Library 2.016 conference session presented by Laurie Putnam (San Jose State University School of Information), Mark Hudson (Monroeville Public Library), and Tasha Bergson-Michelson (Castilleja School). Session overview: Libraries have long supported democratic societies as centers of learning, information, and community. Today, as issues grow more complex and the public questions the reliability of media sources, civic literacy is becoming more important than ever. As trusted institutions, libraries are well positioned to help the people of their communities become more informed citizens and critical thinkers who are prepared to participate in a democratic society. Let’s talk about opportunities for libraries to get involved. We’ll hear from a school librarian and a public librarian about some of the civic engagement programs their libraries deliver—including resource guides on current events, civics discussions, and news literacy education—and we want to hear your ideas as well. This session will be especially useful for public, school, and academic librarians. However, the content may be of interest to any information professional looking for ways to support informed communities in a democratic society.

1. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Libraries + Democracy
Laurie Putnam, SJSU iSchool
Mark Hudson, Monroeville Public Library
Tasha Bergson-Michelson, CasKlleja School
Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
hMp://j.mp/Libraries_Democracy

2. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
“An informed ciKzenry is at the heart
of a dynamic democracy.”
—Thomas Jefferson

3. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Why should libraries get involved?
Because there’s a need.
Because people are looking for soluKons.
Because we can.

4. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Library assets
Values
Skillsets
Spaces
CollecKons
Trust

5. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Libraries
Military
ScienKfic community
Organized religion
Banks
Press
Congress
0 20 40 60 80 100
Percentage of Americans with "a great deal" of confidence in the insCtuCon
People have confidence in libraries
Sources: Library data via Pew Research Center, 2013.
Data on other insKtuKons via Media Insight Project, 2016.

6. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
74%
say libraries contribute to
helping people decide what
informaKon they can trust
CreaKng educaKonal opportuniKes
for people of all ages
Helping people decide what informaCon
they can trust
PromoKng a sense of community among
different groups within their local area
Serving as a gathering place for addressing
challenges in their local community
Source: Pew Research Center, Libraries 2016 report.
Libraries contribute
to their communiKes by…
0 50 100
Percentage of Americans
who say libraries do this
"a lot" or "somewhat"

7. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
What can libraries offer?
Access to materials Curated collecKons & guides Classes, debates & other programs
Level of complexity

8. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Monroeville Public Library
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Mark Hudson
Head of Adult Services

9. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Monroeville Library Hot Topics
Ø Service providing community members with sets of links to reliable online resources, represenKng the various
points of view on a current event, topic, or issue
Ø Goal is to help community members gain basic knowledge and understanding of a given topic, so they can:
ü More effecKvely engage in discussions and debates, both public and private
ü Vote and engage in electoral poliKcs with a beMer understanding of the issues at stake for themselves
and society as a whole
ü ConKnue to study and learn about the topic by availing themselves of the many other resources
the library provides on the topic (books, documentary videos, etc.)
Ø Librarians who work on the Hot Topics regularly read newspapers and other periodical news sources (print and
online) and choose and develop topics based on what they’ve been reading from these sources

10. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Example of a recent hot topic:
"Welfare Reform Twenty Years Amer"
On the library website:

11. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
As soon as a new Hot Topic is posted on the library website, it’s publicized to the
community via an email group (Constant Contact) and social media (Facebook)

12. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Monroeville Library "Civics for Adults"
Ø An ongoing series of civics
educaKon programs
cosponsored by the library
and the Greater PiMsburgh
Chapter of the American Civil
LiberKes Union (ACLU)
Ø Programs feature scholars,
aMorneys, and acKvists from
the PiMsburgh area presenKng
and leading discussions on
issues relaKng to the U.S.
ConsKtuKon, civil rights, and
civil liberKes

13. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Programs 2013–2016 in the series have included:
Ø What Were They Thinking? The ConsKtuKon and Bill of Rights (April 2013)
Ø Who’s Suing Who? The Law and the Courts (April 2013)
Ø My Free Speech Is BeMer Than Your Free Speech (April 2013)
Ø The Government and You: Roles, Rights, and ResponsibiliKes (April 2013)
Ø Jury SelecKon: How Come You Got Picked? (November 2014)
Ø Juvenile JusKce: Children in Prison (November 2014)
Ø Government Abuse: Know Your Rights and ResponsibiliKes (December 2014)
Ø Privacy and Surveillance: Do You Have a Reasonable ExpectaKon of Privacy?
(December 2014)
Ø A Fourth Amendment for the 21st Century: Digital Searches and Surveillance
(October 2015)
Ø Privacy (October 2015)
Ø Death Penalty (October 2015)
Ø LGBT AnK-DiscriminaKon LegislaKon (October 2015)
Ø Can You Vote? The State of VoKng Rights in Pennsylvania and Around the U.S.
(August 2016)
Ø Mass IncarceraKon: A System of Racial and Social Control (August 2016)
Ø Go Straight to Jail for a $30 Fine! Debtors Prison in the 21st Century (August 2016)
Ø Expungement: How Forgiveness of Past Offenses Can Remove Barriers and Help
Individuals Move Forward with Their Lives (August 2016)

14. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
CasKlleja School
Palo Alto, California
Tasha Bergson-Michelson
InstrucKonal and Programming Librarian

15. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Strategies for supporKng democracy
• Providing opportuniKes for choice and
democraKc governance of school life
• Encouraging civic engagement
• Fostering an informed democracy

16. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Providing opportuniKes for choice
• Student designed/led
programming
• Student voice in
– CollecKon development
– Readers’ advisory
• Self-regulaKon
– Check-outs
– Topic choices
• TA programs

17. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Encouraging Civic Engagement
• Voter registraKon
– Register students
– Students register others
• CommunicaKng with
representaKves
• Civil discourse
For more ideas, see
AASL blog

18. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Fostering an informed democracy
Research skills are essen.al to
an informed democracy
• News literacy
• Source literacy

19. LIBRARIES + DEMOCRACY | Library 2.016 conference | October 6, 2016
Thank you!
• QuesKons? Comments?
• Resources: hMp://j.mp/Libraries_Democracy
• Contacts:
– Laurie Putnam (@NextLibraries)
– Mark Hudson
– Tasha Bergson-Michelson (@researchwell)