The business case of FryskLab, Europe’s first mobile library FabLab
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-06-2015-0059 |
| Date | 16 November 2015 |
| Pages | 505-518 |
| Published date | 16 November 2015 |
| Author | Jeroen de Boer |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology |
The business case of
FryskLab, Europe’s first
mobile library FabLab
Jeroen de Boer
Bibliotheekservice Fryslân, Leeuwwarden, The Netherlands
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to describe the emergence of the mobile library FabLab
FryskLab, a project of Bibliotheekservice Fryslân (BSF). There will be special attention on how the
business case has been established.
Design/methodology/approach –The author examines the broader development of (mobile)
FabLabs in libraries. Based on the description of sub-projects that together make the project FryskLab
the approach of BSF is described.
Findings –The design of a mobile library lab speaks to many people’s imagination. However,
achieving a sound business case requires a lot more than just driving around in a bus and providing
practical workshops. Developing supporting projects is necessary.
Originality/value –At this time most publications on mobile library makerspaces are held in the
realm of popular publications (blogs, magazines). Very little has been written on a wider range of case
studies where mobile library makerspaces have been integrated into library services. This paper
serves as an insight on how BSF developed the FryskLab project.
Keywords Library services, Networking, Librarianship, Education,
Library and information networks, Library facilities
Paper type Case study
Introduction
In September 2014 a Dutch documentary titled Digitaal Geheugenverlies (Digital Amnesia)
(VPRO Tegenlicht, 2014a) aired on public television in the Netherlands. The episode
featured among others Brewster Kahle, director of the Internet Archive, answering the
question if we are paying enough respect to our cultural heritage and our collaborative
future by massively closing down libraries and archives. The following week the series
featured an episode about the maker movement, De Nieuwe Makers (The New Makers)
(VPRO Tegenlicht, 2014b), focussing on the rise of digital fabrication. In my view the
future library lives right between the contents of the two episodes.
The question what role digitization plays in the development of the Library of the
Future builds on classic thinking about cultural heritage. How do we preserve? What do
we preserve? Who do we preserve for? How long do we preserve? Numerous technical,
logistical and ethical answers to these important can be expressed, but these ignore the
most important role of the public library: providing access to knowledge and information
and facilitating our users to contribute to knowledge production themselves. The result
should be a library where users are knowledge makers as well as knowledge consumers.
FabLabs in libraries
Earlier this year David Lankes tweeted: “Libraries are about building knowledge in
any, ahem, medium. The communities are the collection, not the books”(Lankes, 2014).
Lankes puts the axe to the roots of what is usually seen as the most important task
of libraries: making books available for their users. However, this monopoly of the book
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 33 No. 4, 2015
pp. 505-518
©Emerald Group Publis hing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-06-2015-0059
Received 1 June 2015
Revised 15 September 2015
Accepted 16 September 2015
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
505
Europe’s first
mobile library
FabLab
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