The Urban Libraries Council's (ULC) Virtual Summit: Empowering Libraries to Strengthen Civic Health and Democracy, held on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, brought together leaders and innovators from the public library sector to examine the essential role libraries play in fostering civic health and strengthening democracy. The event began with opening remarks from ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater, who emphasized how libraries serve as crucial platforms for civic engagement. From providing unbiased election information to fostering safe spaces for public discourse, libraries are not just information hubs—they are defenders of democracy. Throughout the two-hour virtual summit, our panelists explored how libraries lead efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation, promote race equity, and foster socioeconomic mixing. Discussions highlighted libraries’ vital role in combating misinformation, encouraging voter participation, and supporting marginalized communities.

Read on for a recap of the Virtual Summit sessions and access recordings of the discussions.

The Virtual Summit kicked off with a dynamic panel discussion featuring members of ULC’s Democracy Advisory Group, including Vickery Bowles, City Librarian of Toronto Public Library, Allison Grubbs, Director of Libraries at Broward County Library, and Michael Colford, Director of Library Services at Boston Public Library. Leander Croker, Deputy Director of Public Services and Strategic Initiatives at Greensboro Public Library, moderated the robust discussion. The panel explored best practices for community engagement and ensuring safety on Election Day, with our speakers sharing strategies for countering misinformation and fostering civic participation through library-led initiatives. The emphasis on libraries as trusted community spaces was a key takeaway, underscoring their integral role in promoting democratic participation.

Following our first panel, summit participants heard from Kristen Hansen, Executive Director of the Civic Health Project, an organization committed to supporting academics and practitioners working to reduce polarization and improve civic discourse in our communities, politics, and media. Kristen spoke about the need to build and bridge the gaps in our current atmosphere by rebuilding and reinvesting in our community institutions, addressing the deep divisions that have emerged along various fault lines, and renewing trust.

"In terms of belonging, there is incredible value in just creating opportunities, activities that happen to bring together people who are different. And if there's some intentionality around that, all the better. Think about what are those fault lines in my community. Are they primarily economic? Are they primarily racial? Are they primarily political? And if so, what would be some clever ways that I could get people to come to the library who happen to stand on both sides of that line?"
— Kristen Hansen, Executive Director of the Civic Health Project

Three simultaneous lightning talks led by civic health experts provided participants with concrete tools and strategies for enhancing democratic engagement.

John Sarrouf, Co-Executive Director of Essential Partners, introduced the Reflective Structured Dialogue method, which helps communities manage conflict. Sarrouf stressed the importance of meeting people where they are:

“We have to meet people where they are and offer opportunities that feel accessible and non-threatening. By introducing creative, inclusive spaces for dialogue, we can engage community members who otherwise might avoid conversations about democracy, conflict resolution, or civic engagement. These interactions foster trust and build a foundation for deeper engagement.”
— John Sarrouf, Co-Executive Director of Essential Partners

Myke Atkinson, Service Design Lead at Calgary Public Library, showcased the Plan My Vote tool, a groundbreaking initiative designed to make voter engagement more personal and proactive.

"Plan My Vote doesn’t just provide information; it actively encourages people to make a plan for voting—whether it’s finding out where their polling place is or setting a reminder for Election Day. Libraries can help bridge the gap between being informed and taking action.”
— Myke Atkinson, Service Design Lead, Calgary Public Library

Deanna Troust, founder of Truth in Common, discussed the Truth in Elections Initiative, developed in collaboration with Baltimore County Public Library. This initiative focuses on combating disinformation by offering media literacy workshops and resources aimed at making communities more resilient to the spread of false information.

"Libraries are trusted spaces where people come to seek truth, and that’s what makes them uniquely positioned to combat disinformation. By providing workshops and training, we ensure that our communities are better informed and less susceptible to manipulation during election seasons."
— Deanna Troust, Founder, Truth in Common

The summit concluded with a collaborative closing talk led by Lisa Kay Solomon, Designer in Residence at Stanford d.School, and Jeffrey Rogers, renowned facilitator and workshop designer. Solomon emphasized the role of design thinking in fostering civic engagement and preparing for the future:

“Design thinking isn’t just about creating products; it’s about creating systems that support meaningful civic engagement. When we apply design principles to democracy, we’re essentially designing for the future—we’re thinking about how to foster participation, inclusion, and innovation in ways that can scale across communities. Libraries are uniquely positioned to be centers of this kind of creative problem-solving. They can serve as hubs where citizens come together not only to access information but to co-create solutions to the civic challenges we face today and in the future.”
— Lisa Kay Solomon, Designer in Residence, Stanford d.School

As the virtual summit concluded, our speakers encouraged attendees to share the ways that empowering civic engagement is already happening in their communities. Various members shared ongoing work that highlights collaboration and participation within the community, making it clear that it is essential to bring people together and encourage them to work together. This creates a feeling of ownership and sustainability of that collaboration, which is what makes a good democracy as well.

To support libraries' ongoing civic engagement work, ULC has compiled a collection of links to various voter information and civic engagement resources that libraries can share with their patrons or post to their websites, which you can access below.