How can libraries and reading be more active partners in delivering community engagement and empowerment?
The conference we ran in partnership with the Local Government Association picked up on the government's White Paper Strong and Prosperous Communities. This sets out the government's ideas on how local people can have more of a say in how their communities are run. We debated the role of libraries - what can they offer, how they can promote this agenda. We'd like to hear your thoughts.
How can libraries and reading be more active partners in delivering community engagement and empowerment?
Why not hold a Council meeting at a local library or a quarterly forum where people can get up and have their say direct to Council representatives about current issues and concerns in the community. Each forum could target a community group eg. older people, young people, business owners, disabled, sporting etc. Or Councils could use Libraries as the first port of call to present and display new plans, policies, initiatives and ideas and encourage feedback.
By Jasmine on 24 September 2008
A lot of the information made available to local people is complicated and presented in ways which relay on interpretting the written word and government process. By contract, local people's understanding of local issues is often verbal and developed through conversation. Could libraries be a neutral zone where resourses and information are made available for people to explore and understand issues and the processes which lead to their resolution but where people get together to talk it through? This would make libraries part of the consultation process.
By Sarah Burkinshaw on 24 September 2008
Librarians as Knowledge Managers can be highly instrumental in community engagement and empowerment, especially in this growing world with great diversity of people, cultures and interests in the United Kingdom.
These can be achieved through demonstrating good customer relations which will encourage greater patronage of the libraries. Librarians can also be more engaged in authorship of books which are targeted at moderating the behaviours of pupils of school age, adolescents,youths and the activities of young parents.
Good enough, this dream could be achieved with the support of an organisation as this - concerned with how best to bring black and minority ethnic authors to the widest possible audience.
By Ayo Onatola on 25 September 2008
Hello. It is test.
By Inargyannogue on 19 November 2008