BETTE DILLEHAYDIRECTOR

MATHEWS MEMORIAL LIBRARYMATHEWS, VIRGINIA

Library as Community CentreEngaging Local Government

Managers as Library Partners

• 8,400 Square Feet• 4,112 Linear Feet Shelving• 39,522 Items

Where the Mobjack Bay meets the Chesapeake Bay

About Mathews County

Square Miles, 84

Miles of Shoreline, 210

Population, 9,200

Lighthouses, 2

Bridges, 3

Traffic Lights, 0

About Mathews County

Residents of Mathews have historicallybeen connected to the surrounding waters - harvesting fish, oysters, clams and crabs for a livelihood.

About Mathews County

“A Popular Retirement Destination”

ICMA’s Local Government and Public Libraries Partnership Initiative

Explore The role of city and county managers as

advocates for libraries –

The relationship of libraries to quality of life and community sustainability.

ICMA Project Goal

Support a dialog which could increase awareness

among managers and other local government officials

of the value of public libraries in the community.

Talking About the Future

Planning the Direction of Your Community

MCSEED

Mathews Memorial Library

Governance Models

County/City AgencySeparate Authority/BoardRegional EntityContract Services

Library Assets

Information/KnowledgeCulture ConnectionsTechnology ResourcesCommunity SpaceLocal Economy ConnectionsCommunity Ownership

Service Roles

Knowledge GatewayUniversal ServiceNeutral Haven Cultural Center

Local Government Role In Supporting Libraries

Ensure that the library has a mission and programs that are consistent with community and local government mission and values.

Facilitate aligning the library’s efforts with broader community needs.

Include the library director on the management team.

Include libraries in master planning and strategic planning.

Ensure that libraries are fairly and objectively considered during the budget process and allocation of resources.

Look for ways to integrate library staff with other municipal and county staff.

Facilitate a dialogue and shared understanding on what is excellence for the library.

Keep libraries in mind!

Steps Toward An Engaged Library

Ensure that library mission is consistent with that of local government.

Get outside the doors.

Be creative about what the library can contribute.

Discover and contribute to the unique capacities and conditions of the community.

Support local businesses and institutions.

Make the library building a community center.

Create a community-minded culture among library staff and volunteers.

Making Good Things Happen

“Equal effort is required on the part of localgovernment and library in improving the

quality ofcitizens’ lives and increasing opportunities for

all.”

Pete Giacoma, DirectorDavis County Library, Utah

E-Government: The Future Is Today

E-Government and Public Libraries: Current Status,Meeting Report, Findings, and Next Steps

Charles R. McClure, Director, Information Institute Francis Eppes, ProfessorJessica McGilvray & Kristin M. Bartin, Research Associates,

Information InstituteJohn Carlo Bertot, Associate Director, Information Institute

http://www.ii.fsu.edu

Public Libraries As E-Government Partners

“For an e-government service provision partnershipbetween government agencies and public libraries tobe successful and of continuing benefit to clients inthe future, cooperative funding strategies foradditional technology, as well as staff training, mustbecome a high priority issue in communities across

thecountry.”

Robert Davidsson, ManagerGovernment Research Service Section

Library System, Palm Beach County Florida

The Future

“The very existence of libraries affords us the best

evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of

civilization.”T. S. Eliot

The Engaged Library

URBAN LIBRARIES COUNCIL2005

The Engaged Library

URBAN LIBRARIES COUNCIL2005

The Engaged Library

URBAN LIBRARIES COUNCIL2005

The Engaged Library

URBAN LIBRARIES COUNCIL2005

The Engaged Library

URBAN LIBRARIES COUNCIL2005