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Conference Hosts Joey Rodger, President of the Urban Libraries Council, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and Mary Dempsey, Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library
"In Chicago, we look at schools and libraries as the anchors of society. Learning is key to success in this information and technology economy. Libraries are key to safe neighborhoods. That is why we have built so many libraries and why they also are architecturally beautiful."
Richard M. Daley
In December 2000, 200 public officials and library leaders gathered in Chicago to examine the forces of economic development in American cities and the resources public libraries bring to that dynamic environment. Sponsored by the Urban Libraries Council, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and the Chicago Public Library, this conference built on the philosophy and community development strategies at work in the City of Chicago.
"The message of the conference is that urban libraries must contribute their resources to support economic development in today's information economy and act as catalysts for public and private investment in urban neighborhoods and downtowns."
Mary Dempsey, Commissioner, Chicago Public Library
The leading themes of conference sessions were how to identify the local agendas and resources for economic development and how to be a development magnet.
From Left: Panel Moderator Phil Ponce, Mayor Brown of Houston, Mayor Murphy of Pittsburgh, and Mayor Purcell of Nashville and Davidson County
Mayor Brown of Houston pointed out that "Mayors are people. They have their interests. Find ways to build on them. Play on what's important to your Mayor."
Mayor Murphy of Pittsburgh cautioned library leaders not to be timid. "Define a big idea. Think of yourself at the center of a neighborhood. Think big."
Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell talked about the need for sustained leadership, and encouraged library leaders to jump in the action. "Anybody can do it," he told the audience, while wryly noting that "having the genetic material of a Daley certainly helps!"
To illustrate the power of libraries as catalysts to redevelopment, the conference featured tours of three Chicago neighborhoods that have turned around because of strategic public investments in libraries and schools.
The downtown Harold Washington Library, completed in 1991, functions as the central library for the entire city and, increasingly, as the local branch for 115,000 downtown residents. Since the opening of the library, an injection of creative private and public investment into the "South Loop" has resulted in around 10,000 units of new housing, improvements to streetscapes, schools, and parks, expansions of educational institutions, and redevelopment with mixed uses as diverse as blues clubs and "Internet" carrier hotels.
The Near North Branch has served as a catalyst for investment in the area around the Cabrini Green housing project, a 70-acre public housing complex notorious for breeding gang and drug-trafficking activity, now scheduled or demolition. The impact of that strategic investment has been remarkable: a new high school, police station, several thousand new units of mixed-income housing, and retail outlets of national chain stores form a broad mix of neighborhood services.
Similarly, at the Mabel Manning Branch on the near west side of downtown, neighborhood revitalization was the product of a 16-point agreement reached by the city, private developers and community residents related to the construction of the United Center sports and exhibition facility. Serving a community that is a mix of market-rate and subsidized housing, the library branch continues to have a very active and ongoing partnership with the Chicago Bulls organization.
National experts in the field of economic development were also on hand to give guidance.
Paul Grogan, former CEO of LISC, the national support organization for Community Development Corporations, cautioned the audience to learn from the mistakes of the past, such as concentrated public housing and redlining. In particular he notes that the sustained activities of community development corporations, changing lending behaviors of finance institutions and other forces are reversing decade-old patterns of urban flight and resulting in "Comeback Cities."
Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer pointed out that the biggest challenge, even in the boom towns, will be keeping a good mix of income, ethnic and economic activity. "We must make cities that work for all, not just the very rich and poor."
"Each community has a heartbeat," was the message Mayor Richard M. Daley imparted, as he outlined the highlights of the City of Chicago's aggressive "Neighborhoods Alive!" campaign that combines the power of new structures with the energy of people. A wide and deep mix of local assets must be mobilized to jump start and sustain economic development. Successful economic development strategies may start with buildings, but the longstanding challenges have to do with the success of building human capital - making neighborhoods safe, improving schools, and providing for a rich quality of life.
From Left: Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Mayor Royce E. Pollard of Vancouver, Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago, Mayor Rosemary Corbin of Richmond, CA, Mayor Bill Purcell of Nashville and Davidson County, Mayor Susan J. M. Bauman of Madison, WI, Diane M. Linn, Commissioner of Multnomah County, Mayor Joan Wagnon of Topeka
Adele S. Simmons, vice chair of Chicago Metropolis 2020, Mary Houghton, founder and president of Shorebank, Inc., Liz Reynolds from the Boston-based Initiative for a Competitive Inner City and Norman Bobins, president and CEO of LaSalle Bank, N.A. observed that education, a skilled and motivated workforce, and the social infrastructure of cities are extremely important components of successful economic development strategies. Library resources are part of the community learning infrastructure. Increasingly libraries are providing resources for and bringing partners together over issues such as New American services, literacy programs, community information networks, youth development, family support, business information and workforce development.
The 200 conference attendees, including many city and county political leaders, expressed enthusiasm over the ideas presented and many voiced their intent to go home and try them out.
The Blight Fight - Governing Magazine 12/2000
Chicago Mayor Daley, Commissioner Dempsey Share Faith in Urban Libraries - American Libraries 2/2001
Urban Library Contributions to Economic Development - Publication of the Urban Libraries Council, 12/2000
Governing Magazine/October 2001:
FEATURE: LIBRARIES BRANCHING OUT
The humble neighborhood library is becoming a community magnet and engine of local revival. By Anne Jordan |
