Libraries as Community Catalysts
Libraries are the heart of their communities, whether the community is a college campus, a small, rural township, or urban center. OCLC works with libraries to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and support to meet the ever-evolving needs of their communities.
Publications
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Call to Action: Public Libraries and the Opioid Crisis
26 February 2020
Scott G. Allen, Larra Clark, Michele Coleman, Lynn Silipigni Connaway, Chris Cyr, Kendra Morgan, Mercy Procaccini
OCLC has partnered with the Public Library Association (PLA) to issue Call to Action: Public Libraries and the Opioid Crisis, a report that offers strategies for public libraries to consider as they determine a local response to the nationwide opioid crisis. This is the culminating output from the IMLS-funded project Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis with Their Communities.
Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis with Their Communities: Summary Report
29 October 2019
Scott G. Allen, Larra Clark, Michele Coleman, Lynn Silipigni Connaway, Chris Cyr, Kendra Morgan, Mercy Procaccini
As the impact of the opioid epidemic is felt in communities across the US, public libraries are choosing to be part of the community response. With funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and in partnership with the Public Library Association (PLA), OCLC is sharing knowledge and resources that will help public libraries and their community partners develop effective strategies to address the opioid epidemic in America.
Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis with Their Communities: Case Studies
28 October 2019
Scott G. Allen, Larra Clark, Michele Coleman, Lynn Silipigni Connaway, Chris Cyr, Kendra Morgan, Mercy Procaccini
This report includes eight research-based case studies highlighting varying opioid response efforts across eight locations in the US. The report details each library's response, the partnerships formed, reactions of the community, outcomes of the efforts, as well as challenges, needs, and opportunities.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion: Seattle’s ‘Loud at the Library’ Collaboration
19 September 2019
CiKeithia Pugh, Brooke Doyle
Pugh and Doyle share how the Seattle Public Library (SPL) has explored new paths in pursuit of racial equity, and the lessons that all libraries can take from this effort. This article shares an illuminating example of community engagement efforts at SPL that led to the creation of a new storytime program, Loud at the Library.
WikiCite 2018-2019: Citations for the sum of all human knowledge
17 July 2019
Phoebe Ayers, Daniel Mietchen, Jake Orlowitz, Merrilee Proffitt, Sarah Rodlund, Elizabeth Seiver, Dario Taraborelli, Ben Vershbow
WikiCite is an initiative uniting the Wikidata, linked data, and library communities to create an open repository of bibliographic data. This WikiCite 2018 conference overview examines the future of open bibliographic data and the impact that WikiCite achieved over the past year.
Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis in Collaboration with Their Communities: An Introduction
27 April 2019
Michele Coleman, Lynn Silipigni Connaway
OCLC is partnering with the Public Library Association on the Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis with Their Communities project to identify, synthesize, and share knowledge and resources with public libraries to develop effective strategies to address the opioid epidemic in America.
ARL White Paper on Wikidata: Opportunities and Recommendations
18 April 2019
ARL Task Force on Wikimedia and Linked Open Data
This Association of Research Libraries white paper informs librarians about GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) activity in Wikidata to suggest strategies for research library use, particularly in community-based collections, community-owned infrastructure, and collective collections.
Public Libraries: Marketing and Communications Landscape
20 June 2018
OCLC
In this report, OCLC shares results from a survey of US public libraries on how they communicate and actively engage with their community. Survey questions covered library marketing concerns and barriers, communication channels, and how libraries use email marketing and social media to increase community library awareness.
Leveraging Wikipedia: Connecting Communities of Knowledge
26 April 2018
Merrilee Proffitt
This book encourages collaboration among academia, archives, libraries, and the volunteer Wikipedia community to connect communities of knowledge. It shows how libraries can partner with Wikipedia to improve content quality and make library services and collections more visible on the open web.
From Awareness to Funding: Voter Perceptions and Support of Public Libraries in 2018
21 March 2018
OCLC, ALA
In 2018, OCLC, ALA, and PLA conducted research of US voter support of libraries to examine the awareness, attitudes, and underlying motivations among US voters for supporting library funding. This report outlines findings and compares it to a similar survey conducted in 2008.