Librarians of all types are active in community building. Provided here are examples of books, articles, reports, and websites that demonstrate a commitment or analysis of collaborative action. As librarians participate in comprehensive community initiatives, keeping in mind the goal of service integration, it is likely that the nation's community building activists will include librarians at the planning stages as well as the front lines.

Civic Librarianship: Renewing the Social Mission of the Public Library, by Ronald B. McCabe (Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2001). Explores the idea of community renewal and shows how this idea can transform public libraries by offering a renewed sense of purpose and powerful new strategies for development. Reaffirms the traditional public library mission of providing education for a democratic society.

Civic Space/Cyberspace: The American Public Library in the Information Age, by Redmond Kathleen Molz and Phyllis Dain (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1999). Includes the observation that for those " civic networks in which there is no public library involvement, their emphasis on local events and activities and their capacity to link themselves to the Internet, could lead perhaps to an encroachment on or even a displacement of the public library's information and referral (I and R) services, which some librarians believe were among the precursors of community networking" (p. 171).

"Community Indicators, Genuine Progress, and the Golden Billion," by Kathleen de la Peña McCook and Kristin Brand. RUSQ 40 (Summer 2001). Strategies for the inclusion of libraries as key community indicators for quality of life assessment.

The Community Networking Handbook, by Stephen T. Bajjaly (Chicago: ALA, 1999). Surveys the process of community networking: planning, marketing, outreach, and evaluation.

The Engaged Library: Chicago Stories of Community Building by the Urban Libraries Council. "The Urban Libraries Council (ULC), with support from the Chicago Community Trust and Chicago Public Library Foundation, commissioned researchers in the Asset- Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University to see how Chicago Public Library branches help build community. The report, The Engaged Library: Chicago Stories of Community Building, uncovers "webs of connections and successful strategies for building social networks." http://www.urbanlibraries.org/files/ULC_PFSC_Engaged_0206.pdf

Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators, by Maureen Hart 2d ed. (North Andover, Mass.: Hart Environmental Data, 1999). Provides sample sustainability indicators and suggestions for creating new ones.
http://www.sustainablemeasures.com

Guidelines for Establishing Community Information and Referral Services in Public Libraries (4th ed.), by Norman L. Maas and Dick Manikowski (Chicago: American Library Association, Public Library Association, 1997). Classic criteria for librarians providing information and referral services.

Hunger, Homelessness & Poverty Taskforce. "In 1996, members of the Social Responsibilities Round Table formed the Hunger, Homelessness & Poverty Task Force to promote and implement Policy 61 and to raise awareness of poverty issues." This site provides many resources and links to help those in need. http://hhptf.org/resources

If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything. Aimed to assist Indian communities with increasing literacy skills, while preserving Native American identity through a transferable model. Contact is Dr. Loriene Roy, Professor, University of Texas at Austin. Ojibwa.
http://www.gslis.utexas.edu/~ifican/

Information Behavior in Everyday Contexts. IBEC is a research program of The Information School at the University of Washington. Aimed at helping maximize the impact of information in communities. http://ibec.ischool.washington.edu/

Information Ecologies: Using Technology with Heart, by Bonnie A. Nardi and Vicki O'Day (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1999). Model explores librarians as a keystone species.

"Librarians and Comprehensive Community Initiatives," by Kathleen de la Peña McCook RUSQ 40 (Fall, 2000). Community building collaborations provide an opportunity for librarians to demonstrate the contributions we can make to revitalize neighborhoods.

Libraries & Democracy: The Cornerstones of Liberty, ed. by Nancy Kranich (Chicago: ALA Editions, 2001). Insights on the role libraries play in advancing democracy by scholars from many aspects of the profession.

Libraries Build Community. Sarah Ann Long, director of the North Suburban Library System (NSLS) in Wheeling, Ill., was president of the American Library Association in 1999-2000. Long selected the theme "Libraries Build Community" for her presidency with a focus on library-community partnerships.
For up-to-date information on Sarah Ann Long and her work, please visit her Web site at http://www.sarahlong.org

Libraries Build Communities. by Chrystie R. Hill and Steven M. Cohen. Hill and Cohen are using their blog to help support their research for a new book about libraries and community building. The book is due for publication in the fall of 2007 and is tentatively titled, "Inside, Outside, and Online". Visit their blog at http://www.librariesbuildcommunities.org/

The Paseo Boricua Community Library Project and its Community Inquiry Lab support the work of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Chicago's Humboldt Park area, a thirty-year old institution that galvanizes neighborhood residents around critical issues such as gang violence, AIDS, social and environmental justice, literacy, public health, and economic development.
http://www.prairienet.org/pbclp/

A Place at the Table: Participating in Community Building, by Kathleen de la Peña McCook (Chicago: American Library Association Editions, 2000). Discussion of comprehensive community collaboration, service integration and the national movement on building community. Calls for librarians to be at the community planning and development table.
http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/a-librarian-at-every-table/libraries.html

Public Library Services for Youth with Special Needs: A Plan for Wisconsin. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning Public Library Development. (Madison, WI, April, 1999). Public libraries can make a major contribution to the quality of life for all children and young adults, regardless of their personal circumstances or their economic background. The Plan is designed to provide guidance and practical suggestions for public libraries in ensuring that all youth will have convenient and equitable access to materials and technology at public libraries to meet their informational, educational, cultural and recreational needs.
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dltcl/pld/ysnpl.html

"Service Integration and Libraries: Will 2-1-1 be the Catalyst for Renewal?" by Kathleen de la Peña McCook - RUSQ 40 (Winter, 2000). The 24/7 information and referral (I & R) service using 2-1-1 will be configured differently in each community. Libraries should connect with local 2-1-1 providers to develop robust community information. Brief history of the I & R movement and libraries is provided.

Updated 05.07.08 - Please e-mail all comments to Kathleen de la Peña McCook at kmccook@tampabay.rr.com.

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