The library is a smart city's 'hub for digital intelligence'

Source: Smart Cities Dive Published: Jan 27 2020 By: Calin Crowe

As one of the most trusted spaces and sources of information, libraries are playing an increasingly important role in smart city initiatives.

When the founders of Library Land first decided to join forces, it was to start a PR agency — and they needed to find a good spot to meet. Instead of opting for a Starbucks or a WeWork, the two settled on a quiet study room at a library in Newton, MA. 

The duo, Adam Zand and Greg Peverill-Conti, tried their luck with a different library for their next meeting. Over 200 libraries later, the pair has leveraged the public spaces to launch the Library Land Project, a site that hosts reviews, maps and information regarding libraries around the U.S.

Zand and Peverill-Conti's library tour has opened their eyes to the seemingly endless ways that libraries can be used in a city, like teaching residents how to use 3D printers or troubleshooting Netflix log-in issues..

"They play really rich and diverse roles... as a place to bring technology to the community," Peverill-Conti’s told Smart Cities Dive. "They’re becoming a kind of hub for digital intelligence in their communities."

As one of the most trusted spaces and sources of information, libraries are playing an increasingly important role in smart cities. And as cities partner with libraries to disseminate information about municipal services, close digital divides  and boost civic engagement, that role will likely continue to evolve. 

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