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RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: PLACE

Even though many library materials can be digitally accessed from almost anywhere, the public library will remain an anchor in the community and act as a place for people to meet and make connections to civil society. (Garmer, 2014)  

 

EPL has embraced this idea with new and remodeled library branches. In 2008, the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) became the first Canadian public library to make a strategic commitment to community-led service when it hired seventeen community librarians (Berry III,  2014). In fact their motto is,

 

“We’re bigger than our buildings”

 

which articulates their goal of strengthening communities by making connections and removing barriers that prevent anyone from receiving library services.

 

They reach out to the community and the community leads them to unique and important solutions (“Community-Led Service Philosophy”, n.d.).  In fact, before beginning the revitalization project for the Stanley Milner Building, EPL asked their community members what they thought the library should be. From May 2015 to August 2015, EPL held a series of public engagement activities to hear exactly what their community needed from their new building and, as illustrated below, several themes emerged that match and meet criteria for the 21st century in the Aspen Institute Report : Rising to the Challenge.

Edmonton Public Library Graffiti Open House (Edmonton Public Library)

What We Heard, (Edmonton Public Library)

The following examples are a sampling of "PLACE" at EPL as framed by the Aspen Report Rising to the Challenge.

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“ESTABLISH PERSONAL CONNECTIONS that help define community needs and interests” (Garmer, 2014, p. 13)​.

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  • EPL instills a community-led philosophy in all their employees.  Employees are encouraged to strengthen communities by making connections ("Community-Led Service Philosophy, n.d.) with community groups and other organizations.  The ultimate goal is to provide barrier-free access to library service for all people of Edmonton.

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  • Employees are encouraged to make these connections with the philosophy "it's never too late to start and there's never an action is too small" ("Community-Led a Guide for EPL Staff", n.d., p. 14).

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  • EPL employs three outreach workers all of whom are registered social workers to provide literacy, education, connections and support to the most marginalized patrons ("Community Outreach Services", n.d.). 

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  • Community Librarians are expected to spend at least 70% of their time outside of the library buildings to form partnerships with community groups and to provide services where needed ("Edmonton Public Library’s Community-Led Service Philosophy", n.d.).

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“PROVIDE AN ANCHOR for economic development and neighborhood revitalization” (Garmer, 2014, p. 13).

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  • The new 10,000 sq. ft. Calder Branch just reopened to help reinvigorate surrounding neighborhoods.  The location is close to public transportation and easily accessible by food traffic.  Staff at the branch are building partnerships with local schools and community organizations ("Calder Branch, n.d.). 

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  • Revitalized Stanley A. Milner Library will help build a thriving downtown Edmonton ("Stanley A. Milner Revitalization",  n.d.).

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“STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY IDENTITY in ways that yield significant return on investment, including drawing people together for diverse purposes” (Garmer, 2014, p. 13).

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  • The Forward Thinking Speaker Series brings together members of the community to hear diverse ideas and perspectives with the goal of building a better community and a strong community identity. ("Forward Thinking Speaker Series", n.d.)

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  • Reconciliation is a term and idea used by Canadians to learn from past interactions between Indigenous people and Canadian society as a whole with the hope that understanding the past will help make a better future.  All Edmontonians can attend Native craft classes, learn indigenous languages and the history of Native people at EPL branches.  EPL employs an "Elder in Residence" to facilitate reconciliation activities (EPL Introduces Ne Elder in Residence Program", 2017).

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“PROVIDE A SAFE AND TRUSTED LOCATION for community services such as health clinics, emergency response centers, small business incubators, workforce development centers and immigrant resource centers” (Garmer, 2014, p. 13).

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  • EPL excels at providing service to newcomers. Community librarians are posted in each and every branch to help with settlement services (Newcomers, n.d.)

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  • Most branches provide help to English language learners. One program, geared to teens, encourages teens to learn "youth talk" and cultural norms ("English Language Learners", n.d.)

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“CREATE CONNECTING PLACES in new locations that draw people together—shopping malls, big box stores, airports and mobile buses” (Garmer, 2014, p. 13).​

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  • Summer 2018 a 9,700 square foot branch will be opening in the Londonderry Mall.  This branch will have a full maker space, an early literacy center and a large meeting and program room. ("Londonderry Branch Move", n.d.) 

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  • Meadows and Clareview branches are located in Community Recreation Centres that include swimming pools, ice skating rinks and meeting spaces ("The Clareview Library", n.d. &"The Meadows Library", n.d.). 

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  • Literacy to Go Vans bring pop-up libraries to parks, schools, recreation centers and businesses ("epl2go" n.d.) .

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Next, visit the PLATFORM page to see how EPL meets this challenge.

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