Gulf Coast Green 2019. Allison Marshall. Topic: the evolving role of the public library in making knowledge accessible to all.

1. Community
Resilience and the
Role of Public
LIbraries
Gensler
Gulf Coast Green
05.17.2019

2. Public
Knowledge
Re-Imagining the Public Library

3. RESEARCH TEAM
MINNEAPOLIS
Sara Weiner
HOUSTON
Allison Marshall
Mahe Hameed
WASHINGTON DC
Anthony Harris
NEW YORK
Caroline Lefevre
Amber Cao

4. Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research
The public library’s most basic mission has been to make knowledge and information universally accessible to the
public. The scope of the library’s service offerings has expanded greatly over recent decades, particularly its social
services portfolio. This is causing the institution and the public to rethink its fundamental mandate and its role.
BACKGROUND

5. The public library’s most basic mission has been to make knowledge and information universally accessible to the
public. The scope of the library’s service offerings has expanded greatly over recent decades, particularly its social
services portfolio. This is causing the institution and the public to rethink its fundamental mandate and its role.
Public Knowledge is a research project that explores the macro- and micro-level trends impacting public
libraries and develops a set of design strategies to support the institution's evolving role.
BACKGROUND
PURPOSE

6. Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research
1 2 3 4
METHODOLOGY + AGENDA
TREND REPORT
Review of current literature
examining key economic,
cultural and social that will
impact the future of libraries
SURVEY
Web-based survey distributed to
library professionals developed
to gain an understanding of the
salient issues and challenges
confronting libraries.
PANEL
DISCUSSIONS
Panel events hosted in New
York, Houston, Minneapolis
and Washington, DC attended
by library thought leaders,
administrators and stakeholders.
DESIGN
STRATEGIES
Set of ideas and design
strategies to address the
programming and operational
demands of future libraries

7. Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research
11
20
5
2
1
198
22
15
21
7
4
10
14
16
12
17
6
18
3
13
9
The Emerging Economy The New Public Realm The New Media Landscape Shifting Consumer Expectations
• Demographic • Economic • Environmental • Political • Social • Technological
ArtificialIntelligence|1
Data+Information|2
EconomicInequality|3
EthnicDiversification|4
EvolvingConsumerExpectations|5
TheGigEconomy|6
GrowthofBabyBoomers|7
InternetofThings/AmbientComputing|8
MakerCulture|9
Migration|10
TheNewMediaLandscape|11
NewModelsforEducation|12
TheOpioidEpidemic|13
ThePrivatizationofthePublic|14
Resilience|15
RiseofMillenials|16
TheSharingEconomy|17
ShiftingEconomicSectors|18
TheSmartCity|19
SocialMedia+TheDigitizedPublicRealm|20
Urbanization|21
TheUser+ConsumerExperience|22
TREND REPORT

8. Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research
THE NEW PUBLIC REALM Redefined Communities + Public
ISSUES
| IMMIGRATION + MIGRATION patterns are
changing the face of the US population and geographic settlement
within the country
| AGING POPULATION will impact the nature of the
labor force and the nature of public/social services administered
by governments
| DISRUPTIONS + DISASTER appear to be increasing
in frequency - from mass casualty events to natural disasters
| PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS are becoming
integral in the adminstration of public services and maintenance
of public space
| CO-LIVING + CO-WORKING SPACES are
blurring the lines between traditional space typologies

9. Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research
THE NEW PUBLIC REALM Redefined Communities + Public
ISSUES
| IMMIGRATION + MIGRATION patterns are
changing the face of the US population and geographic settlement
within the country
| AGING POPULATION will impact the nature of the
labor force and the nature of public/social services administered
by governments
| DISRUPTIONS + DISASTER appear to be increasing
in frequency - from mass casualty events to natural disasters
| PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS are becoming
integral in the adminstration of public services and maintenance
of public space
| CO-LIVING + CO-WORKING SPACES are
blurring the lines between traditional space typologies
| Challenging POLITICAL CLIMATES may force libraries
to confront complicated issues without national/
state level policy prescriptions
| Libraries may increasingly seek PARTNERSHIPS with
private companies and/or philanthropic organizations and explore
more revenue-generating services
| The network of spaces that comprise library systems will be more
ADAPTABLE + FLEXIBLE + MULTI-MODAL
| Libraries will seek to expand their presence throughout
communities by reaching BEYOND TRADITIONAL
LIBRARY WALLS
FUTURE SCENARIOS

10. Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research
Image Credit: Terry Ballard
SNAP SURVEY
Launched June 21, 2018
New Orleans, LA

11. 10
Questions
34
One-on-One Interviews at
ALA New Orleans
394
Responses
2.5
Avg. per Day
21%
West 27%
Northeast
30%
Midwest
Where in the US is the library you represent? I am predominantly... Is your library system predominantly...
22%
South
54%
A library
Administrator
3% A library patron/user
5% Other
(vendor, consultant, policy maker, author, etc...)
38%
A library
Employee
19%
Rural
30%
Urban
52%
Suburban
Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research
SNAP SURVEY - top attributes next generation

