The ubiquitous presence of technology and information can distract us from what is most important. This effort sought to understand how libraries can contribute to the consciousness economy and help library customers rediscover the library as a modern retreat space. The "Library as Retreat Space" project was initiated by Julka Älmquist and Jeppe Knudsen (Anthropologists), Trent Miller (Visual Artist - Madison Public Library), Sara Bindeballe (Music staff - Dokk1), and Marianne Krogbæk (Designer - ITK/Dokk1).

Through consulting with experts in the field of anthropology, music and art, Madison and Aarhus libraries collaboratively planned and implemented interactive customer experiences around high- and low-tech meditation and creative exploration. Music and sound used at events allowed planners to examine the role music plays in promoting cross-cultural inclusion and understanding. Library presenters shared results of the experiment at the NEXTLibrary Conference in Aarhus, Denmark (June 2017).

Madison Public Library hosted 11 events with a combined attendance of 321, but the main benefit was the experience of planning, implementing and evaluating a cross-cultural program. We learned how community engagement programming is the same and different through the experience and were able to bring our observations back to our own libraries for future program experimentation and improvement, then share those experiences with an international audience.