Oak Park and River Forest libraries are expanding digital services and technology access as they adapt to a more connected world.
Barbara Fitzgerald, manager of collection services, and Juanita Harrell, manager of adult services discussed how the Oak Park Public Library is adapting to a more digital world.
Fitzgerald discussed the library’s mission remains the same despite technological changes: connecting community members with the resources they need and ensuring every voice is empowered. She noted that libraries now provide access to information through both physical materials and a growing range of digital resources and services.
“We are going to continue to provide the best information and materials to our community while creating the best possible access to them. Along with improving access, we also need to support discovery by creating systems that meet patrons where they are and help them find what they need,” Fitzgerald said.
Similarly, River Forest Public Library’s director Emily Compton emphasized that the library has evolved alongside technology by providing books, entertainment, and information in the formats preferred by their communities. While the library’s mission remains the same, collections and services continue to adapt based on community trends and changing technology.
Compton explained that as people moved from VHS tapes to DVDs and now to streaming services, the library has expanded their digital and streaming offerings.
“We’re also considered what some people call a ‘third place.’ We ask ourselves: ‘Do we have enough places for people to plug in their devices?’ ‘Do we have enough space for people to meet and have private virtual conversations? We’re doing a lot of work to adjust to those needs,” Compton said.
Harrell described how services now include live printing, where patrons can send documents from home and pick them up in person, along with continued access to public computers and the internet. She also said that the library offers digital learning classes for help with devices plus creative spaces like a makerspace, audio booth, and media stations for 3D printing, podcasting, and digitizing older formats like VHS and cassettes.
According to Compton, the State of Illinois recently broadened access to library resources by launching a large collection of statewide databases. This expansion allows users across Illinois library systems to access articles and research on a wide range of topics.
“We provide eBooks and eAudiobooks that are currently very popular, as well as online magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. We also offer a wide range of databases, including research tools and resources like Consumer Reports,” Compton said.