Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) announced on June 12 that the library system had been selected for the Libraries and Local News Initiative, a More Perfect- and Urban Libraries Council-led program meant to involve community members in journalism by connecting libraries with local news outlets. Eight libraries across the United States were selected to take part in this project, with AACPL being the only Maryland participant.
Each of the eight library systems will take part in training meant to promote an interest in local journalism and the role it plays in sparking conversation and combating misinformation.
“We are honored to be a part of a project that gives a voice to members of our community and highlights the importance of storytelling,” says AACPL CEO Skip Auld. “This program reinforces the library’s role as a community connector, helping to preserve history and shape the future of our county through partnership and engagement.”
Libraries were chosen as the focus for this initiative due to the role they play in spreading information and serving as community gathering spaces with a low barrier to entry. Participating libraries will be connected with local newsrooms, with library patrons given the opportunity to act as journalists, covering stories they are interested in and making their voices heard.
Other participating library systems include libraries in Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan and Missouri.
“Libraries and newsrooms share a central civic function: helping residents understand their communities, navigate public systems and participate in local democracy,” said Shamichael Hallman, Senior Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at the Urban Libraries Council. “This pilot program teams local libraries and newsrooms to put residents at the center of local news, giving them a voice in the stories that affect their lives and communities. By combining library resources with newsroom expertise, we are creating a model for community-driven local news that can be replicated nationwide.”
