The Action Guide

To help library and community leaders use the report, Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries, the Aspen Institute created the Action Guide for Re-Envisioning Your Public Library, version 2.0 a set of resources for convening a community dialogue and helping communities take action to re-envision their own public library.

The Action Guide, Version 2.0. is the newest version of the Action Guide. The content has been abridged and reorganized into three main modules—a Learning Pathway, Leading Pathway and Implementing Pathway—to enable library and community professionals to commit to focusing on a specific set of objectives—one pathway at a time. It contains activities and worksheets for evaluating the current level of activity and support for the library, determining goals and action steps, and planning and convening a community dialogue.

The Facilitator’s Guide is designed for library staff or facilitators who will use the Aspen Institute report, Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries, and its companion, Action Guide for Re-Envisioning Your Public Library, Version 2.0. as the framework for community engagement and strategic planning.

The Aspen Institute extends its gratitude to users of the original Guide who provided feedback and suggestions for revising the original Action Guide and increase its value as a tool to help libraries in developing their own community dialogues and increasing community engagement.