The Connected Library

1
The Connected Library

• What it takes to be an engaged library

2
Acknowledgement

• Urban Libraries Council with the Chicago
  Community Trust and IMLS
• The Engaged Library Chicago Stories of
  Community Building

3
The New Library

• No longer a passive repository of books and
  information or an outpost of culture, quiet and
  decorum in a noisy world, the 21st century
  library is an active and responsive part of the
  community and agent for change.

4
Existing Assets

• Libraries have a wealth of assets free
  community space, technology resources,
  connections to the local economy, a sense of
  ownership by the community and, above all, a
  level of community trust.

5
Community Assets

• The skills and resources of its individuals
• The power of relationships in voluntary
  associations
• Assets present in the array of local institutions
• The physical infrastructure of the community
• The profile and dynamics of the local economy
• The stories that define the community, its
  history and its dreams

6
Libraries as the Center of the community

• Deeply imbedded in the community
• Generate institutional partnering
• Create culture connections
• Connection with young people
• Libraries fuel the local economy
• Space for the community
• Be the community connector

7
Get Outside the doors

• Successful community/library relationships are
  proactive
• Library leaders and staff that take an active
  role in the civic life of the community create
  the two-way street that positions the library
  at the center of community

8
Find the Leaders

• A concerted effort to discover whos who in the
  community makes all of the difference
• Reading local newspapers, asking long-time
  residents, attending civic events, rotary
  meetings all can be ways to find and work with
  the people who are already at the center of
  community activities.

9
Be Creative

• As an essential part of the community, be
  creative about what the library can contribute to
  a communitys success
• Go beyond the obvious and be prepared to say
  yes to new ideas that fall within your mission

10
Discover and Contribute

• Cultural attributes, family requirements, the
  particular situations of neighborhood youth all
  provide opportunities to make the library
  indispensable.
• Therefore, discover and contribute to the unique
  capacities and conditions of the community

11
Support local businesses and institutions

• Set up reciprocal relationships with local
  businesses and institutions. Advertise your
  services to them, spend discretionary funds
  locally. All of these activities will rebound to
  the librarys and communitys benefits.

12
Make the library building a community center

• Public buildings are community assets in many
  ways beyond simply being meeting spaces. The
  more people feel ownership, the more integrated
  the library becomes in community life.

13
Create a community minded culture among library
staff

• All staff and should be encouraged to learn
  names, attend events, develop relationships, and
  pay attention to community issues.
• Make the library a bridge to and among community
  populations.

14
Support library investments that entice community
redevelopment efforts

• A library in any neighborhood signals hope.
• A new library in a neighborhood brings hope and
  attention to areas that may have experienced
  disinvestment.
• Support new libraries with resources for building
  social networks.

15
Vibrant communities

• When libraries engage their communities, the best
  characteristics of both library and community are
  mobilized.
• There is no limit to the role libraries can play
  in building vibrant communities, by actively
  participating in the neighborhood culture,
  economy and physical environment.

16
The End ?

• Thank you
• Siobhan A. ReardonWestchester Library System540
  White Plains RoadTarrytown, NY
  10591-5110sreardon_at_wlsmail.org