Libraries Building Cultural Capital

In Thursday’s Plenary Session economist Richard North talked about the creative economy as a generator of economic growth. Bill Irwin’s session on Community Development: the keystone to public library’s relevance discussed the importance of community development for participation in the creative economy his theory being that the communities that thrive are those that can generate and apply new ideas.

He sees the library as the connecting arrow between the community and society. Public libraries have a strategic role to play in working with local government, businesses, organizations and institutions to bring people together to share experiences and to influence attitudinal and behavioural change. How are we tapping into the ‘gifts’ of our community members to influence attitudinal or behavioural change and build cultural capital? He likens the sharing of the communities gifts to the Stone Soup fable in which a village is nourished when each of the villagers contributes to the pot.

The strength of the community is in direct proportion to the involvement of the people and the institutions (both formal and informal) in the community. As that connecting arrow or bridge between community and society libraries need to understand the economic and demographic changes of their community. We need to recognize, cultivate and capitalize on the creative assets of our community. We must exert our influence to engage the community and explore the creative assets of the community that can be connected and channeled. In an economy based on ideas and creativity this is the library’s competitive advantage.
Diane