Breaking the Mold: Innovative Libraries and Programs

A cybrarian kiosk? Forty-eight-hour turnaround time in technical services? CEO salaries for library directors? Okay, that last one is pure sci-fi, but the other two are happening today, as viewers will discover in LVN's latest production, Breaking the Mold, which looks at a variety of innovative practices in libraries worldwide. Combining on-location footage with staff interviews, this newsmagazine format program visits the busy Sengkang Community Library in Singapore (at any time featuring a total staff of 3-5 people), where patrons use self-checkout stations and ask a televised offsite cybrarian for help; the Columbus Metropolitan Library in Ohio—featuring a conveyor belt that runs through the center of the tech services department—where materials are checked-in, cataloged, processed, and placed on the shelves within two days; the West Palm Beach Library in Florida, home to a very elaborate (and very cool) “dragon academy” for the summer reading club (created from donations by local businesses); and a trio of other examples of forward-thinking libraries and programs. Chockfull of interesting ideas (and let's face it, 48-hour turnaround in tech services is a bona fide miracle), the only sour note in the whole program comes when a West Palm Beach staff member says that “the book is really the most important thing for us,” voicing an anachronistic, hierarchical, and unfortunately still somewhat prevalent notion of collection development that essentially turns up its nose at today's media-savvy taxpayers (who have responded, in turn, with failing bond issues). Aside from that, Breaking the Mold is sure to inspire library staff to think outside the box when it comes to launching new—or revamping traditional—library services. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (R. Pitman)