Ask, Listen, Empower: Grounding Your Library Work in Community

In this valuable and insightful collection of articles, compiled by Fornier and Ostman (both of the ALA), contributors who work in a variety of institutions, from public libraries to the archives of a civil rights center, offer guidance on community engagement. Hadiya Evans examines Denver Public Library’s R.A.D.A. (Read. Awareness. Dialogue. Action.) series, a social justice book club created to discuss police brutality, mental health, immigration, and other issues. Ellen Knutson and Quanetta Batts consider the roles of ethics and inclusion, and stress the importance of being aware of power and privilege. Cindy Fesemyer explores partnerships and advises librarians to create a visual map of their community to find organizations to collaborate with, such as library groups or specific community populations. Throughout the book, librarians are encouraged to work with their community rather than simply serving it. An extensive list of resources is included.