Two Librarians and a Microphone

The San Diego Public Library partnered with the San Diego Public Defender Youth Council to host a Youth Candidate Forum where young people could ask local political candidates questions on issues that were important to them. The forum offered a civic engagement opportunity to bring forth the voice of youth and allow young people to lead the discussion with local candidates that represent their communities and influence the political platform that directly impacts their generation. The youth-led program engaged over 160 young people to bring their concerns on topics like global warming, homelessness, violence, and equitable access.

Responding to recent challenges to democratic values in Canada and around the world, Toronto Public Library expanded how they support engaged citizenship. Launching Canada’s first user-friendly, responsive, and accessible library website, Know You Vote T.O., addressed the issues of voter turnout and education for 2018’s municipal election. The website provided voters with an easy way to find their ward and candidate information, neutral explanations of the biggest issues facing the city, and a non-partisan advisory board. The site garnered over 23,000 distinct users in the month before the election date and was recognized by media and candidates as an authoritative information source, with 72% of candidates submitting responses.

Edmonton Public Library (EPL) demonstrates how the library is a significant player in cultivating the vibrancy and diversity of local arts through their local music initiative, Capital City Records. Their first vinyl compilation album, “Riversides,” produced through this project inspired excitement for music recording studios in EPL’s new downtown library, strengthened the city’s music community, showcased local artists and celebrated the diverse and vibrant talent of Edmonton’s music and arts scene. From the 126 tracks submitted by 71 local artists, to the jury of experts that selected the tracks, to the album artwork, every element of its production was local. EPL’s “Riversides” has become a piece of Edmonton music history and demonstrates how the public library is a significant player in cultivating the vibrancy and diversity of the local community.

San José Public Library (SJPL) partnered with the National Hockey League’s (NHL) San Jose (SJ) Sharks to promote the value of libraries by co-branding a library card to help increase memberships and build awareness about SJPL services and member benefits. In 2018, SJPL introduced several programs, from fine forgiveness to book replacements, to remove barriers for the community to access library services. In order to boost awareness about these access programs, SJPL developed a marketing strategy that would attract news media, increase community outreach, and develop ongoing partnerships to welcome members back and motivate residents to visit the library. Since the SJ Sharks co-branded library cards released in February, nearly 9,000 have been issued to date.

Chesterfield County Public Library wanted to create circulatable items that provide a learning experience – not just a checkout to customers. Through partnerships with eight local museums,the Museum Pass Project provides 21 curated messenger bags for check out. Each bag contains a museum family pass and a combination of books, DVDs, unique toys, educational brochures, and maps related to the museum. These kits created access to Chesterfield’s multitude of cultural and historical resources for all residents, whether unaware or financially unable to utilize before, while underlining the value of the library as an essential part of their community. The collection launched with all 21 bags checked out within 48 hours. Within the first week, they had 389 holds.

Just when artificial intelligence looked like it was far beyond the reach of most learners, the Frisco Public Library leveraged computing tools to bring AI home. Combining an at-home experiential learning kit with classroom instruction, FPL demonstrates how public libraries can be innovation generators for emerging roles in the job landscape. Not only did they overcome the challenge of budgets, space, and talent, these AI education efforts have led the conversation in the community about the library’s role as a tech navigator and leader.

With the goal of creating a center for lifelong learning and meaningful experiences, Cambridge Public Library developed the Creative Aging Program, an eight-week course for adults aged 55+, centering on the arts. Taught by certified artists and instructors, this program provides participants with opportunities to learn new skills, to make new connections after retirement, and enrich the lives of older adults. Courses include the Art of Storytelling, Poetry Writing, Basics of Drawing, Writing Memoir, and Basics of Dance.

Austin Public Library partnered with Austin Community College to bring vocational educational opportunities to one of its most underserved communities by offering ACC’s Welding Class that allows students to receive a Welding Certification. A generator-powered mobile education pod was brought to students, rather than the other way around, making it much easier for community members interested to attend. This program was able to remove some common barriers to obtaining workforce training and to provide individuals with skills that will lead to jobs, an increase in disposable income, and a better life.

The library’s joyous family art program celebrated black history, educated children and their families about renowned black artist Kehinde Wiley who painted the Obama portrait, encouraged healthy identity development and addressed community challenges in a positive and optimistic way.

Palo Alto City Library is encouraging kids and teens to embrace the possibilities of AI and robotics through workshops, toolkits and robot shows. In addition to exposing more than 500 families to robotic technologies, the library’s program has created great synergy in the community about nascent technologies.

San Francisco Public partnered with The Financial Justice Project to do a comprehensive study on the impact of fines on library access. Drawing on a literature review, dialogue with library leaders, surveys of patrons and staff and analysis of ILS data, the study concluded that fines restrict access to library resources for those most in need and disproportionately affect low-income and racial minority communities. The report provides a blueprint for libraries nation-wide to view fines through the lens of equity and inclusion.

Greensboro Public Library customers and staff are becoming tech savvy together through the library’s Tech Navigators program which offers one-on-one support from staff who are committed to helping patrons explore and integrate technology into their lives. Since the program launched in January 2018, the library has carried out more than 4,000 Tech Navigator appointments, providing individual guidance on email, social media, computer basics and smartphone and mobile applications. Plus, library staff now feel increasingly confident in using their new skills to provide valuable guidance and support without being technology experts.

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has 850 staff members spread across 41 locations, branches, and departments. Members of the staff often felt silo-ed, in part because communication happened primarily at in-person meetings. The new director, Paula Brehm-Heeger, successfully addressed the communication challenges by implementing weekly videos featuring the library’s senior leadership team and herself ensuring that all staff heard the same message timely. Since the release of the videos, the staff feels well-informed and see themselves as part of the library system.

Last year Baltimore County Public Library began a collaborative project with Enoch Pratt Free Library to serve entrepreneurs. Without a business librarian on staff, we identified a way to realign existing the staff to create the Entrepreneur Engagement Group. The creation of the Entrepreneur Engagement Group has strengthened the library’s work with the community. A clear mission was laid out, which included providing one-on-one My Librarian for Small Business sessions, promotions resources, services, and programs to business associations and identifying small business programming.

Richland Library’s My Life Experience Mobile Empathy Lab uses virtual reality technology to cultivate empathy in the community. The first-of-its-kind lab helps users “try on” someone’s life to create deeper community connections on challenging issues such as immigration, homelessness, living with impairments, and racism. More than 300 people have participated, and 80% of those surveyed believe they will feel or act differently as a result of the experience.

The Do Space Women Innovators Fellowship challenges three fellows to develop new resources to promote the advancement of women in technology entrepreneurship in Omaha and, in the process, address the underrepresentation of women in tech jobs and business leadership. This six-month experience provides fellows with an expert female mentor, $10,000 stipend, and valuable community connections and resources to bring her big idea to life.

The Cedar Rapids Public Library’s Downtown Ambassador Program grew out of public safety concerns in central gathering places following several violent confrontations. This collaborative community program worked together to find a way to ensure safe, friendly public spaces and create a more positive environment in the central downtown area. The ambassadors, who are currently or formerly homeless, work target areas to encourage good behavior, provide information about local resources, and deescalate arguments.

Mindfulness is an important part of Santa Clara County Library District’s wellness initiative to help patrons reduce stress and live healthy lives. Making meditation simple and accessible to all is the goal of their partnership with Headspace, a service offering more than 1,000 hours of virtual meditation classes for all ages to help reduce stress, cope with pain and cravings and better manage anxiety. All 580 of the library’s Headspace seats are in use with a patron average of 3.6 uses per week.