Comments on: Trust in Public Institutions http://scatteredleaves.wordpress.com/2007/10/13/trust-in-public-institutions/ Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:41:56 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Taylor Willingham http://scatteredleaves.wordpress.com/2007/10/13/trust-in-public-institutions/#comment-14 Taylor Willingham Sun, 14 Oct 2007 23:02:38 +0000 http://scatteredleaves.wordpress.com/2007/10/13/trust-in-public-institutions/#comment-14 Since I was only using this space to jot down notes, I didn't fully develop my point here. I appreciate your comment because you highlight points I need to clarify. I agree that the library should not be a conduit for force fed advertising. Nor is it the library's job to restore the publics faith in politicians. However, I have spent seventeen years working with libraries to conduct public policy forums that give citizens a voice in forming public policy and solving community problems. These activities result in civic agency: the capacity of human communities and groups to act cooperatively and collectively on common problems and challenges. (Boyte) I think that community engagement that leads to an authentic role for the public will result in better governance, greater accountability and sound policies that have been endorsed by a deliberative public. Helping a community to develop that civic capacity is an appropriate role for the library. Thanks for your comment! Since I was only using this space to jot down notes, I didn’t fully develop my point here. I appreciate your comment because you highlight points I need to clarify.

I agree that the library should not be a conduit for force fed advertising. Nor is it the library’s job to restore the publics faith in politicians.

However, I have spent seventeen years working with libraries to conduct public policy forums that give citizens a voice in forming public policy and solving community problems. These activities result in civic agency: the capacity of human communities and groups to act cooperatively and collectively on common problems and challenges. (Boyte)

I think that community engagement that leads to an authentic role for the public will result in better governance, greater accountability and sound policies that have been endorsed by a deliberative public.

Helping a community to develop that civic capacity is an appropriate role for the library.

Thanks for your comment!

]]> By: thedonofpages http://scatteredleaves.wordpress.com/2007/10/13/trust-in-public-institutions/#comment-13 thedonofpages Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:46:33 +0000 http://scatteredleaves.wordpress.com/2007/10/13/trust-in-public-institutions/#comment-13 It isn't the library's job to save the government, or run for office, or balance the government's budget. Politics is about attracting cameras, promising a chicken in every pot, and bringing home the bacon while decrying the pork barrel spending. Libraries can offer forums and debates of candidates, information on local problems, and support for other parts of city or county government. We must be a place where people can find out information, not another conduit for force fed advertising. If the politicians want the faith of the public, they must earn it, we can't give them ours. It isn’t the library’s job to save the government, or run for office, or balance the government’s budget. Politics is about attracting cameras, promising a chicken in every pot, and bringing home the bacon while decrying the pork barrel spending. Libraries can offer forums and debates of candidates, information on local problems, and support for other parts of city or county government. We must be a place where people can find out information, not another conduit for force fed advertising. If the politicians want the faith of the public, they must earn it, we can’t give them ours.

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