Adding Value to Libraries, Archives, and Museums: Harnessing the Force That Drives Your Organization's Future

This book explains the concept of adding value and shows staff at libraries and other organizations why they need to take steps now to ensure they are adding new value to their communities―whether it be a local town or neighborhood, a faculty and student body, or a school.

Value is at the core of every organization's purpose. Without value, organizations die. Libraries―as well as museums, archives, and galleries―have traditionally added value to their communities through their collections and services, but yesterday's collections and services are no longer enough. In order to remain sustainable, today's libraries, archives, museums, and galleries must explore new ways to add value that resonate in the lives of their customers.

This unique book explains how addressing the "5 C's" of adding value―content, context, connection, collaboration, and community―enables organizations to find new ways to invigorate their services, better serve their communities, and thrive today and tomorrow. It addresses adding value in the context of other key topics, such as crowdsourcing, embedded librarianship, makerspaces, self publishing, and repurposing spaces. Filled with charts, tables, screenshots, and other visual representation, this is a useful and provocative guide that anyone interested in vesting in the successful future of libraries, archives, and museums needs to read.

• Helps managers and administrators create long-range plans for sustainability and growth

• Offers real-life models of libraries that have successfully implemented concepts of the value-added organization

• Fills a gap in the literature as the only book written specifically for librarians on the topic of adding value

• Presents important information and guidance for those who work in all types of libraries, archives, and museums as well as administrators, board members, and other stakeholders who are interested in the future of these vital community resources

• Includes color charts, website screenshots, and other visual representations that clarify key concepts and points