What does a public library mean to you? For decades, the answer was simple: a quiet place to borrow books and access information. But as our societies face rapid technological change, political polarization, climate crises and widening social inequalities, libraries are undergoing a profound transformation. They are no longer just repositories of knowledge — they are becoming dynamic engines of social innovation and community resilience.
We are pleased to share the publication of a new open-access article in Public Management Review: “Libraries in a changing society: resourcing value propositions for viability and societal relevance,” authored by Tiina Tuominen, Kirsi Hyytinen (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland), and Paul Windrum (University of Nottingham Business School).
Originally presented at the LibrarIN conference, the study brings together extensive literature review data on public libraries, gathered within LibrarIN Work Package 2 (WP2), to examine how public libraries successfully revise what they offer to the public in order to remain viable, adaptive and socially impactful.
Shifting value: private and public value propositions
Using a theory of resourcing, the authors explore how libraries develop and deliver new forms of value in changing societal conditions.
The paper distinguishes between two important dimensions of value.
| Private value propositions | Public value propositions |
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The direct and tangible benefits experienced by library users, such as:
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The broader societal benefits generated through library activities, including:
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Through a systematic analysis of the literature, the study identifies 18 distinct service categories grouped into five broader types of novel library services. These range from makerspaces and co-working environments to exercise programmes and integration platforms supporting marginalized communities.
The secret to library innovation: the art of resourcing
How do libraries introduce these significant transformations, often without major increases in public funding?
According to the paper, the answer lies in resourcing — the creative process through which organizations reshape norms, practices and available resources to support new forms of value creation.
The authors identify five important resourcing tactics used by innovative libraries:
- Stretching and extending norms – libraries challenge traditional assumptions about what libraries “should” do, enabling staff to adopt new roles as digital guides, social facilitators or climate educators.
- Repurposing existing resources – physical and digital infrastructures are creatively re-used, for example by transforming book stacks into flexible community spaces or leveraging existing IT systems for broader public services.
- Improving and adding resources – libraries invest in new skills, technologies and capabilities, including staff upskilling and the adoption of tools such as 3D printing and virtual reality technologies.
- Co-creative practices with partners – collaboration with NGOs, municipalities, educational institutions and businesses enables libraries to co-deliver specialised and locally relevant services.
- Co-creative practices with users – citizens themselves increasingly participate in the design and development of library services, shifting from passive users to active co-creators of public value.
Why this matters for public management and policy
The article offers valuable insights not only for library professionals, but also for policymakers and public sector innovators more broadly.
It demonstrates that public libraries are uniquely positioned to contribute to major public policy priorities – including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – provided they are supported in their resourcing and innovation efforts.
More broadly, the findings show how public organizations can remain resilient and socially relevant by continuously adapting their practices, partnerships and value propositions to evolving societal needs.
Connecting research, policy and practice through LibrarIN
The article strongly reflects LibrarIN’s broader mission to explore how libraries can remain viable, socially relevant and responsive to changing societal conditions.
By connecting research, policy and practice, LibrarIN continues to highlight the role of libraries as key actors in social innovation, democratic participation and community resilience across Europe.