Libraries Build Community

Valarie Kingsland

LIBR 287 Hyperlinked Library

2012 SJSU SLIS

“To belong to a community is to act as a creator and

co-owner of that community.”

“The essence of creating an alternative future

comes from citizen-to-citizen engagement that

constantly focuses on the well-being of the whole.”

Block, 2008

Block, P. (2008). Community: The structure of belonging. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

“The library and its leadership

need to be shaping that future

today by crafting services that

people want now.”

Casey & Savastinuk, 2007

Casey, M. E., & Savastinuk, L. C. (2007). Library 2.0: A guide to participatory library service. Medford, N.J: Information Today.

Libraries use friendly signage to welcome us.

Holy Names University Library signage http://www.hnu.edu/hawksquawk/2010/12/signage-kudos/

Libraries are inclusive; everyone is welcome.

Skokie Public Library Accessible Library Services http://www.skokielibrary.info/s_about/SALS.asp

Libraries stay current and adapt to new information behavior and consumption.

MIT Libraries Mobile Apps http://libraries.mit.edu/mobile-site/

Libraries use social media to answer our questions.

Cardiff Uni Library service on Twitter (@cardiffunilib) https://twitter.com/cardiffunilib/status/269082142724734976

Libraries understand we are busy.

Cleveland Public Library: Drive-up Window http://www.cpl.org/BranchLocations/MainLibraryDriveupWindow.aspx

Libraries go to you if you can't go to them.

Warren-Trumbull County Public Library Homebound Service

http://www.wtcpl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=111:homebound-library-service&catid=8

Libraries join forces so we have more choices.

Connecticut Library Consortium http://www.ctlibrarians.org/

Libraries provide access to exceptional resources.

Alaska Library Network: Digital Pipeline http://sled.alaska.edu/databases/

Libraries engage local experts to share their knowledge...

Jay County Public LIbrary Local Experts series http://www.jaycpl.lib.in.us/Newsnotes%20PDF/nnjan2012.pdf [pdf]

...and provide public spaces for us to meet.

Multnomah County Library: Public Meeting Rooms http://www.multcolib.org/services/meetingrooms.html

Chelmsford Public LibraryMcCarthy Meeeting Room http://www.flickr.com/photos/chelmsfordpubliclibrary/2210233729/

Libraries encourage civic engagement for a better community.

Village Learning Place #GivigTuesday http://www.villagelearningplace.org/2012/11/getting-into-givingtuesday/

Libraries respond to emergencies with heart.

Queens Borough Public Library branches offer help after Hurricane Sandy

http://librariansbuildcommunities.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/library-offers-books-and-community/

Libraries are into gardening...

The City Library Librarians Garden http://www.slcpl.org/events & http://saltlakegardencity.wordpress.com/about/

...and farming, too!

The Northern Onodoga Public Library LibraryFarm http://www.nopl.org/library-farm

Libraries encourage collaborative consumption by offering non-traditional collections, like tools.

West Seattle Tool Library http://wstoollibrary.org/

Libraries provide GED, ESL and citizenship classes...

Jones Library ESL Center http://www.joneslibrary.org/esl/index.html

...and ballet, retirement and Wii Fit classes too.

87% of public libraries provide technology training. http://www.ala.org/research/initiatives/plftas/2010_2011/trainingmap1011

New York Public Library Programs http://www.nypl.org/events/classes

90% of public libraries provide access to job databases and online job resources.

Public Libraries and Access to Employment Resources http://www.ala.org/research/initiatives/plftas/2010_2011/jobsmap1011

The Seattle Public Library Job Resources http://www.spl.org/library-collection/articles-and-research/job-resources

Libraries offer free tax and eGov help.

81% of public libraries help with applications and access to e-government services

U.S. Public Libraries and E-Government Services http://www.ala.org/research/initiatives/plftas/2010_2011/egovmap1011

Houston Public Library Tax Resources http://www.houstonlibrary.org/tax-resources

Libraries offer business centers for local entrepreneurs.

Skokie Public Library Business Center http://www.skokielibrary.info/

Libraries recycle and support our local businesses.

Canton Public Library http://www.cantonpl.org/blog/post/small-business-saturday%C2%AE-november-24th

86% of public libraries offer Wi-fi service.

