Design Ideas for the Post-Pandemic Public Library

Public libraries in the U.S. have long served as welcoming and equitable settings for communities around the country. Residents can go to the library to learn, work, look for a job, and gain access to countless community tools and resources… until now. The ongoing coronavirus health crisis has interrupted these services, and it has challenged library administrators to rethink the library experience for residents as well as for library staff.

To get a better understanding of the pandemic’s impact on library operations, and to try to prioritize next steps, we collected over 200 responses to a survey of our clients and members within the American Library Association (ALA) community. We also hosted a virtual roundtable to talk to representatives who lead or operate 10 public libraries across the U.S. Both the survey questions and the roundtable discussion focused on the current challenges public libraries are facing and opportunities for long-term change in response to the pandemic.

Despite our limited sample size, the collective findings from the survey and the roundtable helped illustrate how we might rethink the public library and renew its purpose as an inviting and accessible community resource and meeting place.

Access to technology is a critical part of our lives – we use it to work and research, to do homework, to pay bills, to socialize and connect, to apply for jobs, and to get our news and health alerts, which is especially essential during the pandemic. For many, the public library is the only place they can get access to the Internet, which is why the pandemic has been so disruptive. The widespread stay-at-home orders cut off critical access for vulnerable populations across the country who lack access to computers or Wi-Fi at home.

According to our survey, 82% of respondents said that “technology access disparities” was a top priority issue impacting their library. We also know that simply having the latest broadband capabilities or digital tools and resources is not enough. Participants in the discussion regarded technology as a gateway to library resources and information.

To that end, is there a way to personalize digital experiences in public libraries? If the public library experience needs to adopt new safety measures and incorporate more touchless amenities and tools and fewer librarian-to-member interactions, how can technology be used to replicate or enhance the personal, human experience of libraries?

Over recent years, many library systems have already developed personal device apps — most of which allow users to browse digital collections or check the status of physical materials. But these apps could be further developed to grant patrons more access to resources and services as well. Likewise, existing interactive tools and games designed for children have allowed some libraries to migrate children’s story reading online — but there’s ample opportunity for these digital resources to become more robust and responsive to young readers’ evolving needs. A side effect, however, of expanding digital resources is the exacerbation of digital disparities, so in order to navigate a hybrid path forward post-pandemic, library leaders must partner with their communities, businesses, educational institutions, and city leaders to find holistic ways to promote more equity and equal access while humanizing both the virtual library “visit” and the reimagined on-site, low-touch, self-service experience.

Unfortunately, a side effect of expanding digital resources is t