Libraries engage with hyperlinked communities of all kinds by finding ways to be present in the lives of their users, letting them know what the library can do for them, and giving them a reason to depend on us. To reach library users and provide them with services that will benefit them, library staff must actively reach out and make connections with their users (Stephens, 2016). Hyperlinked community engagement and library outreach services strengthen community-library partnerships and can take many forms. Focusing on which underserved groups would benefit from additional services can help libraries narrow the scope of their outreach endeavors. It is important to think strategically and prioritize the library’s messaging, communications, and online presence. (Los Angeles Public Library, 2015).
San Jose Public Library’s Outreach Services
The San Jose Public Library (SJPL) is committed to connecting with and listening to its users. SJPL has a variety of ongoing community engagement endeavors both virtually in the form of surveys and blog posts on their website and in-person at schools, farmer’s markets, festivals, neighborhood association meetings, and Community Conversation events. SJPL uses community feedback to guide its community-library partnerships, develop strategic plans, and improve library services (Maglio & Langner, n.d.).
The SJPL website contains updates on its recent community engagement outings. Senior Librarian Melissa Maglio writes quarterly blog posts to share what the library has learned from its communities by visiting local public events. During community outreach events, librarians ask residents and neighbors questions regarding the kind of community they would like to live in, any concerns they have about their neighborhood, and what kind of services and programs they would like to see at their libraries (Maglio, 2024). This is a great way to get feedback from library users and community members on how SJPL can improve library services.
Figure 1: A librarian from San Jose Public Library’s Vineland Library performing outreach services at the Princeton Plaza Farmer’s Market (Maglio, 2024).
References
Los Angeles Public Library. (2015). IMLS Focus: Engaging Communities. https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/whitepaper_convening3_final_9-2-2015_tagged.pdf
Maglio, M. (2024, February 13). Community Engagement: What We’ve Learned From Listening to our Communities (Winter 2023). https://www.sjpl.org/blogs/post/community-engagement-what-weve-learned-from-listening-to-our-communities-winter-2023/
Maglio, M., & Langner, I. (n.d.). Community Engagement: Your Voice Matters. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.sjpl.org/community-engagement/
Stephens, M. (2016). The Heart of Librarianship: Attentive, Positive, and Purposeful Change. American Library Association.
Mikayla – the idea of the library at the farmers market just makes so much sense to me. Anytime the library can be visible at a community event, I would hope someone could be there at a table or booth just like in the photo. Thanks for the link to the Community Engagement posts.