Cognotes 2017 Annual Conference Highlights - 2

COGNOTES

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2017 CHICAGO HIGHLIGHTS

Looking Forward to Seeing You in Denver in February!

t was invigorating to be in Atlanta with thousands of librarians, library workers, exhibitors, and
supporters applying their energy and expertise to the ongoing work of transforming and positioning
libraries and library professionals for a strong future. Our values, innovation, collaboration, learning, and conversation were at the core of our shared work. Commitment and expertise were in evidence
throughout, as we discussed what was important to us, learned from one another, enjoyed thoughtprovoking speakers, explored the best of what's new in the exhibits, and made personal connections.
The success of the new Symposium on the Future of Libraries organized by ALA's Center for the
Future of Libraries was thrilling, as was the ongoing visibility of the Libraries Transform campaign. I was
very pleased that the vote to add Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion as a fourth distinct area to ALA's three
current strategic directions - advocacy, information policy, and professional and leadership development
- passed unanimously. And the frank sharing of concerns and concrete ideas at the facilitated town hall,
"Advocacy and Core Values in Uncertain Times," provided important input for not only ALA's work,
but our work back at home. The wonderful author and poet Kwame Alexander made us laugh, cry, and
- most importantly - think, during his entertaining talk as featured speaker at my President's Program.
ALA President Jim Neal

NEW
NEW
NEW

The town hall dialogue, "Competencies, Careers, and Successful Practice," was rescheduled to
Saturday during the Annual Conference, and I am eager for this discussion on the future of library
professionals as experts, and what skills, knowledge, traits, and expectations will best support all libraries and constituents going forward. Also of special importance to me will be the Annual Conference
launch of Book Club Central (BCC), a hub of resources from many venues, created in collaboration
with Booklist, United for Libraries, and RUSA as well as other divisions and units as a presidential initiative. Be on the lookout for more news about it! Colson Whitehead and Matthew Desmond, winning
authors of the 2017 Carnegie Medals, will both join us in Chicago. Other confirmed speakers include
the opening speaker, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani, and authors Sandra
Uwiringyimana and Kameron Hurley.
» See the 2017 Annual Conference and Exhibition ads on pages 7 and 11.

Large City Libraries Bring Communities Together
Michelle Kowalsky/Rowan University

eaders of three large public libraries described
their engagement strategies and partnership
techniques at the Special Session from the Library
of Congress on June 25. Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian
of Congress, interviewed a panel which included Brian
Bannon of the Chicago Public Library (CPL), Luis
Herrera of the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), and
Tony Marx of the New York Public Library (NYPL).
"Libraries are not the only game in town anymore,"
said Marx. "We're competing with screens for people's
attention, so we must sell ourselves," he explained,
noting that the NYPL postered every New York City
subway car and station with invitations for people to
visit. NYPL also partnered with the public schools to
loan teachers 100 public library books at a time, when
support for school libraries was waning in the city.
Marx explained that he strived for the NYPL to be
not only a safe civic space, but also proactive education
space, providing the programs each community most
needs, including literacy, English language instruction,
citizenship, and computer skills. More than 5,000
people have been on waiting lists for computer coding
classes, he noted, indicating that intentional programming can bring together a community which might be
fractured for other reasons.
"The library doesn't have to meet the public's demand all by itself," Herrera stated. He discussed the value
of strategic partnerships, and how momentum may help
potential partners find you before you even reach out to
them.
Specifically, the new maker and digital arts area at the
SFPL main branch has been thoroughly embraced by local teens, many of whom travel a long distance on public
transportation to participate. "They have taken ownership
of the space and of their own learning," he said, explaining
that the students talked nonstop with Hayden when she

Public Library Panel Fosters Engagement

visited recently, showing off their creative and coding projects.
SFPL also partnered with the city's public school system to help
bring free wifi to underserved student populations.
Bannon said that "library as place" is the statistic which is
growing the fastest at his branches, and is an experience similar
to that of libraries around the country. While circulation statistics
may be flat or show only modest increases, gate counts and human
interactions in the library's physical spaces are doubling or tripling
in number. Bannon emphasized helping your town's "elected
ecosystem" to understand how the library's mission translates into

education programs and intentional partnerships. Librarians
in the audience enthusiastically applauded Bannon's mention
of Chance the Rapper, who was a passionate library patron in
Chicago, and who returns to the library for monthly events
like the open mic night for teens.
The panelists all agreed that libraries are unique places
which can bring together people with different views, lifestyles, and demographics. Leveraging this strength differentiates libraries in the marketplace, and has the potential to
preserve our value throughout times of change.

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