| As the public library system struggles to find support in the age Google and Amazon, their impact through crucial resources and personalized support from library staff prove their undeniable value in cities -- especially for those without internet access or devices in their home. As smart cities begin to integrate the Internet of Things (I.o.T.) into urban infrastructure, the public library has a great opportunity to use this model as a method for extending access to those who need it most. The "Library of Things" (LoT) model, a play on "IoT", aims to reconceptualize the public library's role in cities by using data-driven design, analysis, and optimization to help libraries justify their disbursement of resources, while also significantly reducing their expenses. These library access points are mobile, small-scale public computing and learning spaces that act as extensions of existing libraries but can grow and move responsively to usage analysis. The LoT model can allow libraries to make the most effective use of their funding while also ensure that they are meeting the needs of the public in an effort to democratize the access of information and opportunity for all. |
