Comments for Civic Engagement

Comment on Knight Commission calls for funding America’s libraries for civic dialogue by Elizabeth Neill

Elizabeth Neill — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:29:29 +0000

One more comment in regard to local journalism and libraries:

I’m excited by the report’s emphasis on local journalism. I think our community and many others would benefit from online local journalism and I think our public libraries could also play the host to local journalism efforts.

Comment on Knight Commission calls for funding America’s libraries for civic dialogue by Elizabeth Neill

Elizabeth Neill — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:25:08 +0000

I would like to echo and expand Clare’s comment above. I work in a community where a significant investment in computers outside the library has been made. That’s wonderful in so many ways .. it really goes a long way toward “bridging the digital divide.”

But an opportunity to “add value” to the equation has been lost. Were those computers located in the library, those computers could have access to library data bases that could help people find out about a variety of personal interests including car and home repair, health information, and how to acquire job search skills. Many public libraries have become de-facto centers of basic library skill instruction.

In our community, I hope in the future the library and our computing will find some way to work together to “add value” to our community’s computers so that our citizens can gain as much benefit as possible: learning basic computer skills and using the computers to find jobs, gain jobs skills, gain access to accurate information, and pursue both professional and personal interests.

Comment on Knight Commission calls for funding America’s libraries for civic dialogue by Clare

Clare — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:56:11 +0000

Recommendation 7 is very exciting, but I think it misses one crucial connection. When the commission states: “The Commission also endorses digital literacy funding for community institutions, such as community centers and community-based development organizations. . . . Community organizations that
already serve as trusted information providers to underserved populations are well situated to help integrate their clients more effectively into the community’s information networks.” I think that the library is a trusted information provider! I hope that the commission meant to say “community institutions, including libraries.”

Comment on Read Jean Preer’s Award Winning Article: “Promoting Citizenship: How Librarians Helped Get Out the Vote in the 1952 Presidential Election,” by The Shifted Librarian » How Librarians Helped Get Out the Vote… in 1952

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:32:45 +0000

[…] I was preparing for my ACPL Library Camp presentation about libraries and civic engagement, I saw a post on the Civic Engagement blog in which Nancy Kranich pointed to a fascinating article on the topic. […]

Comment on About by Cybernetick Inkwell · Convergence or Collision? Proper Platforms for Civic Engagement

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:10:39 +0000

[…] “Museums & Society 2034: Trends and Potential Futures.” The second is from “Libraries Promote Civic Engagement” by Nancy Kranich, Past President, American Library […]

Comment on Libraries and Journalism by Youtopia Public Library › Libraries Involved with Citizen Journalism

Youtopia Public Library › Libraries Involved with Citizen Journalism — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 02:43:13 +0000

[…] all ages can learn how to produce podcasts, build websites and upload video online. According to a September 2008 blog post by Taylor Willingham, local politicians now regularly monitor the content produced from the library to inform their […]

Comment on Libraries and Journalism by Cypeprofeplef

Cypeprofeplef — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:27:26 +0000

Comment on Survey about Libraries and Civic Engagement by Kathe Fichter

Kathe Fichter — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:41:19 +0000

Our Library and Trustees have been engaged in the work of bringing our Railroad Depot (1878) back to town as a historical museum. The Library was instrumental in finding history pertaining to the Depot from its inception until the last train rolled out of town. We have cataloged this history and have pictures and written words on file for interested visitors to our small town of 210 to enjoy and learn of the depot’s past, and maybe offer some family history and information pertaining to their relatives who traveled the train. We offer our Library building without cost for Historical meetings to help engage the citizens in taking an interest and we have also had wonderful pencil drawings of the town’s early buildings done by a local artist to sell to help preserve our Depot and our town’s history. These drawings ,with historical facts ,will be done in note card packages. Our Library is proud of our town’s heritage and is working hard to help preserve this history. We have also undertaken the digital imaging on DVD of the old newspapers dating from 1878-1960’s for historical records. We hope this will bring new faces and new interest to our small town.

Comment on Survey about Libraries and Civic Engagement by Sara Weissman

Sara Weissman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:26:07 +0000

Sept. 27th we had Authors Day, with which we opened our County Authors Collection. A local publisher presented and over 30 local authors sold their books to the public. http://www.mclib.info/mac.html (The research collection was begun last December…we’ve already identified 159 local writers.)
Nov. 1st will be Veterans Information Day. Over 20 federal, state and county agencies, offices and elected officials will be here to provide information to and take questions from veterans and the families of those currently deployed. Local hospital is providing free blood pressure screening, local insurance co has donated backpacks (350) for attendees to take away literature.
Ongoing is our lobby concert series, in which we highlight the musicians/music programs in local schools. See the video at http://www.youtube.com/morriscountylibrary or the podcast channel
http://www.mclib.info/music/mcl.xml

Comment on Survey about Libraries and Civic Engagement by Camille J. Leslie

Camille J. Leslie — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:13:34 +0000

The Library Board sponsors a Cultural Diversity Committee which offers programs that reach out to minority populations in our area. We just held a health fair in partnership with an African American church, a local foundation which is interested in promoting health-based activities and our local hospital.

There are other programs offered for children, teens and adults. If this is the kind of “civic engagement” ALA wants to feature, I will be glad to send additional details. Please let me know.