Developing Community-Led Public Libraries: Evidence from the UK and Canada

This important book examines the potential for a new community led service model in public libraries. Using theoretical approaches to working with socially excluded community members, with a direct application of those approaches in Canadian public libraries, the authors offer a powerful and persuasive case for adopting the community led approach in libraries worldwide. The book showcases good practice and outlines the challenges to community development work. With public libraries facing budget cuts, this book offers an alternative way forward based on a community led approach to developing needs based library services. This book makes a unique contribution to public library thinking and policy, synthesising the outcomes of research and best practice at the cutting edge of library service delivery, and will be essential reading for all those researching and working in the public library sector.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations; Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Consultation; Chapter 3 Needs Assessment and Research; Chapter 4 Library Image and Identity; Chapter 5 Outreach, Community Development and Partnerships; Chapter 6 Information and Communication Technologies and Social Exclusion; Chapter 7 Materials Provision; Chapter 8 Staffing, Recruitment, Training and Education; Chapter 9 Mainstreaming and Resourcing for Social Exclusion; Chapter 10 Standards and Monitoring of Services; Chapter 11 The Community-Led Library Service; Chapter 12 A Road Map towards the Community-Led Library Service;

About the Author :
John Pateman has worked in UK public libraries for over 30 years at all levels, including Head of Service in three local authorities. He was a member of the research team which produced the ground breaking Open to All? The Public Library and Social Exclusion. John has written a wide range of articles and books on public libraries and social class, social exclusion and internationalism. He was awarded La Distincion Por La Cultura Nacional by the Cuban government in recognition of his support for Cuban libraries. John was the co-founder of Information for Social Change and he has worked closely with members of the Working Together Project in Canada. He is currently Chief Executive Officer for Thunder Bay Public Library Service in Ontario, Canada. Ken Williment has recently become a branch manager at Halifax Public Libraries. Prior to this, he worked as a Community Development Manager at Halifax Public Libraries, during and post Working Together. In this role, he worked closely with branch and service managers to integrate community-led approaches within library staff work. Ken writes on community-led approaches on the Social Justice Librarian blog and published the award winning article "It takes a community to create a library" which has been republished in a number of journals including Partnership Journal (Canada), Public Libraries (US), Bis (Sweden), and Information for Social Change (UK). He has also published articles on integrating community led work into branches in Public Libraries, and Asset Mapping in Partnership Journal.

Review :
'Now, more than ever, public libraries must remain relevant and responsive to the ever-changing needs of our communities. Using the community-led approaches explained in this book, libraries can respond holistically and inclusively to community needs.' Jennifer Peterson, WebJunction Community Manager, OCLC, USA 'Pateman and Williment bring direct experience as well as years of research to this essential guide. The community-led public library development approach they describe is neither an added service nor a boilerplate substitute for tradition; instead, it is a service position and attitude that recreates the essential civic contract between librarians and the public. Every facet of concern requiring exploration is addressed here, with copious examples provided from across England and Canada. Repairing the worlds of the socially excluded in our communities is public library engagement at its best.' Francisca Goldsmith, formerly Director of Branch Services, Halifax Regional Library, Nova Scotia, Canada '... provides a blueprint and practical roadmap for library teams and library schools everywhere... It is a clear challenge but also a guideline on how to reinvigorate our role as an agent of social change and social justice... Well-written by respected practitioners, clear and sound evidence-based with excellent bibliographic references it is a must read for those floundering with an elevator pitch or strategy for the future of their library services. It should open a dialogue with library schools and be compulsory reading for library students... An invaluable resource, a thought-provoking book for public library leaders and staff, students of library and information science and indeed politicians. The book reads easily, an excellent bibliography prompts further reading and a useful index concludes the book. It is undoubtedly a step forward in outlining effective public library policy.' Liz McGettigan, Head of Libraries and Information Services, The City of Edinburgh Council, in Refer 'The combination of theory and real-world examples make this book a worthwhile purchase for both public libraries and for academic libraries, especially those with an information services faculty... Developing Community-led Public Libraries: Evidence from the UK and Canada provides a practical guide for library staff creating a needs-based library service with the organizational structure, strategy and clear policy that will meet local community requirements by creating long-term relationships with targeted groups in the community. This book provides thought-provoking ideas and case studies that can be considered by public libraries to help them adapt and change to provide the services their local community requires and become a flexible multi-purpose community and information centre.' Library Review '... the ideal text for any library manager wishing to develop a more needs-based service or for those concerned about community engagement in general... I thoroughly enjoyed the book... I found it particularly enlightening. The text was highly accessible and it provided a good general introduction to the wide range of issues that public libraries face. It is highly recommended for both public library staff and LIS students.' Managing Information 'Easy to read, full of examples and passionate in its concepts and conclusions, this book offers both student and practitioner a vision of the fundamentals of our profession which will help to make our services relevant to every member of our communities' Australian Library Journal 'Pateman and Williment have written a book that is both a campaign and a guide, offering challenges and assistance to anyone wanting to develop community-led libraries' Australian Academic and Research Libraries 'If the Minister for Libraries seeks clarification on what exactly constitutes a comprehensive and efficient service he need look no further than this excellent book' CILIP Update