TRANSFORMATIVE PLACES: SOFT POWER, PLACE-MAKING AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY Ontario Library Association Annual Institute on the Library as Place 2016 Transformative Spaces Halifax Central Library, Halifax NS
Toronto Mumbai New York Beijing Founded Lord Cultural Resources in 1981 The world s largest cultural professional practice 2,200+ assignments over 35 years 56+ countries on 6 continents An international reputation for sector leadership, innovation and excellence
CULTURAL PROJECTS IN 450+ CITIES WORLDWIDE.
LORD CULTURAL RESOURCES SHARES OUR KNOWLEDGE
URBAN CULTURAL GROWTH What do libraries and culture contribute to urban growth? Urban population is growing by 65 MILLION annually CITIES URBANIZATION HALF of the world s population 80% of Global GDP ECONOMIC GROWTH Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan
THE ROLE OF MUSEUMS & LIBRARIES IN CITY BUILDING 1. Place-making 2. Economic Generators 3. Tourism Destinations 4. Cultural Commons 5. Preserve Identities, Heritage Memory, Art and Culture 6. Adapting to Change 7. Property Values Toronto, Ontario
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY ON THE CITY OF TORONTO Toronto Public Library creates over $1 billion in total economic impact annually $1 invested = $5.63 of economic impact Spends the majority of its budget through Vendors located in the GTA: 93% of capital spending, 85% of operational spending, and 68% of library materials spending. Source: So Much More: The Economic Impact of the Toronto Public Library on the City of Toronto, by Kevin Stolarick and Kimberly Silk (Martin Prosperity Institute)
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY ON THE CITY OF TORONTO City of Toronto s Return on Investment in the Toronto Public Library is 463% $2515 = average value of one open hour $653 = average cost of one open hour. Direct benefit to TPL members is as much as $500! Source: So Much More: The Economic Impact of the Toronto Public Library on the City of Toronto, by Kevin Stolarick and Kimberly Silk (Martin Prosperity Institute)
CITIES ARE AT THE EPICENTER OF SOFT POWER Kensington Market, Toronto
SOFT POWER Soft power is the ability to influence behaviour through persuasion, attraction or agenda setting.
WHAT IS A SOFT POWER DESTINATION? Places that people want to visit and engage with because of their influence, which comes from their: EXCELLENCE RELEVANCE SUSTAINABILITY LEGITIMACY
Forecourt of Museum of Memory and Tolerance Mexico City
Museo Guggenheim Billbao, Spain
Canadian Museum for Human Rights Winnipeg, Canada
Tacoma Museum of Glass Tacoma, Washington Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington
The Lowry Salford, England
Ningbo Historic Museum Ningbo, China
PUBLIC LIBRARIES AS SOFT POWER DESTINATIONS Halifax Central Library Halifax, Nova Scotia
Essential community resources for people-centric programmes, services, events and activities Halifax Central Library Halifax, Nova Scotia
If the city and Westwood Developments get their way, They ll Turn This Into This Westwood Developments Ltd. plans a new 7-storey building opposite Halifax library
Platforms for the development of knowledge, creativity and community Toronto Public Library Digital Innovation Hub, Ontario
Portals for information gathering and dissemination Bexar County BiblioTech, San Antonio, Texas
Adaptive and innovative community spaces for programs, events and gatherings Billings Public Library, Billings MT
TRENDS IN MUSEUMS RELEVANT TO LIBRARIES
CULTURAL CHANGE IN MUSEUMS
Making experiences and institutions relevant and accessible to diverse demographics and to the community. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Empowering Front of House Staff Museum of London, London Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Milwaukee
Activation of Public Spaces Experience Music Project Sky Church, Seattle
Extending the Visitor Experience: 3D printing and the democratization of artifacts Smithsonsian Institute
Virtual Museum Google Art Project, Musee D Orsay Extending the Visitor Experience Google Art Project Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee
Participatory and Co-curation Memory Jar Project, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History Santa Cruz, California
Great Amenities and Visitor Services Collections Cafe, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee
Institutional Partnerships Queens Museum New York City, New York
TRENDS IN LIBRARIES MUSEUMS CAN LEARN FROM
Maker Spaces
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 37 Detroit Public Library
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN 38 Tech Shop, Detroit
Folkelab ( maker space), Aarhus Public Library, Aarhus, Denmark
Greater use of digital technology increasing the library s role as the community s public gateway to the online world New York Library (Mott Haven Branch), New York City, New York
Emphasis on creativity and knowledge sharing University of British Columbia and Long Beach (California) Human Library Initiatives 41
Community, institutional and commercial partnerships and collaborations New York Public Library and Bryant Park, New York 42
Co-locating Milwaukee Public Library East Branch Mixed Use Development, Milwaukee
Community living rooms /commons Newcastle City Library Newcastle, United Kingdom
PLACEMAKING
Cities have the capability of providing something for everyone, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody." Jane Jacobs Quebec City, Quebec
PLACEMAKING Collaborative process by which communities can shape its public realm in order to maximize shared value. Facilitates creative patterns of use, paying particular attention to the physical, cultural, and social identities that define a place and support its ongoing evolution. Inspires people to collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of every community
1. Makes communities liveable 2. Contributes to the social, economic and cultural well being of a community 3. Strengthens the connection between people and the places they share 4. Creates a sense of shared community identity
LIBRARIES AS PLACEMAKERS
Responds to and reflects the fabric, identity and needs of communities and neighbourhoods Fort York Library Toronto, Ontario
Under Gardiner Toronto, Ontario Fort York Library Toronto, Ontario
Jasper Place Branch, Edmonton Public Library Edmonton, Alberta
Serves as a community s public face or front porch Surrey City Centre Library Surrey, British Columbia
Acts as connectors between residents and between residents and their communities. Toronto Public Library Scarborough Civic Centre Toronto, Ontario
Seattle Public Library Seattle, WA
Seattle Public Library Seattle, WA
New York Public Library New York City, New York
Salt Lake City Public Library Salt Lake City, Utah
Phoenix Central Library Phoenix, Arizona
Fort Vancouver Branch Library, Vancouver, Washington
Toronto Public Library Scarborough Civic Centre Toronto, Ontario
TORONTO REFERENCE LIBRARY A PLACEMAKER FOR 35 YEARS Toronto Reference Library Toronto, Ontario
PLACEMAKING Decide what your library means by it Not the same as a "landmark" The promise is meaning The result is social capital
SOFT POWER DESTINATIONS AWARDS NOW OPEN! Does your city, cultural organization, or district have a strong and positive influence in your community? Do you strive for transparency, excellence, relevance and accountability? If the answer is YES, you might be eligible for a Soft Power Destination Award! NOMINATE YOUR CULTURAL PROJECT (OR ONE YOU KNOW OF), BY GOING TO: SURVEYMONKEY.COM/R/SOFTPOWER Are your practices an exemplar of sustainability? Deadline for nomination is August 15, 2016
THANK YOU. @Gail_Lord #softpowercities #softpowermuseums MuseumsSoftPower Email: Glord@lord.ca