Dear Library Colleagues and Friends - Can we please stop hoarding books? It’s driving me CRAZY!@#$ And it’s doing your community a great disservice. Come on - we can do better.

Analysis of who uses what library service highlights some stark differences by age and gender. And it’s also a cautionary tale about blind acceptance of statistics.

More often than not survey data tells you exactly what you thought it would. And that’s what I found when I did some analysis on why certain people don’t use public libraries and what libraries would have to do to change their mind.

The best library in Australia is the one that: i) delivers what its community needs; and ii) can demonstrate that it makes a difference to that community. Where is it? It could be closer than you think.

If you haven’t already seen it, check out the Australia Reads Research Review snapshot. Some great stats about the positive value of reading for people of all ages.

What does it say about your library-oriented Blog when the two most-read items in 2023 were companion articles published nearly two years ago about people who don’t use libraries! In a quick run-down of the anaLIBRARYse blog in 2023 I’m taking that as demand for more thoughts in 2024 on engaging non-library users.

How do we “create a business case for a library that will cater to the evolving needs of the population over the next two decades” when we have no idea what the world will look like in 20 years’ time? We give it our best shot based on some (hopefully?) sound assumptions.

I have obviously failed in my quest to eradicate inappropriate use of library data. Here’s another example where simple assumptions about data paint a false picture.

How is it that a contemporary article about the ‘third place’ (the surroundings in which we live our lives that aren’t home or work) doesn’t mention libraries? Why aren’t libraries front of mind in that conversation?

Contrary to predictions eBorrowing does not spell the end of the print book. Having experienced real growth in the past few years downloads of eResources are now settling at around 25-30% of library loans. And future growth looks modest at most.