Media contact: 
Beth Dempsey, 248.349.7810 or beth@bethdempsey.com
Maggie Killackey, Chicago Public Library, 312-747-4051, killackey@chipublib.org

Better Neighborhoods are Built When Libraries Step Out of Bounds
Report released at Partners for Successful Cities Conference says
libraries are working  outside the walls for stronger, safer communities

December 2, 2005 (Chicago) -- A new report from the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University shows that cities can build more vibrant neighborhoods by challenging their public libraries to get more involved outside the library walls and in the community.  The report, entitled The Engaged Library, identifies libraries as key public places for bringing people together and supports a growing body of research that shows healthy, safe neighborhoods are rich in community connections.  

“In the world of community building, local libraries have a unique and powerful role,” say Jody Kretzmann, Asset-Based Community Development Institute Co-Director and researcher Susan Rans. “While many places and organizations ‘bond’ together people of like mind, libraries also have the capacity to ‘bridge’ – bring together different types of people who may not share experiences with each other otherwise.”

Their report is the result of an intensive study of several branches of the Chicago Public Library that have been particularly successful in engaging their neighborhoods.  The researchers discovered that although each library’s story was unique (as each branch and its facilities and neighborhood are unique), common themes and lessons in community building for library systems were apparent.  Kretzmann and Rans found that the libraries that build strong community connections have eight characteristics:

1. Branch managers and staff are as active outside the library as inside.  They take an active role in the civic life of the community creating a ‘two-way street’ that positions the library at the center of community.
2. Branch managers and staff find the leaders and know who’s who in the community
3. The library is creative about what the library can contribute, going beyond traditional services.  They tend to say “yes” to new ideas that fall within their mission. 
4.  Library staff discover and respond to the unique conditions of the community, such as cultural attributes, family requirements, and the particular situations of neighborhood youth.  The libraries use these traits to create opportunities to interact and support the community.
5. The library supports local businesses and institutions, creating reciprocal relationships with them, advertising their services to them and spending discretionary funds locally.
6. They view the library building as a public building that can be used by community members.
7. They create a community-minded culture among library staff and volunteers.  Staff are encouraged to learn names, attend events, develop relationships, and pay attention to community issues.
8. The library’s city invests in libraries to jump-start community redevelopment efforts.

Kretzmann and Rans contend that libraries should be given the resources and support for creativity in programming and outreach, but also should be charged with being more engaged in their communities.  “They come to the table with a wealth of assets: free community space, connections to the local economy, a sense of ownership by the community and, above all, a level of community trust,” they say. “With these assets, they can connect to all parts of a community, building those relationships and networks that contribute to social capital.”

Their report was released at Partners for Successful Cities Conference, a biennial gathering of mayors, city and county administrators and library directors of major metropolitan library systems.  The conference’s goal is to develop libraries as urban assets that can help solve city problems.  The 2005 conference -- sponsored by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chicago Public Library and the Urban Libraries Council – was focused on libraries as catalysts for neighborhood stability and sustainability.  

“The Chicago Public Library works every day with its partners in city government and the private sector to create vibrant neighborhoods,” commented Commissioner Mary Dempsey. “This study demonstrates that with the strong support of Mayor Daley, Chicago City Council and significant outreach opportunities created with the private sector, the Chicago Public library showcases public service at its best and is a vital community asset.”

“Our hope is that this report will spark other communities to investigate the catalytic work of libraries in their communities, to understand the rich contributions being made, and to tell their stories,” said Martín Gómez, president of the Urban Libraries Council, who maintains that public libraries in cities and counties across the country are making these deep kinds of community connections.

Kretzmann and Rans conclude, “When libraries engage with their communities, the best characteristics of both library and community are mobilized.  The mix of individual gifts, local associations and institutions, the neighborhood culture, economy and physical environment all come together to create unique neighborhood connections and initiatives. With supportive leadership in City Hall and at the central library administration, there is no limit to the role local branch libraries can play in building vibrant communities.”

The Engaged Library was commissioned by the Urban Libraries Council with support from The Chicago Community Trust and the Chicago Public Library Foundation.  Copies of the report are available from the Urban Libraries Council Website.