March 20, 2008
Bridging the Divide: Libraries Transform Communities–A PLA Preconference
Civic Engagement is coming to PLA in Minneapolis, Wednesday morning, March 25th.
Libraries build communities, foster civic engagement, engage citizens in public decision-making, and deliberate issues, particularly during the election season. Librarians can promote thoughtful civil discourse amid the cacophony of divisive politics and help citizens become engaged and able to make informed decisions. This session will introduce ways that libraries can help communities discover new and innovative solutions to persistent public problems and build community through public deliberation. Handouts are available at: www.jocolibrary.org/bridgingthedivide.
Carolyn Caywood said,
March 21, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Here’s some information about what Virginia Beach has been doing. Library contributions included research, helping with the issue framing process, helping write the discussion guide, hosting and moderating deliberations. It was very effective hands-on learning and it positioned the library at the forefront of public policy work.
CarolynC said,
April 15, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I see the link didn’t survive. I’ll put it in a post instead of a comment.