Expect to find fun

Libraries are fun.

For the more than two million public library members across the state, this would likely come as no surprise, but now research is confirming it too.

Fun has been added to the list of common goals of libraries by the researchers behind the report Advancing Queensland Public Libraries.

Libraries play a key role in stimulating people to connect with each other.

Findings from the research indicate that the role of libraries has been expanding to enable access to new technology and community exchange, teaching creativity, stimulating people to connect to each other and the world, and having fun!

This, of course, is in addition to libraries’ ever important role of preserving and facilitating access to knowledge.

Fourteen public libraries and their communities across the state were studied to find the common goal that Queensland public libraries are working towards, to identify the enablers and barriers in reaching that goal, and the role of State Library of Queensland in the transformation.

Research shows enabling access to emerging technologies is one of libraries' six common goals.

Results show that many libraries across the state are embracing their ever-changing ecosystem through harnessing community skills and resources, building close relationships with community organisations, enabling innovative program and service provision and much more.

State Library is working to support many of the recommendations of the report, including helping libraries demonstrate their impact in the community.

The Creative Spaces Impact Framework, developed through The Impact of Libraries as Creative Spaces research, is one such tool which is supporting libraries to demonstrate their value as creative spaces.