Abstract:

A critical factor in future knowledge dissemination is the viability for public library systems. In this article we present a summary of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to current libraries and how combining forces with a museum will promote library usage.

The ultimate goal is to merge libraries with other academic related organizations, such as the museums. A museum alone cannot generate revenues and neither can a library. However, the library and the museum can benefit each other when they merge. Since museums always have large amounts of empty spaces, a museum should have no troubles emptying out some areas for a library. The library section can bring in more readers to the museum section, generating more ticket revenues, and the museum section can attract visitors to the library section, spreading the reading habits to more people. The biggest advantage museums have is the large space, providing venues for moneymaking opportunities to happen. The indoor space can be used as computer labs, gift shop, guest speaker hall and restaurants. The outdoor space can host events such as fan signs, art shows, cultural weeks and small-scaled instrumental concerts. Slowly, the “Lib-seum” can become the heavily immersed in the atmosphere of art and knowledge because the artsy people will seemingly hang out there regularly. Nevertheless, the “Lib-seum” should open more restaurants and recreational facilities around the area to help brining in revenues.

Reforming the libraries need huge amounts of fund; libraries cannot rely on townships’ blank checks and need to make money on their own. To start out with, some of the libraries need to shut down to cut costs. After making some money from renting or selling lands, libraries should try to open bistros next to the library, hiring people with disabilities. Not only the disadvantaged can benefit from having the opportunity to adapt to the society, the libraries can profit from the bistros. Bistros can only provide enough money for libraries’ regular operations. In the long term, libraries need to merge with museums to reach the final goal of educating the public. Libraries can be moved into the museums. The new “Lib-seum” will be able to attract a lot of visitors, creating moneymaking opportunities. The “Lib-seum” can make money from hosting art events and opening restaurants, leasing art studios, and providing recreational facilities nearby. The non-profit organizations like libraries and museums cannot survive without side businesses.

Keywords:

Library of the future, information dissemination.