4 Principles of Community-Based Summers
The Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) framework provides guidance for library staff on how to engage with all community members to deepen understanding of lived experiences and design services that have impact. It challenges traditional metrics of success and encourages library staff to reimagine roles and ensure that all aspects of their practices align with community-based services.
The 4 Principles of Community-Based Summers are the foundation of the BCBS framework. Each principle is integral to building community-based practices. Each principle is presented with a brief overview and a series of reflection questions. Questions are intended to be explored with colleagues, community members, and vested partners. It will take time to integrate all these ideas into summer services.
Begin with the 4 Principles of Community-Based Summers below.
Center Community
When libraries prioritize authentic relationships, they create summer services that reflect community strengths and challenges. It’s about ensuring that the voices of all people are front and center in all aspects of planning and implementation. Transactions and surface level collaborations are not enough — we need to go deeper and focus on building transformational relationships.
Center Community by asking: “How do we…”
- Gather, analyze, and use input from all community members?
- Align decisions with community strengths and challenges?
- Avoid making assumptions by identifying datasets that minimize bias?
- Ensure voices of all community members are heard and included in decisions?
- Identify community members who can help to connect with all community members?
- Shift from one-time interactions to building ongoing relationships with all community members?
- Leverage community relationships in the design and implementation of summer services?
- Identify and break down external community barriers that impact the design and implementation of community-based summer services.
Reflect Continuously
When library staff make reflection a regular habit, they’re better equipped to be responsive to what communities need. Library staff that regularly take time to reflect are ready to spot opportunities for improvement. Have library staff step back and reflect on current community-based practices. They can see where changes are needed to better serve all communities.
Reflect Continuously by asking: “How do we…”
- Ensure ongoing reflection, learning and iteration is valued and part of library culture?
- Spend time reflecting on personal lived experiences and how they impact work within the library and with all communities?
- Take time to reflect on summer services and determine what changes should be made and by whom?
- Use what’s learned from reflection to create community-based summer service practices?
- Continuously ask if library services are addressing the needs and strengths of all communities?
- Talk with others about what we are learning through reflection?
- Rethink summer service traditions to better serve all community members?
- Review, analyze, and integrate data to ensure summer services and practices are community-based.
Rethink Internal Systems
When libraries re-imagine systems, they empower staff to make a difference in local communities. It’s not about the library — it’s about putting the community’s strengths and challenges front and center. System change requires rethinking job descriptions and staffing models so staff can foster relationships outside of the building. By prioritizing hiring locally, staff who are already part of the community are empowered to bring their knowledge, connections, and understanding to the work. Rethinking systems requires less of a focus on traditional metrics (how many people come through the doors, or circulation numbers) and instead focuses on outcomes and asking, “Are we making a difference in our community?”
Rethink Internal Systems by asking: “How do we…”
- Ensure job descriptions and staffing models support community-based summer services to provide staff with opportunities to foster relationships outside of the building?
- Design recruitment and hiring practices that focus on hiring underserved community members?
- Identify and break down internal barriers in summer service planning and design by including input from all staff levels and departments?
- Define the why for summer services to ensure it aligns with the needs and aspirations of all community members?
- Communicate the why for summer services to colleagues, leaders, decision-makers, community members, and vested partners?
- Show commitment to achieving the why with all community members?
- Promote the idea of rethinking summer services as a way to build community-based practices, both in the library and in the community?
Foster a Culture of Learning
Libraries focused on community-based summers create an organizational culture where staff have the capacity to learn and implement new things. This requires risk-taking, agility, and flexibility. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and openness to change, library staff create summer services, unbound by tradition and make a difference for local communities.
Foster a Culture of Learning by asking: “How do we…”
- Learn about, implement, and sustain community-based practices?
- Investigate community-based practices in other settings to help make local improvements?
- Help colleagues and partners understand the design and implementation of community-based summer services?
- Integrate flexibility as we build community-based practices?
- Take risks and try new things?
- Build staffing that reflects your community?
- Learn to support the whole community?