A place at the table : participating in community building
While libraries deliver a vital public service within diverse communities, they are often invisible in the community development process initiated by civic planners, activists, and local government officials. Award-winning librarian, educator, author, and activist, Kathleen de la Pena McCook challenges librarians everywhere to get involved early by demanding a place at the community planning and development table. Describing the experiences and insights of librarians who have blazed trails of community involvement and development around the country, McCook outlines practical ways to: Become involved in policy making early and build a grassroots campaign; Connect with powerful partners in the community visioning process; Promote the tangible strengths and assets of the library
xi, 118 pages ; 23 cm
9780838907887, 0838907881
43884461
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Sense of community
Many dimensions of community
Diverse communities: Challenge to community building
Visions of community: Toward comprehensiveness and a library presence
Factors for successful community building: How the work of librarians fits
Librarians who build community: Voices from the front lines
Cybercommunity building and librarians
Closing the circle: Connecting the public library transformation process to community building
New models of work: Librarian at every table
Power dies the moment action ceases
Index