New From Lorcan Dempsey: “The Narrative Website: From Signposting to Storytelling”

From a New Article by Lorcan Dempsey:

As we move from a collections-based to a relational library, storytelling becomes very important. One trend is the emergence of a stronger narrative or storytelling emphasis on websites, which helps position the library, promote its services, and address specific interests.

At the AMICAL2023 conference recently I spoke about libraries and the relational turn. In the collections-based library, services, organization and spaces are configured by management of the collection. In the relational library, services, organization and spaces are configured by changing patterns of research, learning and public engagement [pres, video].

In this environment, the library is no longer an informational pitstop, rather it provides a range of services throughout the lifecycles of research, learning and civic engagement. This acknowledges that in a network and digital environment the effective production and use of information is not discrete and outside these behaviors, rather it is integral at all stages. Think of research data management, or reference management, or, in a public library setting, services for local authors or for Newcomers. (Calgary Public Library discussed below has a Newcomers Desk.) These services are created in partnership with other players on campus or in the municipality, and may evolve in deep and extended consultation with users.

Libraries featured the article:

• Utrecht University Library
• Calgary Public Library
• The University of Ottawa Library

Learn More, Read the Complete Article (about 3500 words)

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Data Files, Libraries, Management and Leadership, News, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries