In May 2023, with funding from the Mellon Foundation, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) launched an 18-month research project to collect and study cardholder signup policies from public libraries across the nation. The project aims to identify the range of policies and procedures which govern cardholder access as well as the rationale used for establishing (or protecting) those policies. Findings will be shared with the field in a report issued in Spring 2024.

Using the findings, BPL will convene a representative working group of public library leaders and legal experts in the Spring/Summer of 2024 to develop a... Read more

As libraries continue turning outward to communities, the importance of collaboration increases. We not only have to share information about core library services, we also have to share information about how and why we work with community partners on everything from animal adoption to equity in the foster care system.

The I Partner with My Public Library Awards offer a platform for public library workers to celebrate their community partners. These ten awardees come from diverse communities and represent a wide range of projects, programs, and types of collaborators. Read on to learn more about all of the award recipients... Read more

While everyone is affected by climate change, the impacts of climate change are not evenly distributed. That’s why it’s so crucial to consider the social and economic impact of our environmental choices in our responses to climate change. This article offers an introduction to the Six Pillars of Climate Justice, an approach created by the University of California Center for Climate Justice to help organize climate solutions. 

This article is part of the series of resources and webinars created by the Sustainable Libraries Initiative team, in collaboration with WebJunction, to support libraries in creating a more sustainable future.

A literature review of more than 150 research studies indicates that we are missing the mark in preparing our children for school by equating “school readiness” with a finite checklist of academic skills to be mastered by age five. Instead, we should think about school readiness as a robust developmental process that spans the early childhood years through age eight. Libraries are perfect places for children to develop early learning skills and practices to prepare them for school.

You may already be offering opportunities at your library in programs such as storytimes, play groups, and STEM/STEAM workshops. Or maybe you... Read more