library literacy program, how do you make the case that adult literacy programs are important? If you are in a community based group, what role should your public library be playing in learning?

Share your comments and thoughts below.

VALF's President is serving on a Community of Practice CoP for library literacy that will be developing a library literacy action agenda.  The CoP was formed through a partnership between the American Library Association and ProLiteracy. The CoP will be meeting in early September 2013 to finalize the agenda. Add your comments to help inform the work of the CoP