kranich turning outward: engaging our communities iowa state library libraries online conference 4...
TRANSCRIPT
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Turning Outward: Engaging Our Communities
Presentation byNancy Kranich
Rutgers UniversityApril 1, 2015
Iowa Libraries Online ConferenceIowa State Library
Overview of Webinar 6: Naming and Framing Public Issues
1. Bowling Alone2. Community Engagement3. Informed and Engaged
Citizenry4. Libraries Engage
Communities5. Turning Outward6. Meaningful Actions7. Learn More8. Q&A
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Highland Park (NJ) Public Library
Public loves HPPL programs
Wants opportunity to interact
Wants more access to local issues
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Bowling Alone
Americans increasingly live disconnected lives from each other and from the institutions of civic life Low voting turn out Curtailed work with political parties
and service organizations Join fewer groups Attend fewer community meetings
and political events
Withdrawal from the Public Square
Far too many have fleed the public square
No means to engage Loss of public space
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Democracy’s Challenge: Reclaiming the Public’s Role
Bystanders instead of active members with a sense of ownership in our democracy
Consumers in democracy, rather than citizen proprietors
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The Informed Citizenry
Our founding fathers proclaimed the necessity of an informed citizenry
American life encourages voluntary associations as well as promoting civic organizations such as the newspapers, the post office, public education, higher education, and libraries
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Informed and Engaged Citizenry
Information alone does not guarantee citizen participation
Information and engagement must work together
Engagement marks a critical point where community and individual information needs intersect
People Want to EngageMake a Difference
Safe spaces Trust Citizen’s role
“our” problem and not “their” problem
Where to turn? Catalytic/boundary
spanning institutions
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Libraries Engage Communities
Tough economic times for libraries
Democracy needs libraries to engage in the civic life of their communities
Many libraries are moving from an informed citizen model of service to an engaged, strong democracy model 11
Why Libraries?
Trusted Safe spaces Neutral Boundary spanners Catalytic For everyone Build community capacity Advocate intellectual freedom values “Places essential to the political processes of democracy”—Ray
Oldenburg, The Great Good Place 12
Salt Lake City Public Library
“… a library is more than a repository of books and computers - it reflects and engages the city's imagination and aspirations.” -- Moshe Safdie, Architect
Turn Outward Toward the Community
Generate constructive and inclusive public discourse
Envision a greater sense of possibility
Act with intentionality Achieve shared goals Increase relevance,
significance and impact Transform libraries and
librarians
Common Starting Points
Starting Point
1. ID problems
2. Visioning
3. Aspirations
What we Get– Rooted in
Complaints– Blame
– Wish lists– Disconnected
from Reality
– Based on reality – Focus on
community
What it Creates– Problem lists– No shared sense
of direction
– False hope– Not rooted in
people’s reality
– Shared aspirations that roots work
– Possibility
Community Conversations
Identify Aspirations
1. My aspirations for my community are: _______________________________________________________
2. The Challenges we face in reaching these aspirations are: _______________________________________________________
3. The changes needed in our community to reach our aspirations are:_______________________________________________________
Public Knowledge
Shift our thinking to turn outward and recognize new opportunities and connections
Listen and act on what we hear Know our value – uncover where we fit, and
challenges we can address Build relationships & collaborate
Apply deep knowledge rooted in the community
Reflect the reality of people’s lives
Uncover a sense of common purpose
Set and deliver upon realistic expectations and promises
Act intentionally to reflect aspirations and concerns
Align strategies with community aspirations
The 3A’s of Public LifeAuthority, Authenticity, and Accountability
Innovation Spaces
Convene monthly What are we learning? What are the implications? Apply what we learn Remain accountable for our actions Become more intentional—wakeful and aware
—about the choices and judgments we make Identify possibilities for moving ahead
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Actions That fit Community
• Develop strategies that achieve results and also build community
• Identify and act on specific pockets of change that align to local context
• Focus on creating conditions necessary for community change
• Determine “who to run with” as partners• Develop networks for innovation/learning
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Calibrating the WorkCommunity Rhythms
• How broad and deep is the community’s leadership?• How strong and constructive are the community norms?• How broad and deep are the informal networks and
links?• How strong is the collection of catalytic organizations?
24Source: Working Together Project, Community-Led Libraries Toolkit, http://www.librariesincommunities.ca/resources/Community-Led_Libraries_Toolkit.pdf
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Finding the sweet spot
SWEET SPOT Social Gatherings Interaction Spaces Boundary SpanningOrganizations Safe Havens for Decision Makers Strong, Diverse Leadership Informal Networks Conscious Community Discussion Community Norms for Public Life Shared Purpose
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Provide Civic Information
E-Government partnerships
Local information sources
Emergency providers
Government and community organization partnerships
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Promote Civic Literacy
Include civic literacy as part of 21st Century literacy skills
Partner with other civic-organizations to elevate the competency of citizens and enhance civic engagement
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The Library as Community-Wide Reading Club.
Public, school, and academic libraries are hosting community-wide One Book/One Community reading clubs.
Convene Public Forums
Host public deliberative forums that offer citizens a chance to work together across the spectrum of thought
Convene participatory forums in conjunction with groups like Iowa Partners for Learning
Collaborate with Community Partners
Virginia Beach deadlocked over redevelopment
Citizens, and public officials worked with librarians to name, frame, and deliberate about local issues
Built capacity of community to work together
Core Principles of Public Engagement
1. Careful planning & preparation2. Inclusion & diversity3. Collaboration & shared purpose4. Openness & learning5. Transparency & trust6. Impact & Action7. Sustained engagement &
participatory culture
32Source: National Coalition on Dialogue and Deliberation, International Association for Public Participation, and Co-Intelligence Institute
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Conclusion
In the words of Robert Putnam, “Just as one cannot restart a heart with one’s remote control, one cannot jump start republican citizenship without direct, face-to-face participation. Citizenship is not a spectator sport.”
Libraries and Civic EngagementConnect with Us
Libraries and Civic Engagement blog: http://discuss.ala.org/civicengagement/
ALA Connect: Libraries Foster Community Engagement Subscribe to ALA’s Community Engagement listserv:
1. Go to: http://lists.ala.org/wws2. Click on “View All Lists”3. Scroll down to [email protected] 4. Click on “Subscribe