Civic Engagement:
Building Strong Communities
OLA SuperConference
Wednesday, January, 28, 2015
Toronto Public Library’s
Strategic Plan 2012-2015
Priority Area:
“Develop a City of Learners: Support lifelong
learning as fundamental to economic prosperity,
social cohesion, and civic engagement.”
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Toronto Public Library
Community Outreach and
Engagement Committee
Workplan 2014:
Objective – “Create opportunities for residents to
build their capacity for civic engagement.”
Tactic – “Develop an informed staff.”
Action – “Provide staff training re: civic engagement
and provide staff with potential community contacts
related to civic engagement.”
What is Civic Engagement?
Urban Libraries Council definition:
“…deliberate, consistent, and purposeful outreach that
creates an environment in which people of all ages and
from all backgrounds believe they have a voice and a
role in decisions and actions that affect their lives. It
includes volunteering, voting, participating in civic and
social organizations, engaging in public discussions,
connecting with community and government decision
makers, running for public office, and caring about and
working to make a difference in the places people call
home.”
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Why are Citizen’s not Engaged?
Dave Meslin – Community Activist
TED Talk : The Antidote to Apathy
www.ted.com/talks/dave_meslin_the_antidote_to_apathy?language=en
Exhibit: The Fourth Wall
Available for booking through Dave.
Contact Dave Meslin
National Speakers Bureau
http://nsb.com/speakers/dave-meslin/
Why Civic Engagement?
Studies show that:
“engaged and empowered citizens generate optimism,
produce good decisions…and contribute to economic
success. Communities thrive when residents feel that
their voices are heard, their opinions matter and their
leaders are listening.”
.
Why Libraries can promote and
enable Civic Engagement.
Libraries
• are trusted institutions that have withstood the test of
time.
• enjoy a place at the heart of every community.
• are seen to be truly democratic.
• have resources such as physical space, technology
and knowledgeable staff.
• have established relationships with many community
groups.
.
Five Leadership Roles for Libraries
Libraries should be:
• Civic educators.
• Conversation starters.
• Community bridges.
• Visionaries.
• Centres for democracy in action.
Four Strategies
• Make civic engagement a priority.
• Show up – be visible in the community.
• Encourage and expect staff to engage outside of the
library.
• Identify opportunities to make a difference in the
community.
.
Maintain the Library’s Neutrality
• The library must not have an agenda.
• The Library must not offer answers or take positions
on public policy.
• Select presenters who represent a variety of view
points.
• Our reputation as apolitical, nonpartisan, neutral and
welcoming strengthens our position of influence.
.
Build Civic Engagement Skills
Staff need to be informed and trained to listen and
engage so that they can get to the heart of
community needs and support conversations and
problem-solving sessions in the library and the
neighbourhoods they visit.
Develop workshops and encourage attendance at
events both in the library and in the community.
Civic Action
Civic Action
What is a community?
What defines your community?
.
Civic Action
What is a public space?
What is missing in your
community?
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Civic Action
What do you love about your
community?
What is your dream for your
community?
.
Community Action
Explore your dreams:
•
Which ones are possible?
•
What are some of the potential
challenges?
•
Are there any that can be combined?
.
Community Action
One common dream:
•
Come up with one idea that your group
can agree on
•
How would it work?
•
What resources would you need to
make it a reality?
•
Are there community organizations that
you could partner with?
Our Experience
http://100in1day.ca/toronto/
What do you want in your community?
http://www.agincourtcommunityservices.com/
http://www.samaracanada.com/programs/democracy-talks
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http://socialinnovation.ca/
Thank You
Denise Gordon
Larysa Isoki
Jenny Schnoll
dgordon@torontopubliclibrary.ca
lisoki@torontopubliclibrary.ca
jschnoll@torontopubliclibrary.ca