450CIL: What deliberative forum activities are taking place at Greensboro Public Library for Spring 2003?
Steve McCann
(smccann@uiuc.edu)
(ready to use)
ASK
Subject Areas
Grade Levels
Unit Keywords
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deliberative, forum, lis, 450, cil, 450cil, lis450cil, taylor, willingham, ann, bishop, case, study, profile, |
Rationale of the Unit
| Greensboro is conducting some innovative activities in the community. This unit will briefly discuss what forums are being investigated; what's been accomplished so far; what are the next steps planned; what partners are involved, and how they were brought together; what challenges the library is facing in implementing deliberative forums; and what the benefits are to the library and to the community. |
Background and Resources
First, visit the Greensboro Public Library website.
Greensboro Public library, located in Greensboro, North Carolina, had 9 branches of which 2 have been recently closed due to budget cuts. You can see location information here.
I am really interested in the whole forum process, and how to ensure that the public is truly represented and involved in the discussions. One example of dialogue that went on at Greensboro can be found in a document entitled, Action Greensboro Groundbreakers meeting
at Downtown Marriott.
I recently contacted Steve Summerford, but was unable to secure a time to chat with him this week. We will be meeting next week. The results of the interview will be posted to this inquiry unit.
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Activities and Open-ended problems
It appears a website has been created to keep the public aware of the public forums available in the area. It is called Action Greensboro.
There seemed to be no activities planned in January or March, but one is planned in February.
Another advantage to this site is the convenience of forum registration. One question I'll have to ask Steve is about alternate means of communication. How easy it is to register is a great feature, but what if a community member is a technology "have-not." The notion of connecting community members could, in turn, isolate some of the very people they're trying to connect. |
Dialogues, Discussions, and Presentations
In the fall of 2002, the library sponsored a program called "One City, One Book," a program to encourage the entire city to read the same book. The book that was selected was, "A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest J. Gaines. Steve said that the idea was advertised all over the city and published in the newspaper. Various forums were sponsored with several of the forums specializing in different topics focused upon in the novel. The emphasis in the forums was not to discuss the literary style or character plot, etc. of the novel. (i.e., It was not to be discussed in a university English class style.)
Steve mentioned that the novel was set in 1947 Louisiana, and in a provocative and an almost “in-your-face” attitude, discusses the issues surrounding racism, the history of segregation, how it influences us today, and the death penalty. (In the book, an African-American man is wrongly convicted of a murder and is executed; he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.) This was probably a good idea, because it forces people almost to take issue with or to take sides upon specific questions. The whole purpose of the forums was to produce thought provoking discussion around topics. I think the library wanted to avoid the common myths that “Racism isn’t a problem here.” or, “That’s the past. All is well now.”
A number of various activities were conducted. There were plays, forums, and even the author was invited in to discuss the novel. A local community program at the historical museum displayed what was happening during the time period. The number of people who showed up for the forums was astounding. Over 12,000 people came out to talk about the book. How was the accomplished? First, 125 facilitators were put through 6 hours of vigorous training. Between 200 and 250 forums were conducted. The facilitators concentrated on asking difficult questions. Because of this, they were careful to know how to handle comments that might be stereotypical from both whites and African-American attendees. Another focus of the groups was to aim for diversity in race of the members which attended.
In addition to the forums, there were also 3 scheduled lectures that included a question and answer format at the end. A community debate on the death penalty discussed how it is relevant today.
After these were conducted, the library encouraged other people in the community to sponsor their own events. Many times, these happened and were more open and informal. Many companies (over 75) and churches grabbed hold of it and ran with it. Various white and African-American churches conducted joint Sunday school classes in their churches to discuss the issues. American Express (which has a big headquarters in the city) hopped on board. Their head of diversity got the company to participate to help build a sense of community and diversity awareness strategy. After purchasing several hundred copies of the book and encouraging employees to read it, over a 3-day period, workers were given time off to participate in the discussions in the company (and were paid to go!) A local private college that conducts a program where students provide hot meals to the local elderly population had the college students read the novel to these people and discuss the various topics with them. These “official” activities ended on November 30, 2002, but even today, informal activities are being conducted. |
Assessment, Related Questions, and Story of the Unit
Today, over 1000 evaluations are being reviewed. Most of them are favorable! Of the negative, members said they liked the idea of all reading the same book, but they were looking forward to reading a novel that caused them to have warm fuzzy feelings but instead, found themselves reading a book that was an “in-your-face” type that reminded them of division. The library’s goal was to confront and bring healing, so although some disagreed with the book, the library would not have changed the book and thought it accomplished its purpose.
Steve says that one of the greatest effects of the program (other than the positive effects of the discussions) was the fact that the library had a change of perception in the eye of the public. Now, the library is being seen as a community leader and one that brings people together to discuss the relevant issues that effect us today. |
Credits & Acknowledgements
| I would like to thank Steve Summerford from the Greensboro Public Library for taking time to discuss the activities conducted in his area. |
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