Connecting

Librarians in school, public, and academic contexts have been more outward-facing in their outreach efforts over the past 15 years. Public libraries have connected with school and academic libraries, and more libraries increasingly connect with local organizations and individuals to provide programming. Public film screenings enable public and academic libraries to meet the needs of all people in the community—including those who can’t, don’t, or don’t like to read. Film and media literacy in libraries helps to create communities where ongoing sustained dialogue helps us talk and listen to each other. As we model respectful ways of talking about movies and media, we know that these vital civic competencies can transfer to the home, the family, the workplace, and the community. In some communities, locally created oral histories on video bring people together to share stories, and this form of digital media has cross-generational value for both current and future residents. Libraries can also be an avenue for independent filmmakers to distribute their films. Screening the entries of film contests like the 90-Second Newbery and 60-Second Shakespeare can serve to attract patrons to the library and readers to great literature. Outreach librarianship may also be a matter of marketing and adaptation for survival.