Reported in the UK papers this week is the reemergence of ‘infotainment’ in a more social setting than sitting in front of the TV. We have been following the development of social events such as Science Cafes and Book Bars where people meet in the evenings to join in sociable yet cerebral activity. In yesterday’s Observer newspaper (June 29) it was reported that cultural venues that stay open after ‘normal’ hours are seeing a ‘visitor boom…competing with traditional venues such as pubs’. Among the new venues were galleries, museums and libraries.
Apparently the Design Museum in London has seen an 800% rise in footfall when they opened in the evenings for the Creative Hong Kong event. This is not a new thing, just a reemergence of a once-common pastime. We often mention in out Innovation Seminars that sometimes we have to look back to the 1970s or even 18th Century for great ways to improve the business. For example, on BBC radio last week, a segment describing the re-opening of the British Institute talked about the resurgence of a BI tradition of attending a high-calibre lecture on a Friday night dressed in formal evening attire with the attendees going on to dinner, the opera or other glittering occasion. The BI has been revamped to extend its capacity to educate and inform but the original lecture theatre still retains its gravitas and glamour and is intended for an updated Friday night event. I can just imagine young clubbers turning up in their club gear for a grand lecture!
So what does this mean for your organization? Some of you have been installing wine bars ( we have just returned from designing a layout to incorporate a bar in the library which will help not only to attract new clients to the library but will significantly add to the life of the garden square onto which it spills out). Sydney City’s Customs House branch is open until very late with its very grand lobby holding key events and the Service negotiating deals for its members to make attendance at great events very accessible.[1].Some have been providing extended hours by only opening the lobby with basic services from 8am or after normal hours. This requires minimal staff and sometimes the back-up of some self service technology. Others have been turning their library into a ‘must visit’ venue with major artists and attractions on offer.
Whilst the home-spun activities are still of some value ( but not when you have to beg your aunties and friend to come to get an audience!) it’s good to see libraries aiming for the best they can offer for their clients in terms of events and attractions. The love of reading and desire to increase skills must go hand-in-hand with a great experience.
[1] http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Library/LibraryNetworkAndMembership/MemberBenefits.asp
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