The Purpose-Based Library

August 1, 2015

Coauthors Huber (Lean Library Management) and Potter (director & CEO, Mid-Continent PL) suggest that to ensure survival, public libraries must become the heart of the community by transforming into purpose-based institutions. Using lean management techniques will free up resources, including librarians, to focus on community transformation. Huber presents a hierarchy of basic, psychological, and fulfilment needs such as safety, community engagement, and creative expression, respectively. Discussed is the importance of each level of the pyramid along with suggested ways the library can play a pivotal role in improving community vitality. Potter ends each chapter with personal comments on the topic. Libraries already provide services to support the levels to varying degrees, but the authors lay out a unified plan involving community leaders. They contend metrics should be collected and displayed prominently in the library to demonstrate neighborhood growth. VERDICT Great ideas, although discussions are a bit simplistic at times. Large libraries should embrace the concept of being purposed-based, while small libraries will benefit from the ideas presented but may have more difficulty implementing the plan.--Lydia Olszak, Bosler Memorial Lib., Carlisle, PA

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