In 2006, the Salt Lake City Public Library won the Thomson Gale/Library Journal Library of the Year award as a place “where democracy happens” according to this Library Journal article by John N. Berry III.
Julianne Hancock, spokesperson for the library, said that “the digital age has forced libraries to look at what their core missions are.” The Salt Lake City Public Library’s main role is to provide “places where people feel safe to exchange thoughts and ideas,” stated Julianne.
The five strategic measures, on which the library is focused, as stated on their web site here, are:
- Enjoying life
- Exploring new ideas
- Ensuring early literacy
- Accessing technology
- Creating local solutions and bridging divides
To accomplish these goals, the library has a staff member in charge of each goal and is willing to partner with anyone. “We don’t rule anyone out,” said Julianne, “if it will benefit the community, we are open to them.” The library has an auditorium and several meeting rooms that can be rented or may be provided at no cost as long as the event is not for profit and the public is invited. Among the organizations that the library has partnered with are The King’s English Bookshop, Odyssey House, Sam Weller’s Bookstore, SLC Film Center and the SLCC Community Writing Center.
The library is no longer just a place full of books but “a facilitator of community dialogue,” stated Julianne, and "a building full of navigators of information."
For more information on the SLC Film Center, read my article here.
To read more about the SLCC Community Writing Center, see my article here.
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