12. 6. Inyour opinion, what attributes will comprise the next generationof libraries?
Percent
Artand
Science
Labs
Com
m
unity
Service/EventSpaces
Diversity
ofLanguages
ExteriorSpaces
Planned
forProgram
m
ing
Interactive
Engagem
entaround
History
Collection
and
Display
Learning
through
Play
M
akerSpaces
Parenting
Centers
as
partofChildren's
Area
RealEstate
Repurposing/M
ixed
Use/Repositioning
Sm
artBuildings/IoT
Sound
and
Video
Studios
Technology-Integrated
Conference
Spaces
available
to
Com
m
unity
Third
Place
forW
ork
0
100
50
Urban
Suburban
Rural
SNAP SURVEY Community Setting
Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research

13. Panel
Discussions

14. Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research
PANEL DISCUSSIONS

15. KEY FINDINGS
The public library as social infrastructure
Libraries are seeing increasing demand to integrate community services, but
support for these services often hasn't come from policy changes
or funding at a city/county level.
Libraries are people-centered, not necessarily
collections-centered.
Public libraries' service offerings and programs should be the drivers for
how library systems evolve. Their spaces should be flexible and agile as a
means to meet emerging service needs.
Changing the operational make-up of libraries to meet their
communities' needs
Library staffing is impacted as increasing resources are being allocated to
administer social service programs.
Digitization and innovations in media preservation are
redefining collections - Focus on adaptation
There has been a shift from the library's traditional role as space for patrons to
access content and cultural products, to a place to produce and preserve their
own content.
Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research

16. RESILIENCE
Resilience is a capacity that
enables people, places, and
systems to survive, adapt and
thrive - the power or ability to
recover readily from disruption.

17. Gulf Coast Green 2019 | 05/1719 | Gensler Re-
Resilience Design Principles
Developed by the Resilience Design Institute - 2012
1. Resilience transcends scales
2. Resilient systems provide for basic human
needs
3. Diverse and redundant systems are inherently
more resilient
4. Simple, passive, and flexible systems are more
resilient
5. Durability strengthens resilience
6. Locally available, renewable or reclaimed
resources are more resilient
7. Resilience anticipates interruptions and a
dynamic future
8. Find and promote resilience in nature
9. Social equity and community contribute to
resilience
10. Resilience is not absolute

18. Resilience Design Principles
Developed by the Resilience Design Institute - 2012
Gulf Coast Green 2019 | 05/1719 | Gensler Re-
1. Resilience transcends scales
2. Resilient systems provide for basic human
needs
3. Diverse and redundant systems are inherently
more resilient
4. Simple, passive, and flexible systems are more
resilient
5. Durability strengthens resilience
6. Locally available, renewable or reclaimed
resources are more resilient
7. Resilience anticipates interruptions and a
dynamic future
8. Find and promote resilience in nature
9. Social equity and community contribute to
resilience - Strong, culturally diverse communities in
which people know, respect and care for each other
will fare better during times of stress or disturbance
10. Resilience is not absolute

19. 2012 - SANDY
2017 - HARVEY
Term coined “First restorers” - NY libraries
responded and several librarians on the
ground before Red Cross offering support for
neighborhoods.
19 out of 26 branches of Harris County Public
LIbrary opened for emergency relief purpose
only, including a pop-up library at NRG
Stadium
Possible due to libraries being a trusted
part of the community’s support
system on a very basic level

20. Design
Qualities

21. Agroupthatincludes diverse
perspectives, especially
perspectivesfromthemargins,
trumpsagroupof the“best
andbrightest,”indecision-
making,accuratepredictionand
innovation.
-Scott Page, The Difference: How The Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies

22. Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research
3+1DIVERSITY | INCLUSION | EQUITY = BELONGING qualities
of ENGAGING
(3) critical qualities allied with a key differentiator
(+1) -
COMMUNITY SPACES
A
define
OMM A
A
effective, connected spaces
OMM A
A
for community
OMM A
A
engagement
OMM A

23. RidgedaleRegionalCenterand
Library
Minnetonka, Minnesota
- Refurbishment of existing library rather than new
construction, embracing adaptation and keeping the
old while bringing in the new based on community
feedback
- An expanded children’s area is designed to address
the needs of the multi-generational and special-needs
patrons who also occupy and utilize the children’s
area, providing a variety of exposure to literacy and
learning.

24. LawrencePublicLibrary
Lawrence, KS
- Community was heavily involved in the redesign,
leading to enhanced children’s area and greater
integration of technology
- Not only serves people in the city of Lawrence but
all rural families in close by small towns that don’t
have libraries

25. Gulf Coast Green | 05/17/19 | Gensler Research
WaterdownLibrary
Hamilton, ON Canada
- Full name is The Waterdown LIbrary and Civic
Centre
- Houses the traditional library functions as well as
several other civic spaces including two community
multipurpose rooms, the Waterdown Public Archive,
a satellite municipal services outlet, a community
information office, and police services.

26. every place tells
a story
of belonging
DESIGNING FOR
DIVERSITY
EQUITY
INCLUSION