Public engagement, alternatively referred to as civic, or community engagement, consists of those activities and services which the Library pursues to actively engage its user communities with the University Library's unique collections, resources, and expertise. Public engagement forges new alliances and extends relationships to the Library’s ever more diverse user communities. For the University Library, public engagement solidifies these communities’ sense of involvement in, and ownership of, the resources the University Library acquires, preserves, and makes available. Through public engagement the Library’s unique collections, resources, and expert knowledge serve to further the universal goals of greater cultural awareness, civic responsibility, and lifelong learning.
In making a commitment to public engagement, the Library sponsors and supports the formation of mission-centered partnerships across library types and with civic and community organizations, and with professional communities at the local, state, regional, national, and international level. The Library’s Public Engagement Working Group is charged by the Advisory Committee to the Associate University Librarian for Services to promote library activities that support the public engagement mission of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Chair of the Public Engagement Working Group serves as an ex officio member of the Advisory Committee to the Associate University Librarian for Services.
This Web site connects the University Library's user and staff communities with current and upcoming public engagement programs. It furthermore provides references to resource tools that may be used to help create further cooperative programs.
To contact the Public Engagement Working Group, please E-mail the current chair: Scott Schwartz
Sousa Archives & Center for American Music
University LibraryFor comments on this page contact: Gateway Conversion
Last modified by: Dennis Sears on 9/10/10
