Shareable Library

I like my local library, but I wish it had more programming options. Staff member capabilities and resources could limit the types of programming at a library. Librarians could spend days, weeks, or months learning how to do something to fit the needs of their community. In the meantime, there’s a way some librarians could swap places for a few hours and use the skills they have for each other’s communities.

Shareable Library (www.shareablelibrary.com) is an online marketplace currently for librarians in the greater Chicago area. At the website, they could share programming and craft project ideas, swap librarians or materials, and request to shadow another librarian to develop new skills. During the all-in-one Illinois library “A Library State of Mind” conference last month in Peoria, the five founders, librarians from Algonquin, Niles, Barrington, Indian Prairie, and Chicago Botanic Garden, spoke about how the project came to fruition and how it works. They created the website as an ILEAD USA project. ILEAD USA (Innovative Librarians Explore, Apply, and Discover) is a continuing education library program that receives grant funding from the Institute of Museum of Library Services.

The librarians spent several months creating the Shareable Library website and putting the idea of it to action. They visited each other’s libraries, provided programming, and swapped materials. The librarians determined that the best way to format their website was to include a Craigslist-type forum for the swap and shadow components. There, librarians could request goods, services, and shadow opportunities. Meanwhile, librarians could share programming and craft project ideas by first requesting to become a contributor to the website and then submitting a blog post.

Shareable Library is at its early stages. However, the five founders hope it would provide a wider selection of programming options in all libraries.