Should Libraries and Museums be more like Mother Teresa or Steve Jobs?
Measuring the difference between success and significance
In libraries and museums, success is often measured by tangible outcomes: visitation, circulation, program attendance, and funding. These metrics are essential for tracking performance, but they don’t necessarily reflect our deeper mission. As libraries and museums feel the squeeze of political pressure and belt tightening, they need to move beyond the numbers to explain the value they create in their communities and on their campuses. But how?
The answer may lie in how they measure the difference between success and significance. While success is grounded in statistics and achieving goals, significance is about purpose and creating a lasting impact through meaningful change.
Let’s use a couple of examples to illustrate why significance is so important for mission-driven organizations. Both examples demonstrate why significance is so closely aligned with value – a thing libraries and museums often have a difficult time expressing.
First, Mother Teresa didn’t seek success in the traditional sense. She didn’t accumulate wealth or fame. Her life was focused on the service of others — particularly the poor and marginalized. Her significance is clear in the deep impact she had on countless lives. Her legacy is one of profound human connection and service, not fame or material success.
Steve Jobs, on the other hand, is often seen as the epitome of success: wealth, status, influence. His innovations at Apple revolutionized entire industries and transformed the way we interact. But his work also had significance in how he shaped the culture around innovation and technology. Jobs wasn’t just about the products he created; he influenced the way we think about creativity and progress in modern society.
Libraries and museums that are truly significant today don’t just offer services — they enrich lives, uplift communities, and contribute to a more informed and just society. Their mission is to make a difference, not just meet short-term goals. So, why do they continue to rely on quantitative annual reports to tell their story? Wouldn’t measuring significance highlight their value more effectively?
The obvious answer is ‘yes’, but significance is extremely difficult to wrangle because it transcends external measures. It’s not just about what libraries and museums accomplish, it’s about how they affect others and contribute to the greater good. This means significance is realized by shifts in attitudes, increased levels of engagement, and the empowerment of individuals. These are all areas where impact becomes truly evident.
Of course, success and significance are not mutually exclusive. Libraries and museums can use success to provide resources, recognition, and opportunities, but it is significance that gives their work purpose and truly defines their mission.
We are actively engaged in shifting the narrative around libraries and museums to help them use their success as a catalyst for initiatives that focus on lasting, and meaningful change. We know significance is rooted in empowerment, which is why we’re so compelled to help others Believe Harder about the powerful future of libraries and museums.