‘‘ I
T seems odd to still be talking about digital transformation in 2022. We’ve been talking about it since the introduction of the
internet, haven’t we? Admittedly the scale and direction have changed in ways we would have been unable to perceive way back then, but it’s a journey we have been making for a long time. However, in public libraries we know that for many reasons there are sections of our communities that have still not made the shift towards digital technology in all aspects of their lives. Whether for financial or skills-based reasons, or simple preference, there are people for whom digital is still not a feasible or desirable option. Lack of physical access to library resources during lockdowns created a steep upsurge in the already growing use of remote library content. At the time, it was hard to know what the long-term effects would be; was it just a temporary spike brought on by short- term necessity?
A year and a half on, we can see that higher demand for digital services, although somewhat stabilised, is here to stay. While the use of some physical resources continues to recover, when looked at across all media, current levels are approximately equal between digital and physical. More excitingly, when physical and digital are combined, overall library resources use (in my library service at least) is significantly higher than pre-Covid levels. This is the new landscape. With a cost-of-living crisis kicking in, we can expect even further uptake of all formats, but early evidence is showing a greater lift in digital. Libraries are receiving feedback from new users that shows they are looking to our digital services – our digital magazine and newspaper offer particularly – to help them reduce household spending. In some
September 2022
Libraries are working hard to remove barriers to access to digital services.
instances, monthly household savings of up to £300 a month are being described.
Stock and content buyers face various challenges in meeting the demands of this landscape. Inclusion – meeting the access needs of all – demands an equal focus and budget allocation for physical and digital formats, but this is difficult when budgets are already under pressure and no additional content funding is available. The best we can do is to be as evidence-based as we can when allocating spend between digital and physical audiences. We need to be objective and pragmatic about priorities. The world has changed, and we need to be open to that.
Further challenge lies in the availability of digital content. The market hasn’t yet caught up with the increased demand. The availability of key titles in ebook format is still patchy and, where content is available, licence terms often favour the publisher over the end user experience. There’s a risk of a ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ resignation to this situation from library buyers, but we need to continue to apply pressure for stronger content, and better licensing terms. In areas other than reading, particularly film and music, physical formats are in rapid decline, yet there are simply no available digital alternatives for libraries to offer. Where they do exist, library film and music streaming platforms are great, but they tend to serve niche audiences. There is currently no library model for streaming of mainstream film content. Perhaps that is a symptom of the marketplace and there just isn’t sufficient market to enable a feasible product to emerge. However, if we are to maintain relevance and continue to meet the needs of people otherwise excluded, we need to be creating that demand, taking up opportunities wherever and whenever we can. We
Paul Howarth (
paul.howarth@
suffolklibraries.co.uk) is Head of Content and Resource Development, Suffolk Libraries.
www.suffolklibraries.co.uk
need to prove there is a market to be built. People are entitled to digital content and libraries should be the natural provider for those who cannot afford their own access.
Libraries are working hard to remove barriers to access to digital services. There are many fantastic examples of services providing support with digital skills and literacy, and with access to devices and data. This is essential work with real impact and, of course, we should be investing in it, but behind that we should also be investing in strong, relevant content, so that when people get the means and ability for digital access, they also have something worth accessing. IP
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 31
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