To get the ball rolling and get some inspiration going for our “Get creative for May competition“, the Libraries Interact team is going to share some of its vision for the future of libraries (at least until 2010). Here I am sharing where I think my library, which is a public library, will be in 2010. 2010 is only three years away, but considering the speed of change in the last 3, a lot can still happen.

So in my public library in 2010, I see ubiquitous computing - PCs everywhere throughout our buildings for those who don’t have their own devices, and wifi for those that do. Content available to access, regardless of the device being used. More gaming with in-house consoles available for use in the same way that we now have Internet PCs. Users will be able to deal with the library exclusively on-line, from joining to using electronic resources and even getting items delivered to their homes (probably for a fee) so that the building for them becomes unnecessary. On the other-hand, the focus of the building will continue to shift from not just the place to find the books and other items it contains, it will also be more of a place to meet those with common interests, a place to get away from it all, a third place if you like. There will be RFID, more self-check and staff will be providing extra personalised service and expanded programmes as they are freed from the more routine circulation work. I can our main branch having an awesome lab, with the equipment and creation tools, so that users can create and upload their own mash-ups to the web. And enough bandwidth for that to happen too. We will still get our same users, just hopefully more of them, as we offer programs and resources (including technologies) that appeal to a wider range of people.

Pipe dream? Wishful thinking? Achievable? Maybe all three. But if I can see even a part of this vision come true by 2010 and more of it in process, then it will be a dream come true. What’s your vision for your library in 2010?