A Place at the Table: Participating in Community Building

From urban giants to small towns across the country, there is a palpable hunger for a greater sense of community. Libraries, as they continue to provide a vital public service, are in a unique position to help satisfy this hunger. Unfortunately, they are often left out of the discussion initiated by theorists, writers, planners, activists and civic planners. Award-winning librarian, educator, author and activist, Kathleen de la Pena McCook challenges librarians everywhere to get involved early and often by demanding a place at the community planning and development table. From the author's examples of real-life librarians who have blazed community building trails, you will learn how to:

• Build a grassroots campaign
• Strengthen your library's connections in the community by forming powerful partnerships
• Become involved in policy making early
• Promote your library's tangible assets