“Social infrastructure provides the setting and context for social participation,” writes NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg in his book Palaces for the People. “And the library is among the most critical forms of social infrastructure that we have.” 

In addition to being considered one of the most trustworthy institutions in our increasingly polarized communities, the American public library system has assumed the role of a makeshift community center in many cities. Library programming brings people together from all walks of life and fills gaps in our social safety net, such as a daytime shelter, job training, and language classes among many other services. Some libraries have even turned themselves inside out, using a placemaking approach to activate their grounds and the surrounding neighborhood—especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Fulton County Library System (FCLS) in Atlanta, Georgia is no exception. We have had the pleasure of working with the dedicated FCLS staff over the past year on All Access Library: Moving Communities Forward, a mobile library environment created with support from 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. The FCLS oversees 34 branches, including one of the country’s foremost research libraries on African American history. Like many of its peer systems, the FCLS provides a wide range of services and programs that aim to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities to its community of patrons.

With the reopening of the Central Branch last month after a decade-long planning and renovation process, we decided it was a good time to catch up with one of our FCLS collaborators on the All Access Library project, Director of Marketing and Public Relations Claudia Strange. We picked her brain about how the library has met the challenge of continuing to serve their 800,000+ patrons throughout the pandemic, the role of placemaking in the future of libraries, and more.

Project for Public Spaces (PPS): What challenges has FCLS faced during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Claudia Strange (CS): As much of the country continues to adapt to the new normal of operations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the library is rethinking how we provide services to the public. Before 2020, library services centered around large gatherings of patrons of all ages for storytimes, book clubs, guest performers, author talks and more, all in relatively small spaces. While many of our patrons are beginning to feel comfortable visiting us in person, many others are still not comfortable gathering with the community indoors.‍

PPS: How is the FCLS serving patrons during this time?

CS: We greatly increased our collection of e-books as well as increased access to digital movies, music, and magazines. We also started offering a virtual book discussion group, staff reading picks, and a staff reading suggestion service, so people could still receive book ideas from a librarian!

We’ve also launched other virtual programming including weekly storytimes for children, craft programs for children and adults, and book readings for adults. The library staff had to pivot, but now we have a wonderful collection of online content that everyone can access from home.‍

PPS: How has your work with PPS and CloroxPro helped to address these challenges?

CS: Our work with PPS and CloroxPro is instrumental for engaging patrons with library services in an outdoor setting. Our ability to share the library’s many resources in an environment where those who prefer to gather outdoors can feel more at ease will be imperative to our success. 

When we can finally offer our full range of programming again, this outdoor library space will make a great addition by illustrating that we can offer the same types of services but in a different way.

‍PPS: How do you see the role of libraries evolving in the future?

CS: The role of a library has already evolved so much from the quiet, book-providing space people associate with a typical library. Our libraries have become meeting places for communities, learning hubs for patrons of all ages, and a resource for those looking for financial assistance, workforce training, and so much more. Partnerships like the one with CloroxPro will allow us to expand the services we offer our patrons—services beyond lending books that can also help guide our mission.

We can’t wait for the launch of the All Access Library! As we continue to navigate life’s new normal, this new outdoor library environment will offer a new tool for the FCLS to help it safely re-embrace its role as in-person social infrastructure. Watch for the official opening in spring 2022!