be changed by the conversation
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given at KLA 2009 on community engagement in libraries.TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Be changed by the conversation
Community Engagement at Johnson County Library
![Page 2: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
OutlineWhat is community engagement?Why does JCL do community
engagement?What is community engagement
at JCL?What is the future of community
engagement in libraries?
![Page 3: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
What is community engagement? Position Summary: This full-time librarian will function as a member of the JCL Central
Reference department with specific responsibilities for supporting the Library’s Citizen Engagement initiative. He or she will develop programs, resources and information services tied to citizen engagement projects, and will work closely with the Information and Readers’ Services Manager to integrate citizen engagement into the ongoing work of the Library. Librarians in Central Reference also have considerable patron contact time and cooperate in the day-to-day management of reference workflow.
Qualifications: Required: MLS from an ALA accredited school, public service
experience, experience with electronic information resources and technology.
Preferred: Experience working with community outreach, citizen engagement, or event planning.
![Page 4: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
What is community engagement?
Democracy – getting people involved in governing
Community development – strengthening civic muscle
Service learningCommunity problem-solving –
involving citizens in dealing with problems
![Page 5: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
DemocracyGet out the voteIncrease awareness of issues on
national, state and local levelsIncrease contact between
candidates and constituents
![Page 6: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Community developmentCommunity involvement“Civic muscle”Volunteerism
![Page 7: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Service LearningAcademic worldStudents get real-world
experience in their chosen fieldStudents are contributing to their
communities
![Page 8: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Community problem-solvingCitizens working together to
solve the problems of their neighborhoods / communities / cities / regions
Ex: KCK study circlesEx: One KC Voice transportation
engagementsEx: Tyndall, SD creates youth
center
![Page 9: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Who’s doing it?Federal governmentCitiesFoundationsNeighborhood groupsLibrariesIt’s an idea whose time has
come.
![Page 10: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Why did we start this?
![Page 11: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Putnam’s thesisSocial capital is failing1987 – 53% thought parents’
generation was better in terms of being a concerned citizen
77% thought the nation was worse off because of lack of involvement in community activities
![Page 12: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
More statistics1996 – only 8% believed the honesty
and integrity of the average American were improving; 50% thought we were becoming less trustworthy
Have we become less civil? 80 percent said yes
1999 – 66% thought civic life had weakened
80+% wanted more emphasis on community
![Page 13: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
What Putnam sawDownward trends in political
participation (voting, participating in campaigns, attending rallies)
Civic participation (membership in organizations)
Religious participationWorkplace connections (union
membership, professional associations)
![Page 14: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
More bad newsInformal social connections were
also weakeningDeclines in social visiting, family
dinners, card playingSports participation is down, but
spectating is upDoing culture is down, consuming
culture is up; % of Americans who play an instrument down from 30% to 20% bet. 1976 and 1999.
![Page 15: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Why?Time and money pressuresMobility and sprawlTechnology and mass mediaGenerational change – WWII was
a watershed
![Page 16: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
So what?Social capital allows people to
solve community problems“greases the wheels”Contributes to tolerance,
empathyEffects on education, health, safe
neighborhoods, economic prosperity
democracy
![Page 17: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Call to actionRestore American communityImprove civics educationIncrease participation in
extracurricular activitiesMake workplaces more family
friendly and congenialUrban planning initiatives to
strengthen neighborhoods and reduce sprawl
![Page 18: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Call to action, cont.Religious involvement and
toleranceUse technology to support
community engagement rather than weaken it
Use the arts as a means of bringing people together
Find ways to encourage people to participate in the public life of their communities
![Page 19: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
The challenges to community engagement
PolarizationWho are our conversation role
models?DisenchantmentDisenfranchisementDisengagement
![Page 20: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Another book…
![Page 21: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Clustering of like-minded people
![Page 22: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
PolarizationRed vs. blueConservative vs. liberalUs vs. them“idea segregation”
![Page 23: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Polarization
![Page 24: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Was the 2004 election stolen?
Discrepancy between exit polls and results
Republican voters were less likely to talk to younger poll takers.
Poll takers associated with liberal media outlets
“People avoided talking to those they thought had political leanings different from their own.”
![Page 25: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Partisanship
Carter Reagan Clinton Bush0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Presidential approval gap
![Page 26: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Where did we start?First forum in 2001Used the National Issues Forums
modelHad a committee to oversee the
projectInitially had plans for speakers
once a year and panel discussions
Goal was to
![Page 27: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
National Issues Forumshttp://www.nifi.orgAround since 1981“To increase citizen
understanding of domestic policy issues and provide citizens with opportunities to express and convey informed opinions on the issues to the nation's decision makers.”
![Page 28: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
National Issues ForumsDialogue and deliberationThree approachesFind common ground
Forum is not a town hall meeting.It’s not a question and answer
session.It’s a conversation.
![Page 29: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Other events of community interestEngagements – public input on
community issues (transportation, solid waste management)
Dialogues – science and religion, interfaith conversation
Events – recycling, children and nature
![Page 30: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
How do we put on a forum?Choose a topicChoose a guideChoose a dateFind moderators
![Page 31: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
How do we put on a forum? Cont.Market
◦Email list◦Mailing list◦Cold calling
Manage reservations, cateringPrepare handouts, take-aways,
packets
![Page 32: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
More about take-awaysGive attendees ways to:
◦ learn more◦do more◦get involved
Market library resources◦Books, articles, databases
Point to internet resources◦Ex: web sites, Google alerts
Market for organizations who helped publicize
Market other library events
![Page 33: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Web sitehttp://www.jocolibrary.org/issuesBlogUpcoming eventsEvent archiveRelated eventsComments – have never gotten
one!
![Page 34: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
The future … dun dun dun!Take on some local issues.Develop an online component.Develop new partnerships.Do more assessment and follow-
up.
![Page 35: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Why do community engagement?We’re already doing it.We aren’t just about books, and
it’s not all on the Internet.Library as third place.Strong libraries can help build
strong communities which then help build strong libraries.
Why not?
![Page 36: Be Changed By The Conversation](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062708/558956f5d8b42acb638b456f/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
My adviceBe prepared for chaos.Experiment.Ask for help.