The Urban Libraries Council recently released a compelling issue brief about the role libraries play in advancing dialogue and community engagement. The civic health of our communities is multi-dimensional and involves many facets of engagement from political participation, to how we engage with associations and institutions, to how we’re connecting to our neighbors, friends and family. Libraries serve as critical resources for advancing these many forms of engagement, by providing trusted and inclusive spaces for convening, education, dialogue and action planning.

The brief states “Public libraries, with their sustained stature as the most trusted government entity, are ideal resources to shape and lead discussions, decisions, and strategies that encourage active and purposeful civic engagement.”

While widely recognized as important community hubs, libraries have yet to be fully tapped of their potential to serve as leaders in civic engagement. The issue brief recommends five key roles that libraries should embrace in order to realize this potential as leaders for advancing civic and community vitality:
• civic educator
• conversation starter
• community bridge
• visionary
• center for democracy in action

The issue brief is available for download here. It includes action steps to become an engaged library, as well as a list of civic engagement resources.


About ULC
The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) has worked to strengthen public libraries as an essential part of urban life since 1971. As a member organization of North America’s leading public library systems, ULC serves as a forum for research widely recognized and used by public and private sector leaders. Its members are thought leaders dedicated to leadership, innovation and the continuous transformation of libraries to meet community needs. As ULC celebrates its forty year anniversary, its work focuses on assisting public libraries to identify and utilize skills and strategies that match the challenges of the 21st Century.