There were four especially important core values that emerged regarding the role of libraries: accessibility, community involvement, customer service, and excellent library collections.

It is my opinion that libraries -- community or campus -- should not lose focus on important goals such as serving as a major resource for information and opportunities for lifelong learning. Commercial bookstores, on the other hand, focus on "what sells" (this is key, having published two books myself). There is a very important nonprofit vs. profit distinction here. Cafes will co-locate with bookstores for the mutual benefit of profit making; browsing, lounging, and social interactions are of course a perceived benefit to the customer.

But how do you define a customer of a community or campus library? And is patron circulation a factor for future funding?

Why not consider installing additional computers with Internet access via "kiosks" as a way to encourage increased library patronage and social interaction?

Why not consider co-locating coffee shops closer to the physical location of the library without getting into the coffee business?

Why not partner with existing coffee shops by providing discount coupons (e.g., if you check out a book, you get a discount coupon to the local coffee house, of which a percentage of that will go to a fund to buy more collections for the library)?

These are but three alternatives off the top of my head. Bottom line: I don't believe libraries should be getting into the coffee business; but they can get creative in the ways that they attract increased patronage.

-- Rebecca Smith, MS, CEIP, JCTC, careers author and online educator, San Francisco Vocational Services (posted 11/12, 1:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)

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