Public libraries, through their mission, vision, and position in the community, play a significant part in building community sustainability and are already positioned to serve as a backbone support organization for collective impact initiatives. However, their efforts are often unrecognized by local governments and other social justice organizations. How Public Libraries Build Sustainable Communities in the 21st Century, through research, case studies, and personal narratives representing both national and international perspectives, examines the capacity of public libraries to impact social change at the community level. The overarching goal is to change the narrative with community stakeholders by presenting illustrative examples of how public libraries are driving community change and how these efforts align with the UN SDGs.
Public libraries, through their mission, vision, and position in the community, play a significant part in building community sustainability and are already positioned to serve as a backbone support organization for collective impact initiatives.
Public libraries, through their mission, vision, and position in the community, play a significant part in building community sustainability and are already positioned to serve as a backbone support organization for collective impact initiatives. However, their efforts are often unrecognized by local governments and other social justice organizations. How Public Libraries Build Sustainable Communities in the 21st Century, through research, case studies, and personal narratives representing both national and international perspectives, examines the capacity of public libraries to impact social change at the community level. The overarching goal is to change the narrative with community stakeholders by presenting illustrative examples of how public libraries are driving community change and how these efforts align with the UN SDGs.
Introduction; Kaurri C. Williams-Cockfield and Bharat Mehra
Section One: Theoretical Foundations and Research
Introduction to Section One; Kaurri C. Williams-Cockfield and Bharat Mehra
Chapter
1. The Library Serves as an Amplifier and Connector in the
Communities it Serves1: Building Bridges to Legal Assistance; Brooke Doyle,
Lynn Silipigni Connaway, and Lesley A. Langa
Chapter
2. Sustaining Ourselves, Sustaining Relationships, Sustaining
Communities; Noah Lenstra and Christine DArpa
Chapter
3. Collective Praxis: Leveraging Local and Heritage-Based Values for
Public Librarian Professional Development; Vanessa Irvin
Chapter
4. Community Engagement Through Public Library Social Inclusion: The
View and Practice of Librarians in Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta,
Indonesia; Ida Fajar Priyanto, Agung Wibawa, and Siti Indarwati
Chapter
5. Applying ESG to Modern Librarianship: Lessons from the Business
World; Samantha Connell and Micaela Porta
Section Two: Libraries Advocating for Social Justice
Introduction to Section Two; Kaurri C. Williams-Cockfield and Bharat Mehra
Chapter
6. Anti-Racism in Practice: The Development of a Black Community
Public Library in Canada; Amber Matthews and Pastor Sandie Thomas
Chapter
7. Public Library Pride: A Journey of Small Steps Towards
Inclusivity; Debra Trogdon-Livingston
Chapter
8. A Call to Action: Libraries Leaning in for Unhoused LGBTQ+ Youth;
Julie Ann Winkelstein, Kevin D. Strowder, and Stephen A. Jackson
Chapter
9. Lets Learn Together Outside: Families Playing, Building
Relationships, and Connecting with their community in Nature; Emily Sedgwick
and Wendee Mullikin
Chapter
10. Sustainability, Outdoor Life, and Libraries; Hilde Ljųdal and
Tordis Holm Kverndokk
Chapter
11. Older Adults, Public Libraries, and Sustainable Development
Goals; Nicole K. Dalmer and Meredith Griffin
Section Three: Libraries Mobilizing Climate Change
Introduction to Section Three; Kaurri C. Williams-Cockfield and Bharat Mehra
Chapter
12. Inspiring Climate Action: A Collaborative Effort and a Perfect
Partnership; Lynn Blair, Andrea Bugbee, Paula Sharon, and John Meiklejohn
Chapter
13. How Repair Events in Libraries Can Create Socially and
Ecologically Compassionate Culture and Resilient Communities; Gabrielle
Griffis
Chapter
14. A Small Library Making Big Changes: A Case Study of the Baramsup
Library; Yong Ju Jung
Section Four: Libraries Promoting Economic Development
Introduction to Section Four; Kaurri C. Williams-Cockfield and Bharat Mehra
Chapter
15. Public Libraries as Key Knowledge Infrastructure Needed to
Empower Communities, Promote Economic Development, and Foster Social Justice;
Sarah E. Ryan, Sarah A. Evans, and Suliman Hawamdeh
Chapter
16. Libraries as Public Health Partners in the Opioid Crisis; Kendra
Morgan
Chapter
17. Partnering for Social Infrastructure: Investigating the
Co-location of a Public Library in an Affordable Housing Building; Kaitlin
Wynia Baluk, Ali Solhi, and James Gillett
Section Five: Libraries Nurturing Positive Peace
Introduction to Section Five; Kaurri C. Williams-Cockfield and Bharat Mehra
Chapter
18. Libraries are Sustainability Leaders; Rebekkah Smith Aldrich and
Lisa Gangemi Kropp
Chapter
19. Reflecting on Public Library-Social Work Collaboration: Current
Approaches and Future Possibilities; Rachel D. Williams and Lydia P. Ogden
Chapter
20. The Intersection of U.S. Public Libraries and Public Health;
Suzanne Grossman
Chapter
21. Public Libraries Contribution to Sustainable Dementia-Friendly
Communities; Timothy J. Dickey
Chapter
22. With Literacy and Justice for All: Library Programs for Refugees
and Newcomers; Claire Dannenbaum
Kaurri C. Williams-Cockfield, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
Bharat Mehra, University of Alabama, USA