WiFi Access in U.S. Public Libraries http://www.ala.org/research/initiatives/plftas/2010_2011/wifimap1011

Chicago Public Library: Free WiFi http://www.chipublib.org/aboutcpl/wifi.php

Libraries protect our intellectual freedom.

King County Library System Intellectual Freedom Policy http://www.kcls.org/usingthelibrary/policies/intfreedom.cfm

Libraries loan technology...

North Carolina State University Technology Lending http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/techlending

...and will even bring it to our neighborhoods.

Houston Public Library's Mobile Express http://www.houstonlibrary.org/hpl-mobile-express

Libraries partner with teachers to help our students.

Grandview Heights Public Library Tools for Teachers http://www.ghpl.org/teachers/

87% of public libraries offer free homework help.

Homework resources Available in U.S. Public LIbraries

http://www.ala.org/research/initiatives/plftas/2010_2011/homeworkmap1011

Clearwater Public Libraries Bilingual Homework Help

Libraries provide exceptional programing for our children.

Lester Public Library Kid Programs http://www.lesterlibrary.org/kids.htm

Libraries encourage play and imagination.

Hennepin County Library Act Out events http://www.hclib.org/pub/events/AllEventsAction.cfm?keyword=act+out

Libraries provide Maker Spaces and Fab Labs to support innovation and so we can create cool stuff

Westport Public Library Maker Space http://www.westportlibrary.org/services/maker-space

Libraries help tell our stories...

Fayettville Public Library Teen Creative Writing Workship http://www.faylib.org/content/teen-creative-writing-workshop

...and opportunities to share them.

Sacramento Public Library I Street Press http://www.saclibrary.org/Services/I-Street-Press/

Libraries have fun contests that promote and celebrate creativity in our communities.

Troy Public Library Photo Contest: Where Do You Read? http://www.troylibrary.info/node/863

Libraries care about our health.

Canton Public Library: Traditional Yoga Basics http://www.cantonpl.org/blog/post/traditional-yoga-basics-0

Libraries provide access to consumer health resources.

Brooklyn Public Library Multilingual Consumer Health http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/explore-topic/health/multilingual-

consumer-health

Libraries make a difference in our lives.

Scotch Plains Public Library & Fanwood Memorial Library, New Jersey http://www.librariesandautism.org/index.htm

Libraries offer cultural experiences...

The Morgan Library & Museum Concerts https://www.themorgan.org/public/concerts.asp

...and give us a chance to express ourselves.

Walt Whitman Library Open Mic Night http://www.myrtleavenue.org/blog/index.cfm/2012/8/21/Open-Mic-Night-at-the-Walt-

Whitman-Library-Wed-822

Libraries help us find our history...

Brighton District Library Genealogy Program http://brighton.patch.com/articles/genealogy-experts-offer-up-resources-tips-and-how-

to-advice-for-you

...and preserve our history.

Seward Community Library Museum Historic Photos http://www.cityofseward.net/library/photos.cfm

Libraries curate information to share with us.

O'Fallon Public Library Pinterest account http://pinterest.com/hcpl/

Libraries have fans...

Billy Graham Library Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/BillyGrahamLibrary

...and friends.

Seward Community Library Museum Facebook account https://www.facebook.com/seward.libmuseum

Libraries • serve & help

• share & curate

• celebrate & affirm

• teach & care

• create & innovate

• grow & preserve

• include everyone

• step outside their comfort zones

• offer free classes

• use local experts

• reflect community values

• support community development

• protect intellectual freedom

...and they invite you to do it all with them!

"the library in the life of the user" Doug Zweizig, 1973 Syracuse University dissertation

"...the libraries’ primary purpose and mission,

as crafted over the generations by local

leaders and users, was to foster the kinds of

social harmony that community spaces and

stories—shared and experienced—provide."

Wayne Wiegand, 2011

Wiegand, W. (2011). Main Street Public Library. American Libraries. Retrieved from

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/09272011/main-street-public-library

“The power is in the asking, not in the answers.”

Block, p. 184

“All of this takes time, but we are choosing depth

over speed.” Block, p. 148

If your library doesn't offer what you want, kindly tell them. Be patient while they figure out what they can do.

Libraries strive to serve their communities well, but they are not

one size fits all. Each community is different.

Block, P. (2008). Community: The structure of belonging. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Seward, Alaska

about.me/vkingsland

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Valarie Kingsland