Both Monday and Tuesday

Expo

Eight Dutch libraries are collaborating to design the library of the future with end-users. A library where people connect to learn from each other in a hybrid (offline & online) public space.

We do this by going through a process for each library where we work with the target group we want to reach. For example, young adults. What do they really need and what are they missing in the library at the moment? And where do they see opportunities for the library in an online environment?

We engage in discussions with focus groups and conduct surveys if necessary. We find it very valuable to hear directly from users what is happening in their world. Through a co-creation session, we will develop a product together with the user. Meanwhile, the 8 libraries will keep each other informed about the process. What have we learned and what are we struggling with.

To showcase the project and the core aspects of it we are hosting a live hybrid co-creation session where visitors can share their ideas of what the ‘Third Space’ library of the future should look like, while an illustrator (in Holland) will make live drawings of the idea’s and livestream this to the expo floor.

Hosts

Bas Hüsstege & Ronald Capelle 

Bas Hüsstege (44) is Head of Market & Innovation at Bibliotheek AanZet, Netherlands. He is firm believer that libraries should act now on digitalization and hybrid forms of service, in order to remain relevant for their target audience.

As Program Manager Digital Library at Bibliotheek AanZet, Ronald Capelle (32) is the driving force behind the Virtual Library Platform, a grassroots infrastructure that has now expanded throughout the Netherlands and hopefully more.