AanZetjes

Context

Libraries are losing appeal with young people. Declining subsidies and the presence of good and personalized alternatives lead to the functions of the library disappearing or being taken over by others. Libraries are currently failing to respond sufficiently to this. If this continues, there is a risk that libraries will cease to exist in their present form.

The AanZet library seeks to redefine its purpose, aiming to draw in a younger demographic, shifting from a traditional book-lending facility to a hub for knowledge exchange and personal development.

Target audience

Using the Job to be Done methodology and user testing,
I explored how young people develop personally across different ages. Common issues like self-esteem, identity, and belonging emerged regardless of age, often stemming from low self-confidence.

Recognizing this, I narrowed my focus to adolescents aged 14 to 17, a crucial stage for identity development according to psychologist Erik Erikson's Stages of Development. Coincidentally, this is also the age group where library membership is declining the most.

This presents an interesting opportunity for the AanZet library to support young people form their identities in the critical phase that is puberty, but also to attract more people to read and utilize libraries.

Identity development

Through desk research and interviews, I explored adolescent identity development, uncovering key insights:

• Adolescents are stubborn and set themselves against the authority of parents, schools, and libraries, preferring influences from friends and influencers. They prefer learning about topics they choose themselves, avoiding associations with traditional authorities. Therefore, identity development should be implicit, focusing on skill improvement without explicit reflection or writing.
• The purpose of the design can be difficult to communicate to the target audience. Naming identity development explicitly can feel forced and school-like, deterring interest. Avoiding direct association with authority figures is crucial to maintaining engagement with the target audience.

Connecting with the library

Libraries have a responsibility to help people participate in society. To reflect this in the design, I focus on 21st-century skills essential for success in today's digital era. Exactly what the AanZet library considers an important ambition. These skills are integrated into the background of the design to resonate with the target audience without feeling school-like. These skills include critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.