Creating a future for public libraries: Diverse strategies for a diverse nation

PUBLIC LIBRARIES CURRENTLY FACE a number of significant challenges and opportunities as they move into the digital future. The report Buildings, Books and Bytes: Libraries and Communities in the Digital Age is a useful catalyst to continue the discussion concerning the role of public libraries in this global, networked, digital future. This article raises some concerns regarding the method used in the study selected findings, and the lack of specific recommendations. Findings from other recent studies do offer some strategies and recommendations for making this transition effective. Moreover, global strategies for how public libraries, as a group, can effectively make this transition may miss the mark, At issue is how each library; individually, offers a vision, promotes that vision, responds to its community, and takes a leadership stance as to what its role should be in this electronic networked environment. Public libraries will need diverse strategies that depend on a range of factors to be successful.