Chance Hunt’s winter Future of Libraries course sought to equip students with practical skills to anticipate what lies ahead for libraries and act on trends. He came away impressed by what he saw in their work.
“With these students, future libraries will be strong, they will be compassionate, and they will be essential to a thriving community,†said Hunt, an associate teaching professor at the University of Washington Information School.
For their final assignment, students were asked to imagine a library and its services 10 years in the future.
“What most impressed me was both the variety and depth of innovation students brought to the exercise,†Hunt said. “They showed each other that there in not a single ‘future library’ but more likely a range of responses that libraries will deploy to best serve their communities in the future.â€
Here is what some of the Master of Library and Information Science students had to say about their projects, some trends they see, and what they anticipate lies ahead for libraries and librarians.
Erica Owan: I think in this current moment of time there is a tendency to catastrophize the future. However, that also gives way for more creative potentials and solutions. To me the future of libraries is bright because librarians are more committed than ever to education for the public, accessibility and intellectual freedom – whether that means public libraries become an ultimate social services hub to meet people's needs or librarians create their own social media platform to encourage public engagement while fighting misinformation. The ideas are blooming and it’s just a matter of what we as a collective decide to invest in.
Sasha Powers: Future libraries need to keep up with developing technologies. We should not abandon our central mission of providing access to books and information in its many forms, but we must adapt our services to appeal to an increasingly digital world. Let’s welcome people into our spaces, digital and physical, from birth through adulthood with patron-responsive programming that appeals to all levels of technical knowledge and helps bring people into information and tech literacy.
Laura Anthon: In my Library 2035 scenario, libraries focus more on information integrity and community bridge building to combat the worsening mis/dis-information landscape, which is dividing and weakening communities. Libraries begin acting as hyperlocal community fact-checkers, as well as adopt programs which further their info integrity and community bridge building efforts, such as having fact-checking tech on public computers (not yet invented), digital literacy classes, mandatory misinformation and digital literacy training for staff, community issues focused book clubs, community leader networking/educational events, and hosting local debates (librarians as real-time fact-checkers).
Emily Bonner: The post-2024 presidential election conservative lean on social media amplifies voices that encourage mistrust in the education system directly to both students and their guardians. This, paired with the reduction of school library resources, will lead to an uptick in anti-intellectualism. In addition to this, public libraries will have to respond to children’s lack of digital literacy skills when using AI chatbots. Public librarians will need to partner with and support schools and their students. Students and their families come to rely on the resources and services provided by public libraries.
Jayne Doolittle: Emily Bonner and I envisioned a Library 2035 scenario where SPL and KCLS libraries offer a new service: The Fact-Check Desk. This desk functions similarly to the Reference Desk, staffed full-time by librarians who specialize in information verification, allowing patrons questioning the validity of information received to quickly check whether or not it is factual. This new service came into existence due to the increased prevalence of misinformation, propaganda, conspiracy theories, and AI generated content in the late 2020s, and Fact-Check librarians also lead programs teaching children and adults how to identify false information.
Yida Liu: The Autonomous Roving Library (ARL) is a futuristic concept for 2035, designed to address the need for efficient, equal and community-centric library services. This self-driving, electric vehicle serves as a mobile mini-library, equipped with satellite internet, computer terminals, e-readers, and a curated book collection. ARLs aim to bridge the digital divide by bringing library services to underserved areas, rural communities and urban voids. The system is fully automated, requiring no on-board staff, and utilizes AI and librarian expertise for book selection. ARLs connect to inter-library loan systems and offer limited seating inside the vehicle.
Lexi Santiago: I see a future where tax dollars once thinly distributed among dozens of separate social service agencies are funneled into public libraries. Instead of struggling with our involuntary role as a stopgap between the needs people have and dwindling social services, libraries become vast social service ecosystems, providing everything from food stamps to shelters to child care. Civil service has been folding itself into our mission for decades, and perhaps it was always part of us. I believe we have no choice but to embrace this shift and become dedicated civic leaders as well as information experts.
Sabrina Hendricks: HotSpot for Humanity, located in Silicon Valley, California, is a hybrid library and community center that integrates advanced technology with patron support. Serving a population of over 2 million, it focuses on addressing social isolation, mental health, and physical well-being. Features include autonomous mobile robots for basic tasks, wellness programs (yoga, swimming, etc.), and mental health resources. The library emphasizes inclusivity, community engagement, and access to technology. With a trauma-informed approach, the HotSpot for Humanity provides a space for remote workers, retirees, and patrons of all ages seeking connection, education, and support in a calming, innovative environment.
Sarina Haryanto: My Library 2035 is Perpustakaan Makanan (“Food Library†in Indonesian). In this community space, people improve their food literacy and test out cookbook recipes. The library will support culinary arts education and local food system initiatives while strengthening partnerships with non-profits and the local food council. Rooted in the values of Gotong Royong, commensality and cultural exchange, my Library 2035 offers intergenerational and multi-cultural experiences that will evolve based on the community's needs.