So, what are the experiences we create in libraries and our communities? We know that the top reasons people use libraries are for community, learning, interaction, discovery and entertainment. All of these words describe a form of personal experience. We can find some of this in our list of top reference questions in public libraries.
- Careers & Employment
- Entertainment (print, audio, media)
- Family Health and Fitness
- Food & Drink
- Hobbies and Genealogy
- Home Improvements
- Parenting
- Personal Finance, tax & investing
- Reading choices
- Quick reference questions
- Spiritual needs
- Travel
Each of these domains represents a wealth of questions and answers that are harder to deal with than just reading a book. Indeed. this is the great power of what libraries, done well, deliver. We can deliver our responses holistically. We’re not just a cold search box on a frame of white.
I’d say it’s very much about encouraging the heart. 🙂