Ready access to information through digital media has challenged the perceived societal roles of public libraries. Since the mid 1990s, libraries have reoriented themselves towards public participation beyond lending and reading. Libraries now offer an increasing range of community-focused creative activities. Library spaces re transforming. In addition to housing archival and loan materials, desks and reading spaces, libraries are becoming flexible and activity-oriented. Given these transformations, understanding and demonstrating the contributions public libraries make to their communities is critical.
In 2015, the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) commissioned researchers at the Digital Media Research Centre, QUT to explore the impact of libraries as creative spaces.
The objectives of this project were to: investigate the community impact of creative spaces in public libraries, investigate the community impact of creative spaces in public libraries, provide clear evidence of this impact and to articulate the opportunities to further embed creative spaces in public libraries or community spaces.
The full report can be found here.
Project team
Investigators
- Professor Jean Burgess
- Distinguished Professor Stuart Cunningham
- Professor Ben Light, University of Salford
- Dr Kirralie Houghton, QUT
- Professor Helen Klaebe
- Dr Roger Osborne, University of Queensland
- Professor Greg Hearn, QUT
Project partner
Project funding
- Library Board of Queensland (2014-2016)
