Public Libraries: Building Social Capital through Networking

Abstract

To be relevant and vital to their communities public libraries must do more than employ the latest technology and provide a wide range of resources and services. They also need to offer opportunities to build the social capital framework and allow all people equal access to those opportunities. This requires building networks and partnerships with the business community, other government agencies, schools, community agencies and the population served. Library staff should seek local opportunities to become involved in networks leading to those partnerships. Edited version of 'Building social capital through networking: how public libraries can be more than repositories of information'. This paper was awarded the 2005 Jean Arnot Memorial Fellowship.