The Fulton County Library System (FCLS) in Atlanta, Georgia is a network of public libraries that serves as a center for information while providing diverse programming to support and meet the needs of a wide array of people—including children, low-income families, elderly, immigrants, and those who suffer from mental illness. To meet the FCLS’ needs, Project for Public Spaces partnered with CloroxPro, a company dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of communities that offers some of the industry’s most recognized and trusted brand names for commercial cleaning, including its Clorox Healthcare products for healthcare facilities. Through this partnership, the FCLS was excited to introduce library services to their community in unexpected places through a mobile library environment.

“Most people have a pretty typical idea of libraries in their head—books and storytimes,” said FCLS Peachtree Branch Manager, Amanda Densmore. “By introducing new library resources in this way, our community can begin to think of libraries differently, and hopefully show them there is something for everyone at the library!”

Creatively Serving Patrons While Under Renovation

Over a decade ago, constituents of Fulton County voted to pass a referendum that would greatly enhance the public library system with capital improvements and infrastructure. The second phase, which is currently underway, includes 26 renovations and one new construction project. While this is great news, it also meant many branches, including the Central Library, were temporarily closed for over a year. As a result, it became more crucial than ever for the library system to discover alternative ways to reach the community it serves.

Co-Creating a Mobile Library Environment

Building upon Project for Public Spaces’ previous work with libraries, we knew from the start that we wanted to work alongside the FCLS to bring new programming capacity to the public space outside three library branches: Central, Metropolitan, and Southeast. The focus of the library project and programming was developed in a placemaking engagement with the FCLS and its communities, which sought to fulfill the unique needs of each location. 

To kick off the project, representatives from Project for Public Spaces and CloroxPro traveled to Atlanta while it was safe to do so in January 2020 to meet with FCLS staff for an initial brainstorming session. Attendees included the heads of youth outreach and services, reference, volunteer services, marketing, and community engagement, as well as administrators from Central, Metropolitan, and Southeast libraries. Together, we collaborated on the need for a mobile library environment that would do more than simply store supplies. 

These discussions formed the core ideas around audience and programming needs that the subsequent larger, branch-specific focus group meetings and workshops refined in February 2020. To further inform our approach, FCLS launched pop-up dot board interactions in library lobbies, public parks, and the Children's Museum of Atlanta, as well as an online community survey to secure firsthand reactions from library patrons. After receiving 200 ideas from them, it became clear that our programming and physical improvements would focus on improving health, well-being, social connections, and economic opportunities in the neighborhoods of each branch. 

Densmore, for one, was proud that “this project would allow the library to extend its reach in the community, meet people where they are, and where they want to share time with their neighbors.” To reflect this mission to broaden access, the team decided to call the project the “All Access Library: Moving Communities Forward.”

Our community engagement process informed how we planned to spend a $70,000 grant from CloroxPro. As part of CloroxPro’s ongoing partnership with Project for Public Spaces, this grant would go towards helping to create spaces and programs where people can share experiences and build relationships to improve well-being, public health, social connections, and economic opportunity within their local community. For the FCLS, this money will be used to provide programming and a suite of physical amenities for the All Access Library environment including a variety of seating and storage elements, an Imagination Playground set, custom banners and pop-up tents, unique signage, and a specially designed interaction idea box.

"We know that public health is not just about preventing illnesses, but also involves protecting and improving the health of people and their communities,” says Amy Harmon, Director of Brand Engagement at CloroxPro. “That is why we are proud to partner with Project for Public Spaces as part of our ongoing efforts to foster connections, enable community and protect public health."

All Access Library: Launching Spring 2022

Fast forward to today, where the Central Library renovations are complete and the All Access Library mobile environment is set to launch in the spring of 2022. In these uncertain times, it gives us hope to see projects like this moving forward. Given the importance of FCLS for lower income families and equitable access to opportunities, we’re thrilled to be working with their team and are grateful for the funding from CloroxPro to extend a beloved community resource outdoors.