Something to Talk About Creating Dialogue and Transforming Viewpoints through Library and Community Collaboration

Lacy Wolfe, Ouachita Baptist University

Engaged institutions

Kellogg Commission Survey (2000) Call for universities to become increasingly involved

in their local communities “An engaged university understands the need to take

its expertise and resources beyond the walls of academe and into the community.”

“By engagement the Commission envisions partnerships, two-way streets defined by mutual respect among the partners for what each brings to the table.”

Malanchuk, Iona and Marilyn Ocha “Academic Librarians and Outreach Beyond the College Campus”

Library Engagement

Community Access

Information Literacy

Exhibitions and Scholarly Events

Cooperation, Exchange, and Partnership

Leong, Jack “Community Engagement – Building Bridges between University and Community by Academic Libraries in the 21st Century”

Benefits of Academic and Public Library Partnerships

Improved Relationships

Synergies in Staff Expertise

Higher Visibility

Establishing Successful Partnerships

Mathson, Stephanie M., Robin M. Sabo, and Joyce Salisbury “Growing Grassroots Collaboration Between Academic and Public Libraries”

Project

“Created Equal: Am erica’s Civ il Rights Strugg le”

Awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Gilder Lehman Institute of American History

Location & Goal

Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Bridge racial and cultural divides within a small southern community through academic, public, and school library collaboration

Process

Partnering institutions: Henderson State University Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia High School Clark County Public Library The City’s Racial and Cultural Diversity Committee

Programming scheduled

Publicity efforts Library assistant with graphic design background

The Loving Story film clip

The Loving Story Lecture

Freedom Riders Panel Discussion

Freedom Riders film

Panel Members

Slavery by Another Name article discussion

Slavery by Another Name film

Clark County Public Library

Children’s Program

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By: Doreen Rappaport

The Story of Ruby BridgesBy: Robert Coles

Freedom Summer By: Deborah Wiles

This is the Dream By: Diane Z. Shore & Jessica Alexander

My Own Two Hands

Civil Rights Worksheets

Civil Rights Activity Book

Lessons Learned

Communicate clearly with community partner expectations

Host an event at the high school to draw teen audience

Collaborate with faculty to offer bonus points for college students

Expand programming to two semesters

More thorough assessment – user surveys (satisfaction of overall experience, event organization, speakers, facilities and equipment, hospitality)

“Kitchen Table” Conversations

Community Conversation Guide

The Work of Hope: How Individuals and Organizations Can Authentically Do Good by: Richard C. Harwood

“Kitchen Table” Questions

What are your aspirations for your community?

What will it take to reach our aspirations for the community?

What would it take to get people thinking beyond instant gratification?

In this community, what are some things that would help restore our belief that we can get things done together? Where could we get started?

What would give you hope that we are moving in the right direction in our community?

Where to start?

Start small Banned Books Week (September 27 – October 3) National Library Week (April 10-16)

Discuss mutually beneficial goals at the outset

Communicate often and include some face-to-face interaction

Identify and concentrate on a few high visibility opportunities

Focus on building synergies based on the strengths of the respective libraries

Repeat only those activities that been well received in the past, and drop activities that were not popular

Mathson, Stephanie M., Robin M. Sabo, and Joyce Salisbury “Growing Grassroots Collaboration Between Academic and Public Libraries”

Thank you! Please feel free to contact me with any questions at wolfel@obu.edu