A New Look at Community Connections

The public library is "the prototype of the new social organization that builds a sense of community for the next century." Deanna Marcum, President, Council on Library Resources.

Early in the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned a future in America that guaranteed equality for all. He looked to history and found guidelines for organizing and sustaining the movement and he took action. This scenario happened over and over again during the civil rights movement: envisioning the future, building on past experiences and making things happen little by little. Like King, we begin the next 3 articles by looking to the future. Next, we consider the historical implications of community connections by examining a vibrant coalition developed by the Pekin Public Library. Last, we return to the present with suggestions on promoting clear communication as the basis of successful coalition.

We Look to the Future

Trends for the future emphasize libraries expanding their role in the community and individuals becoming more involved. The trends are interwoven, one leading to the next and all building to an intergenerational theme that "we can't do it alone, we must do it together"

The Library as the Community Center for civic Renewal

In the report, A Nation of Spectators, the Commission on Civic Renewal proposes that "civil liberty offers citizens that power to act, and strengthens their conviction that they can make a difference," The Benton Report, a study on the role of libraries, views the library as a "community builder, civic intergrator, and community activist, (Benton Foundation, 1996, p. 10-11). An informal case study by the Council on Library Resources and a public opinion poll commissioned by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation found that many citizens consider the local library to be "their" library and to be unique in that is a neutral space available to any socioeconomic level or any age. (Marcum, 1997. p. 196). The sum total of these ideas points to the library as the natural community center for civic renewal.

The library of the future will tap leadership for a Community Center for Civic Renewal from intergenerational teams, young people and adults working together to involve their peers and colleagues in addressing community needs. These teams will help their communities embrace civic renewal as well as the challenges of literacy and reading, after-school programs and local volunteer systems.

The Library as Navigator

With the influx of technological advances and services, librarians are changing from information providers into information navigators (ILA Reporter, 1998. p. 6-7). Being an information navigator means being able to access information for a variety of needs, from a variety of sources, using a variety of traditional and technological methods. Technology is a new face for libraries even though people see the public library first and foremost as and institution that benefits children.

The library of the future will regard children and young people as resources and tap their technological genius. These new navigators will join a cadre of technology experts to help libraries keep up with technology and help others in the community learn the intricacies of the latest changes.

The Library as Coalition Builder

The old adage, "necessity is the mother of invention," applies well to coalition building. Coalitions started to multiply when funding cuts became common and cooperation became key to survival. Members realized what a good thing they had going and began to understand and appreciate each others' organizations. Members also started taking valuable insights from their partners back to their own organizations.

* Dr. Jane Angelis, Director, Illinois Intergenerational Initiative, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; and Joan Wood, Public Services Coordinator, Pekin Public Library. Dr. Angelis is the editor of Continuance, a quarterly publication on intergenterational relationships and issues.

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The library of the future will play an increasing role in promoting partnerships and community connections by tapping the expertise of board members, friends of the library, and citizens who wish to contribute their talents to the library.

Librarians Speak Out about Coalitions:

(As reported on the Illinois State Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grant Applications for fiscal year 1998)

FIVE REASONS NOT TO FORM COALITIONS:

Insufficient time, money, staff:
"Libraries with limited time and few employees have a difficult time 'doing it all'."

Lack of interest and vision:
"We must limit what we're involved in or our work at the library suffers,"

Perception of the library (by both librarians and the public):
"Some don't see the real value of libraries. Others see them as only a place for kids and books."

Loss of autonomy:
"There is at times a feeling of competition, that others want to 'swallow up' our services."

Difficulty of maintaining momentum:
"Personnel changes in the library and other agencies make it hard to keep cooperative ventures going."

FIVE REASONS TO FORM COALITIONS:

Makes the library more visible, respected, politically potent:
"We are now consulted about community projects and asked to participate from the beginning. Positive press coverage of coalition activities promotes goodwill for the library and its partners."

Develops staff through interagency networking:
"Seeing how other agencies solve problems increases our own skills. Working together provides an avenue of growth for each institution."

Provides better knowledge of community needs and ways to solve problems:
"We know when something is about to happen locally that will necessitate having resources available. Getting to know the special needs of the community makes building our collection easier."

Pools expertise and resources:
"We can provide a broad range of services that the library could not offer on its own; it stretches our budget. Also, we now have personal access to experts in partner agencies."

Gives a clearer message about what the library does:
"There is a clearer communication of goals between involved agencies, a mutual exchange of information. It brings new patrons to the library, as well as to the other agencies."

It seems ironic that the reasons cited for not forming coalitions are the very reasons it is essential to do so. In fact, coalitions can turn the obstacles seen by some into benefits not only for libraries but for entire communities. Libraries in Illinois have increased their efforts to work with other organisations, which points to encouragement from the site and regional systems.

FIVE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE COALITION BUILDING

Grants:
"If we had a little seed money, we could get support from our community and get more people involved."

Training and information:
"We lack the 'know how' to get started. Training through a workshop, video conference or the Internet would help us get started."

Model programs: how others are cooperating:
"Sometimes seeing others' ideas, programs spark new ideas and builds momentum."

Marketing campaigns:
"The library is changing and needs help getting the word out."

On-call consultants:
Librarians value the expertise of consultants at the Illinois State Library and in library systems. That expertise is vital to many who are struggling to develop coalitions. Some libraries report that they involve board members and library-friendly community members to represent them in coalitions.

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