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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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Hearing the Other Side

Few opportunities that expose Americans to diverse views

Diana Mutz

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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

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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

Des Moines Public Library

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 deliberate@ala.org 4. Click on “Subscribe

Thank You!

Contact informationNancy Kranich, nancy.kranich@rutgers.edu