PROGRAMS,

PARTNERSHIPS &
PLACEMAKING
A Community Development Framework and
Toolkit for the Community-Centred Library

Catherine Killmier, Outreach Manager and Doncaster Branch Manager,

Whitehorse Manningham Libraries
Acknowledgements
• I would like to thank and acknowledge the generous
support of the Library Board of Victoria, the State Library
of Victoria, and Whitehorse Manningham Regional Library
Corporation.

• I would also like to thank the staff and libraries that hosted
my study tour for generously sharing their time,
resources, and knowledge of community-led library
practices and models.
Libraries & Community Development
• Public libraries are increasingly becoming
community hubs where people of different ages,
cultures, and backgrounds can meet in a safe
environment to exchange ideas and information.

• A way for libraries to remain relevant to the

communities they serve.
The Community-Centred Library
SLV Margery C Ramsay Scholarship
• Study tour of
Canadian Public
Libraries that have
embraced a
community-led
model for service
delivery.
• Placemaking
training at the
Project for Public
Spaces in New
York.
Community-Led Model
• Four Canadian public libraries participated in the
Working Together Project.
• Vancouver Public Library
• Regina Public Library
• Toronto Public Library
• Halifax Public Library

• Edmonton Public Library developed a

community-led service philosophy based on the
success of the Working Together Project.
Community-Led Service Philosophy
• Aims to • Through
• Break down barriers to • Community Entry
service use • Community Mapping
• Address issues of social • Relationship Building
inclusion • Partnerships
• Ensure library remains
• Program Planning
relevant to the
• Computer Training
communities it serves
• Collection Development
• Customer Service
Vancouver Public Library
• Has implemented
Community-Led Model
across organisation.
• 22 branch libraries,
some in areas with
very high needs.
• Employed Community
Development
Librarians.
Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver Public Library
Edmonton Public Library
• Has implemented
Community-Led Model
across organisation.
• 13 branch libraries,
some in very
multicultural areas.
• Employed Community
Development
Librarians.
Edmonton Public Library
Edmonton Public Library
Regina Public Library
• Has not implemented
Community-Led Model
across organisation.
• 9 branch libraries,
large indigenous
population.
• Did Placemaking
training but has not
implemented the
strategies.
Regina Public Library
Regina Public Library
Toronto Public Library
• Has implemented
Community-Led Model
across organisation.
• 99 branch libraries,
some in very high needs
& multicultural areas.
• Employed Community
Development
Coordinator and
Community
Development Librarians.
Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library
Halifax Public Library
• Has implemented
Community-Led Model
across organisation.
• 14 branch libraries,
some in rural areas.
• Employed Community
Development
Coordinator to work
with Library Branch
Managers.
Halifax Public Library
Programs
• Community advisory groups
• After hours access to library for at risk groups
(sex workers, homeless)
• Indigenous storytellers in residence
• Reading program in women’s prisons so their
children could hear them read stories on tape
• Reading & literacy programs for children & adults
• Adopt a library fundraising program for literacy
• Community gardens
Partnerships
• Homeless shelters
• Disability groups
• Migrant & refugee agencies
• Job agencies
• Community health providers
• Women’s prisons
• Art & craft groups
• Education providers
Placemaking
• Capitalises on a local community’s assets,
inspiration, and potential, ultimately creating good
public spaces that promote people’s health,
happiness, and wellbeing.

• Ties in with the library as a welcoming, neutral

“third place”.

