Exercises and Assignments

Exercises:

Chapter 5: Our Communities. 

Where do adults in your neighborhood work? If they have a long commute into the city, this suggests a need the library can fill: audiobooks for learning and enjoyment. If they stay in the local area, perhaps there's an opportunity to work with local businesses. Where do adults go in their free time? Do you find them at church? In the bookstore? At home with their families? Regardless of what they do, there are many opportunities to serve those people, if you know what their needs are. 

Chapter 6: Financing Public Libraries

Chapter 7: The Public Library Staff

Assignments:

History Paper:

During weeks 2 and 3 you will learn about the history of public libraries in the United States. Was there something that surprised you or challenged you in the assigned readings? Is there something that you want to learn more about? This assignment requires you to dig a little deeper into an idea, event, or concept that surprised, intrigued, or challenged you. Consult the references in the readings or use another method of 'digging', finding at least three additional peer-reviewed articles or a scholarly book about a subject or idea that you feel merits further exploration. Your paper should be 1500 words, give or take 200 (so between 1300 and 1700 words).

Looking for more inspiration? You might find some in one of these sources: