The NewThe NewThird Place:Third Place:Libraries as the HeartbeatLibraries as the Heartbeatof the Communityof the Community

UK Society of Chief Librarians National Seminar 2008UK Society of Chief Librarians National Seminar 2008

Mary A. DempseyCommissionerChicago Public Library

Social CapitalSocial CapitalWhat is it?What is it?

Formal and informal networks of humanFormal and informal networks of human

beings and institutions which promotebeings and institutions which promote

reciprocity, mutual assistance and trust. reciprocity, mutual assistance and trust.

Robert PutnamRobert Putnam

Social CapitalSocial Capital

Trust – across racial, ethnic and economic linesTrust – across racial, ethnic and economic lines Connections – formal or informal; especially to others Connections – formal or informal; especially to others

from diverse backgroundsfrom diverse backgrounds Political participationPolitical participation Civic involvementCivic involvement SocializationSocialization VolunteerismVolunteerism Faith based engagementFaith based engagement

Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey. Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey. Saguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement in AmericaSaguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement in America

Why is social capital Why is social capital important? important?

It contributes to the economic and social welfare of It contributes to the economic and social welfare of communities and organizations and to individual communities and organizations and to individual growth and well being. growth and well being.

It matters for the quality of life in our communities and It matters for the quality of life in our communities and for our personal happiness.for our personal happiness.

It is a stronger predictor of the perceived quality of life It is a stronger predictor of the perceived quality of life in a community than the community’s income or in a community than the community’s income or educational level.educational level.

Personal happiness is more closely tied to the level of Personal happiness is more closely tied to the level of community social connectedness and trust than to community social connectedness and trust than to income or educational level.income or educational level.

Social Community Benchmark SurveySocial Community Benchmark Survey

Two types Two types of social capitalof social capital

Bonding Social CapitalBonding Social Capital – networks which link people who are – networks which link people who are similar in crucial respects similar in crucial respects Inward lookingInward looking People who are like you and are likely to be supportive of People who are like you and are likely to be supportive of

mutual interestsmutual interests Bridging Social CapitalBridging Social Capital

– encompassing different types of people– encompassing different types of people Outward lookingOutward looking Necessary for a pluralist democracy but more difficult to create Necessary for a pluralist democracy but more difficult to create

Libraries work best hereLibraries work best here

Chicago Chicago

2.9 million people2.9 million people 1/3 white1/3 white 1/3 African American1/3 African American 1/3 Hispanic and Asian1/3 Hispanic and Asian

City of immigrants – City of immigrants – historically andhistorically andin the 21st centuryin the 21st century

ChicagoChicago A trading post in the A trading post in the

1800’s1800’s Center of Center of

manufacturing, manufacturing, transportation and transportation and industryindustry

Central city destroyed in Central city destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871the Great Fire of 1871

Rebuilt by 1893 when it Rebuilt by 1893 when it hosted the World’s hosted the World’s Columbian ExpositionColumbian Exposition

Chicago TodayChicago Today

A Green CityA Green City 79 designated 79 designated

neighborhoodsneighborhoods DiverseDiverse Economy based on major Economy based on major

financial institutions and financial institutions and commerce, technology, commerce, technology, universities, health care universities, health care and science, transportation, and science, transportation, light industry light industry and manufacturing, tourismand manufacturing, tourism

Music, dance, theater, Music, dance, theater, architecturearchitecture

Chicago TodayChicago Today

A world class public libraryA world class public library

The British BookThe British BookDonation of 1871Donation of 1871

Left: 1871 British book donation bookplate. Left: 1871 British book donation bookplate. Right: First Chicago Public Library,Right: First Chicago Public Library,

old water tower, 1871old water tower, 1871

Chicago Public Library Chicago Public Library TodayToday

Department of the City of Department of the City of Chicago Chicago

Cabinet position within Cabinet position within Mayor’s administrationMayor’s administration

Board of Directors Board of Directors appointed by the Mayorappointed by the Mayor

79 libraries79 libraries 52 newly constructed52 newly constructed

since 1989since 1989 16 projects in planning16 projects in planning Operating budget: $106 Operating budget: $106

million (US)million (US) 1300 librarians, 1300 librarians,

administrators, administrators, paraprofessionals and paraprofessionals and clerical staffclerical staff

Chicago Public LibraryChicago Public LibraryTodayToday

Library card is free to Chicagoans and to Library card is free to Chicagoans and to 192 surrounding communities in Illinois192 surrounding communities in Illinois

State of the art technology: 2500 State of the art technology: 2500 desktop computers and free desktop computers and free WiFi in all librariesWiFi in all libraries

New New Find It, Chicago!Find It, Chicago! System System

www.chicagopubliclibrary.orgwww.chicagopubliclibrary.org

Find It! ChicagoFind It! Chicago

Our missionOur mission

We welcome and support all people in their We welcome and support all people in their enjoyment of reading and pursuit of lifelong enjoyment of reading and pursuit of lifelong learning.learning.

Working together we strive to provide equal Working together we strive to provide equal access to information, ideas and knowledge access to information, ideas and knowledge through books, programs and other resources.through books, programs and other resources.

We believe in the freedom to read, to learn, to We believe in the freedom to read, to learn, to discover.discover.

CPL 2010CPL 2010

StrengthsStrengths

Welcoming and safe physical Welcoming and safe physical infrastructure and presence in the infrastructure and presence in the communitycommunity

Current and diverse collectionsCurrent and diverse collections Dedicated, well trained personnelDedicated, well trained personnel Innovative programmingInnovative programming

CPL 2010CPL 2010

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Enhance and expand programs and Enhance and expand programs and partnershipspartnerships

Increase access to information in all Increase access to information in all formatsformats

Heighten awareness of the public libraryHeighten awareness of the public library

What is the role that What is the role that libraries play in bridging libraries play in bridging and building social capital?and building social capital?

“ “The library is the heartbeat of the The library is the heartbeat of the community.” community.”

“ “I think you have to understand I think you have to understand what a library does. It’s more than what a library does. It’s more than the internet, more than a the internet, more than a bookstore. It’s part of the bookstore. It’s part of the community, an educational place community, an educational place for all ages to go. In a knowledge for all ages to go. In a knowledge based society and economy, we’d based society and economy, we’d better be promoting more and better be promoting more and more libraries.” more libraries.”

- Richard M. Daley- Richard M. Daley Mayor of Chicago Mayor of Chicago

What makes CPL successful What makes CPL successful at bridging social capital? at bridging social capital?

The buildings themselvesThe buildings themselves The public has a right to be welcomed to The public has a right to be welcomed to

a library that is attractive, clean and well a library that is attractive, clean and well resourced that presents collections and resourced that presents collections and programs that bring people together.programs that bring people together.

What makes CPL successful What makes CPL successful at bridging social capital?at bridging social capital?

What makes CPL successful What makes CPL successful at bridging social capital?at bridging social capital?

How we extend ourselves How we extend ourselves outsideoutside our walls is our walls is as important as what goes on inside the library.as important as what goes on inside the library.

What makes CPL successful What makes CPL successful at bridging social capital? at bridging social capital?

Libraries and cultural Libraries and cultural institutions are nature institutions are nature partners whose impact on partners whose impact on communities is increased communities is increased through partnershipsthrough partnerships

Great KidsGreat Kids Museum Pass Museum Pass programprogram

Ravinia Ravinia Words Words and Musicand Music program program

What makes CPL successful What makes CPL successful at bridging social capital?at bridging social capital?

Curriculum based and Library mission Curriculum based and Library mission oriented programs promote social oriented programs promote social connections and support lifelong learningconnections and support lifelong learning

Connect summer reading and local museumsConnect summer reading and local museums

What makes CPL successful What makes CPL successful at bridging social capital?at bridging social capital?

One Book, One ChicagoOne Book, One Chicago

What makes CPL successful What makes CPL successful at bridging social capital?at bridging social capital?

Teachers in the LibraryTeachers in the Library Certified teachers working with students everyday after school in branch librariesCertified teachers working with students everyday after school in branch libraries An extra set of hands to assist librarians at the busiest time of the dayAn extra set of hands to assist librarians at the busiest time of the day What kids need after schoolWhat kids need after school Help parents navigate the school system better Help parents navigate the school system better

What makes CPL successful What makes CPL successful at bridging social capital?at bridging social capital?

CybernavigatorsCybernavigators Trained college students and graduates Trained college students and graduates One on one instruction for library usersOne on one instruction for library users

What makes CPL successful What makes CPL successful at bridging social capital?at bridging social capital?

Financial Literacy lectures in libraries for Financial Literacy lectures in libraries for adults and teensadults and teens Certified financial plannersCertified financial planners

Financial institutionsFinancial institutions Common sense financial planning adviceCommon sense financial planning advice

A natural extension of book and online A natural extension of book and online collections about saving, spending, collections about saving, spending, investing, jobs, home ownershipinvesting, jobs, home ownership

LibrariesLibraries

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Get outside the doors. Successful Get outside the doors. Successful community/library relationships are proactive.community/library relationships are proactive.

Find the leaders. A concerted effort to discover Find the leaders. A concerted effort to discover who’s who in a community makes all the who’s who in a community makes all the difference.difference.

Be creative about what the library can Be creative about what the library can contribute.contribute.

Discover and contribute to the unique Discover and contribute to the unique capacities and conditions of the community.capacities and conditions of the community.

LibrariesLibraries

Support local businesses and institutions.Support local businesses and institutions. Make the library building a community center.Make the library building a community center. Create a community-minded culture among Create a community-minded culture among

library staff and volunteers.library staff and volunteers. Support library investments that jump start Support library investments that jump start

community redevelopment efforts.community redevelopment efforts.

The Engaged Library: Chicago Stories of Community BuildingThe Engaged Library: Chicago Stories of Community BuildingUrban Libraries Council, 2005Urban Libraries Council, 2005

LibrariesLibraries

Enhance quality of lifeEnhance quality of life Promote lifelong learningPromote lifelong learning Connect people with information, ideas Connect people with information, ideas

and each other.and each other.