Overview
Public libraries are on the front lines. Library directors and their staff are now dealing with core issues, such as:
- drug overdoses in the library;
- families that are unhoused and/or are food insecure are looking for support;
- library spaces serving as warming and cooling shelters as part of community emergency preparedness. FEMA now classifies public libraries as essential community institutions and describes librarians as “the new emergency responders.”
Dimension IV: Inclusion-centered Leadership Practices in Community Member Experiences Module is designed for library directors interested in developing the competencies that enhance their library’s capacity to become more adaptive, inclusive and proactive in serving their communities and building resilience, especially in the face of emergency issues and challenges. It starts with understanding: 1) how to intentionally and purposefully build relationships with underserved community groups that do not have access and who need community actionable science resources, supports and services; and 2) understanding what actionable science and how to engage adults in the co-development of meaningful information they can learn, access and immediately act upon. Adults can immediately affect change and therefore build resilience for themselves as well as the community.
Actionable science is defined as:
