The Hyperlinked Public Square
In the introduction to the Four-Space Model, Skot-Hansen addresses Danish libraries’ “vital role in the development of civil society and in strengthening democratic culture and knowledge levels across social and cultural divides,” and Skot-Hansen’s broad profile of the library as a holistic space and identifies the library as an educational environment (2016). As this speaks directly to my hope to develop a civic literacy program in my home library in Salinas, CA, I was inspired by this focus on democracy to seek out libraries who are using their space for intentional civic literacy and engagement.
An article by Keiva Hummel on the National Civic League website identifies libraries as uniquely positioned to bolster eroding public support and trust in the institutions that govern their lives (2022). Hummel provides three examples of programming I found interesting and applicable to the program that I would like to implement.
Louisville (KY) Free Public Libraries convened a series of meetings they called Café Louie. These meetings were opportunities for patrons to meet with local legislators, and the program was so popular that they are about to launch another annual series for 2025 (The Library Foundation, n.d.).
Skokie (IL) Public Library holds a weekly pop-up event to “provide patrons with evidence-based, credible resources and information that have been vetted by [library] staff” (“A Civic Initiative About Information,” 2019). Civic Lab has been a popular program for SPL, and librarians commit time and resources to bring relevant materials and information to their patrons.
East Checkout, Pop Up Civic Lab, adults, staff, teens
Hummel also highlights San José Public Library’s Mock Citizenship Naturalization Interviews program (2022), and my home library in Salinas already holds mock interviews as part of its citizenship preparation program (Adult Learning & Literacy, 2017).
I feel like this is an untapped opportunity to encourage cross cultural communication and local civic engagement. However, I also have years of experience with naive optimism, and if it seems so simple to me to adapt this curriculum into an educational opportunity for adults who are already citizens, it might not be as simple as I expect.
I am taking inspiration from these programs to determine what kind of environment will be conducive to the civic engagement program that I want to develop in my library. I think the next step for me on this is to narrow down my message and begin to sketch out a curriculum.
References
A Civic Initiative About Information: The Civic Lab At Skokie Public Library – Public Libraries Online. (2019, August 1). Public Libraries Online – A Publication of the Public Library Association. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2019/08/a-civic-initiative-about-information-the-civic-lab-at-skokie-public-library/
Adult Learning & Literacy. (2017, February 9). Salinas Public Library. https://salinaspubliclibrary.org/learn-explore/adult-learning-literacy
Hummel, K. (2022). Libraries Transforming Communities: The Movement Towards Civic Hubs. National Civic Review, 111(2). https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/ncr-article/libraries-transforming-communities-the-movement-towards-civic-hubs/
Skot-Hansen, D. (2016, March 30). Library development: From collection to connection. University of Copenhagen Faculty of Humanities; University of Copenhagen. https://humanities.ku.dk/collaboration/impact/library-development/
The Library Foundation. (n.d.). [Online post]. Facebook. Retrieved March 2, 2025, from https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleLibraryFoundation/posts/-10-awesome-years-of-caf%C3%A9-louie-were-kicking-off-the-10th-season-of-caf%C3%A9-louie-t/1023766236457135/
3 thoughts on “Reflection on Hyperlinked Environments”
Hello Hermaeus,
You have an interesting perspective about the library’s roles in the community. I haven’t considered the library to be a place to discuss voting, bills, laws, and social issues. I am intrigued by Skokie Library’s weekly pop-up that provides information on a timely topic. Libraries are hubs for information, so it makes sense for patrons to look to the library for credible sources to empower them civically. I did not know there were programs to help patrons with citizenship. The library has the opportunity to help so many people, and I am happy to see libraries putting on these programs.
Hi Kazuko!
I didn’t think about this potential for libraries either until earlier this year, and I am glad that I am not the only one. I feel like libraries are still flying a bit under the radar of current attacks on free speech, and I hope that we can facilitate these engagement and education opportunities before we lose too much more of our fragile democracy.
@epistolaryacumen Nice to read this reflection right after the previous one. I have to say I’m a little low about civic engagement and our current political situation. I hope libraries are stepping up to continue conversations and offer opportunities to discuss issues, meet together with community leaders, etc.