Developing Community-Led Public Libraries: Evidence from the UK and Canada

摘要

Localism and community engagement have been high priorities for many public services in recent times, responding to government agendas of decentralisation, devolution and the transfer of power from the state to citizens. The UK Coalition Government's Big Society approach, for example, advocates giving local people more power over the services that they use and encourages them to take an active role in their communities through volunteering and representation on local bodies. In this book, Pateman and Williment explore the potential and implications of a community-led approach to public library services. Taking as a starting point an overview of two projects - Open to All? In the UK and the Working Together Project in Canada - the authors explore how public libraries can become more inclusive by working collaboratively with communities to develop a needs-based community-led service.