Coworking, Collaborating, Creating at Your Library
Public libraries have always been home to makers. Ben Franklin reportedly did some of his earliest electrification experiments at his Philadelphia library. As the nature of work becomes more entrepreneurial and networked, public libraries are becoming a new force in coworking and collaboration. Hundreds of libraries now support cowork and mobile work spaces—leveraging place, tech and staff, according to the first study to track these trends.
About a year ago, DC’s MLK Library began transforming itself into a place for diverse residents to connect, learn and "make" ideas into reality. The Dream Lab has attracted 56 entrepreneurial projects to fulfill this vision. Each member offers free monthly programming to engage the public in their efforts and ideas. MapStory, an online social cartographic platform that empowers users to map historical change over time, is one.
These collaborations are catalyzing learning and action, and building a stronger knowledge economy for all as a result.
Presenters
Jonathan Marino
Dir of Content & Strategy
The MapStory Foundation
Jonathan Marino directs content and strategy at MapStory, an atlas of change that everyone can edit. Under his leadership MapStory has grown from a nascent idea to a stable global data commons that...
Show the restLarra Clark
Program Dir
American Library Association
Larra Clark is a program director in the American Library Association Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP). Her responsibilities include overall management of OITP’s telecommunications a...
Show the restNicholas Kerelchuk
Digital Commons Mgr
District of Columbia Public Library
Nicholas Kerelchuk is the manager of the Digital Commons in the DC Public Library, a creative and collaborative playground serving a vibrant community of all ages. Part digital creation space, par...
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