• Community-led approach to Place and the use of

space.
The Place Diagram
Placemaking Tools
• The Power of 10
• Any great place needs to
offer at least 10 things to
do or 10 reasons to be
there.
• These could include a
place to sit, books to
read, art to view, music
to hear, food to eat, a
class to attend, and
people to meet.
• 11 Principles of Place
• The community is the expert
• Create a place, not a design
• Look for partners
• You can see a lot just by
observing
• Have a vision
• Lighter, quicker, cheaper
• Triangulate
• They always say “it cant be
done”
• Form supports function
• Money is not the issue
• You are never finished
Mississauga Public Library
• Had Placemaking
training to develop the
Library as a
destination.
• Created Library
Square with outdoor
reading area for author
talks, programs, cafe,
farmer’s markets,
movies, concerts, as a
meeting place.
Mississauga Public Library
Mississauga Public Library
Pictou-Antigonish Public Library
• Had Placemaking
training to develop a
new Library.
• Extensive community
consultation through
People’s Place Project.
• Building designed as
community place.
Pictou-Antigonish Public Library
Pictou-Antigonish Public Library
New York Public Library
• Worked with PPS to
revitalise Bryant Park.
• Created an outdoor
reading room, cafe,
restaurant, outdoor
markets, fashion shows,
concerts, movie
screenings, carrousel,
chess, backgammon,
ping pong, chairs &
tables, meeting space.
Community Development Framework
& Toolkit
Action Research Model
 Strong
Your
Your Library's Community-
Community's
Assets Based
Assets
Projects

Identify Contact Group/ Document

Community Organisation Information
Assets
Community Organisation Hours/
Telephone Initially Contact Details
Demographics

Organisation Purpose
Community Visit in Person
Directories
Types/Number of
Users
Local Area Networks Establish Relationship
Current Community
Activities & Services
Telephone Outline What Library
Directories has to Offer Potential Partnerships
 Internal Library Asset Map
• Identify library’s assets
• Document these assets
• List the ways in which these assets can be shared with the surrounding community

Personnel (Skills, Space and Facilities Library Materials

Interests, Abilities) and Equipment

Current
Programs/Services

Current Community Other

Networks
 External Community Asset Map
• Geographical (location)
• Functional (youth, CALD, older adults, non-library users, etc.)

Community Groups Local Businesses Community

Meeting Spaces

Community

Social and Economic Associations and

Conditions Institutions

Community Stories
and Narratives
 • Community Engagement/Relationship Building
• Programs
• Partnerships
Act • Placemaking

Public Participation Spectrum

One-way communication providing balanced and objective • Marketing

Inform information to assist understanding about something that is • Promotions
going to happen or has happened. • Outreach
Two-way communications designed to obtain public feedback • Surveys
Consult about ideas on rationale, alternatives, and proposals to inform • Feedback forms
decision-making. • Social media
Participatory process designed to help identify issues and views • Focus groups
Involve to ensure that concerns and aspirations are understood and • Advisory committees
considered prior to decision-making. • Community workshops
Working together to develop understanding of all issues and • Partnerships
Collaborate interests to work out alternatives and identify preferred • Community-led service
solutions. planning
Providing opportunities and resources for communities to • Final decision-making
Empower contribute to solutions by valuing local talents and skills and placed in the hands of
acknowledging their capacity to be decision makers in their the public.
own lives.
 • Community Engagement/Relationship Building
• Programs
• Partnerships
Act • Placemaking

• Storytimes, after school clubs, computer training, book and writers’

Programs circles, author talks, community information sessions, genealogy and
family history, English conversation circles, teen advisory groups.

Partnerships • Explore partnership opportunities with the community and local

agencies to deliver innovative programs.

Placemaking • Use the Placemaking Diagram, Power of 10, and 11 Principles of

Place to ensure the library is a community destination.
 • Evaluation
• Quantitative
Observe • Qualitative

Resources/
Activities Outputs Outcomes Impact
Inputs

Resources Activities Outputs Outcomes Impact

• Staff time • MCHC new • Number of • Build • Child has skills
• Program parents group people visited relationships to do well at
supplies visit • Number of new • Library becomes school
• Travel library members “place” for new • Parents are
parents connected to
• Increased other people
attendance at
storytimes
• Child develops
early literacy
skills
• Staff time • Conduct • Number • Attendees • Individual
• Program computer attending develop new empowered to
supplies training at skills use the
library or • Information internet for
external location literacy job skills,
increased information,
networking
etc.
 • Revise
• Replan
Reflect • Revisit

What Could
What What Didn't Share
Be
Worked Work Learning
Improved
Applications

• Whitehorse Manningham Libraries are implementing:

• Community Mapping
• Community-led Collection Development
• Placemaking Strategies at Doncaster Library
• Community Outreach Strategy to Break Down Barriers

• The community development framework and toolkit can

be distributed to and used by Victorian Public Libraries
and other interested libraries to connect with their
communities