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I don't know how this works in the US, but I wonder if allowing/encouraging the general public (i.e. you're not an alumni, and perhaps you never went to college

I don't know how this works in the US, but I wonder if allowing/encouraging the general public (i.e. you're not an alumni, and perhaps you never went to college) to sign up and use university libraries would increase usage? Just had a scan of Glasgow and Edinburgh University's library membership pages. The general public can access the libraries but how and what you're permitted to access can vary between institutions.

sgent 7y ago
All my local university libraries (including a few excellent ones) allow anyone to use the stacks for free. If you want to check something out or you want access to the computer databases you may have to pay to join the "Friends of the Library" or Alumni Association. Access to the databases is often restricted to students / staff though.
ht_th 7y ago
If the state of public libraries is anything to go by, no. At least here in the Netherlands, most public libraries that are still open, have reduced their book shelf capacity in the past couple of years and added study spaces, conversation spaces, coffee corners, computer spaces, meeting spaces, and workshops to the menu. The experience of going to the library now compared to 30 years ago when I was a kid is totally different. Then it was a quiet place with books, catalogues, a reading table, and maybe a computer or two. Now it is a social meeting place. (What I do wonder is, what were the social meeting places of 30 years ago? Why is there a need for them now?) Anyway, in my experience with university libraries, unless you know what you're doing research-wise, these libraries are not the most accessible for the outsider. There is a lot of information to wade through, and if you're unlucky, you have to order books you want from the archive/warehouse anyway, which can take from a couple of hours to a couple of days. Unless you can go to the library every day, you will have to plan your visit, search and request the books and materials you think you want beforehand, and hope for the best. How I miss searching for hours or days in libraries and archives!
- mcphage 7y ago
  > What I do wonder is, what were the social meeting places of 30 years ago? Why is there a need for them now? Check out the book Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam
gnicholas 7y ago
I went too a private college in the U.S. that has the same policy regarding usage by the public. They just had to sign in at reception.

sgent 7y ago

All my local university libraries (including a few excellent ones) allow anyone to use the stacks for free. If you want to check something out or you want access to the computer databases you may have to pay to join the "Friends of the Library" or Alumni Association. Access to the databases is often restricted to students / staff though.

ht_th 7y ago

If the state of public libraries is anything to go by, no. At least here in the Netherlands, most public libraries that are still open, have reduced their book shelf capacity in the past couple of years and added study spaces, conversation spaces, coffee corners, computer spaces, meeting spaces, and workshops to the menu. The experience of going to the library now compared to 30 years ago when I was a kid is totally different. Then it was a quiet place with books, catalogues, a reading table, and maybe a computer or two. Now it is a social meeting place. (What I do wonder is, what were the social meeting places of 30 years ago? Why is there a need for them now?) Anyway, in my experience with university libraries, unless you know what you're doing research-wise, these libraries are not the most accessible for the outsider. There is a lot of information to wade through, and if you're unlucky, you have to order books you want from the archive/warehouse anyway, which can take from a couple of hours to a couple of days. Unless you can go to the library every day, you will have to plan your visit, search and request the books and materials you think you want beforehand, and hope for the best. How I miss searching for hours or days in libraries and archives!

mcphage 7y ago
> What I do wonder is, what were the social meeting places of 30 years ago? Why is there a need for them now? Check out the book Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam

gnicholas 7y ago

I went too a private college in the U.S. that has the same policy regarding usage by the public. They just had to sign in at reception.