The knowledge worker and British libraries: a service based partnership
The knowledge economy and the knowledge worker feature highly in literature and publications on business and the future of economies. This new breed of information based problem solvers are valued as the entity which will strategise to lift the planet from its current state of demise. If this potential is to be realised “a total environment that integrates key elements of living, working, and learning is needed.” (Greens & Murray, 2007, p.7) In order for this environment to be an all encompassing system it is essential that it extends to and addresses dispersed issues and groups within society. For the purpose of this project, these are identified to be the knowledge economy, including work hubs and knowledge workers, the governments support for increased business innovation and activity, and the new political agenda- the ‘Big Society.’ The proposal for new working spaces for knowledge workers within dispersed British libraries explores how connecting these different areas through a common goal creates a framework through which to develop new solutions and catalyse change.
Profiling the needs, traits and values of the knowledge worker are the first steps in exploring the potential of a service to assist and enable a new lifestyle for this user group. This information and technology based worker is “mobile, less dependent on space and time, requires access to others to collaborate, and is highly autonomous.” Allwood & Boorsma (2008 p.3) Their flexibility and problem solving skills promise great benefit to the social, environmental and economic sustainability of Britain and the globe. At present there are a number of different work hubs that are being set up over London and regional Britain to provide these workers with a local communal space to work from which is close to home and provides all the utilities and services required to complete ones job. These respond to new highly virtual ways of working, which eliminate the need to be present in a centrally based office on a daily basis. Primary and secondary studies into the different services currently being offered identify that the present organisational and financial structures of work hubs are unsustainable and limit their ability to populate greater and outer London and the nations regional towns. It is concluded that if work hubs are to disperse to meet the needs of knowledge workers and enable new lifestyles they need to maximise existing physicality and services to ensure start-up and operational costs are minimal. This aligns with the ‘Big Society’ political agenda which is encouraging the city and its citizens to be innovative in maximising and improving Britain’s existing infrastructure.
Based on this information it is proposed that work spaces for knowledge workers be designed into British libraries. This proposal recognises the library as a building and institution that provides the services and localities that knowledge workers need. By utilising and improving upon these existing facilities, dispersed work spaces have higher levels of success and present greater potential for scaling to create a widespread service system that changes work patterns and lifestyles. This can be achieved through a three stage process, with short medium and long term implementation strategies which minimise initial dependence on financial resources and lowers risk. In the long term this new service provided by libraries has the potential to create local lifestyles that rejuvenate local economies, wellbeing and social capital. As libraries become “service providing hubs” businesses will be able encourage employees utilise these space and in turn they will be able to occupy less commercial property, reducing building operational costs, resource consumption and co2 emissions. Smaller short term pilots also present benefits in improving the quality of life for the individuals who use these services and by attracting new non-users to the library.
Whilst no specific grant or funding has been identified for the proposal, it is in alignment with government and political discussions, agendas and directions. These are to revitalise suburbs, to ‘do more with less’ and to increase business services and wellbeing to attract more businesses and knowledge workers to the nation to ensure it remains a dominant force on the global stage.
Having identified the need and potential of a service based relationship between knowledge workers and British libraries the potential for incorporating design as a tool for realising innovation within the public service sector is explored. Of the different stages in realising new environments from gaining support and funding though to design, construction and evaluation, this report has focused on researching and communicating user needs and demands. This is a stage that is integral to the long term success of any project. As Heapy & Parker (2006, p.08) states “all service organisations need to find new ways of connecting intimately with their users and customers, of listening and responding.” The medium of an online community provides a platform which is flexible and interactive and can be used for qualitative and quantitative insight. (Comley, 2008, p.680) They enable the user to interact and raise new questions and concerns, with the user becomes more involved, resulting in a study that more closely reflects the holistic views of the audience. This method also provides a platform from which large numbers of people can be accessed and where design skills can play an influential role in creating an interface that is fun, interesting and engaging whilst also functioning as a site that both gathers and provides information. A design proposal for the web interface of the online research community illustrates how different design workshop tools can be applied within an online medium to add value to the public service user research process.
In conclusion, next steps identified involve promoting and circulating the proposal for this new service amongst potential shareholders. In conjunction with developing the design of the online research community, there is the potential for a visualisation exercise to be carried out with library officials, staff and volunteers to communicate an alternative lifestyle which maximises the libraries potential. If well designed, this can enthuse, inform and inspire these parties to look forward and to believe in the role that the library and public services can play in delivering a better future.
