Book to Action

Book to Action encourages libraries to engage with community members and partners to provide book-themed programming and related opportunities for lifelong learning. Book to Action initiatives tackle important issues in the community and encourage reading, community discussion, and action through a flexible series of events.Book to Action projects aim to be responsive to community needs and aspirations, with the goal of increasing civic engagement, community connections, and volunteerism, while also encouraging reading and conversation around important community topics.

Target Audience: Adults and intergenerational groups, with a focus on underserved, marginalized populations that are not currently engaged with the library, are the primary audience for Book to Action. Accompanying programming that targets all community members of all ages is also strongly encouraged.

Expected Outcomes: Participants report increased involvement in learning opportunities, increased knowledge of the theme or issue addressed, and increased connection through the library and community partners. Library staff report increased engagement with community partners and value opportunities to develop essential project management and community engagement skills.

Partnerships: Formal community partnerships and informal community connections are strongly encouraged and will vary by title selection and theme. Community partners and/or connections will often have a built-in volunteer base and should be engaged at every step of the program design process. Cross-discipline connections, along with an intentional focus on reaching multigenerational and diverse groups, are strongly encouraged.

Budget Considerations

  • Staff time (Be sure to engage Youth Services, Teen Services, and Adult Services staff, along with Literacy staff and volunteers, and Marketing and Outreach teams)
  • Quantity and availability of Book to Action titles, in both print and e-book versions (consider if the title is widely available in paperback, audio, e-book and additional languages for the widest reach; think about including connections to picture books and kid-friendly books that connection to the Book to Action theme)
  • Marketing materials (Be sure to set aside a budget for materials to market the Book to Action series)
  • Speaker fees and/or author fees (Be sure to price out the author or an alternate local speaker or panel)

Implementation Steps

  • Co-design your project with your community: Identify potential participants, focusing on reaching people not currently visiting the library, and gauge interest in the project. Meet with them to discuss the program. Engage them in envisioning the project, planning how to proceed, what activities will take place, and how community members will be invited and encouraged to attend.
  • Choose a Book to Action title: When selecting a title, be sure to consider community input and existing needs or aspirations that the Book to Action project can help to address.
  • Research & Know the “Why”: Before planning specific programs, have a clearly defined community needs statement and be able to explain the purpose and intention of the project to potential partners, community members, and library staff.
  • Find a Community Partner or Partners: Listen and involve community partner(s) in designing an engaging series of events, including a community service project or civic engagement activity. Be clear about roles and expectations so all parties involved understand the terms of the collaboration.
  • Design a Series: Programs should be a series (small or large) of events that encourages civic engagement: book discussions, author or expert talks, panel discussions, community conversations, workshops, demos, documentary screenings, and a community service project or civic engagement activity or activities. Encourage community members to experience the full impact of the series by participating as much as possible. If a “One Community, One Book” program already exists, consider adding an “action” component. Book to Action can be a series of learning and discovery that culminates, includes, or kicks off with, an action or volunteer event.
  • Invite the Author or Speaker: If applicable (author is living and available) consider booking the author of the selected Book to Action title. If that is not an option, work with community partner(s) to form a panel or create a speaker series instead.
  • Encourage Diverse Opinions and Respectful Dialogue: When focusing on a book that highlights a social issue, expect that people won’t always agree with the author or with each other. Facilitate discussions that give people permission to respectfully disagree with each other. Set ground rules. Emphasize the library’s role as a facilitator and connector. Get help from community partners or a professional moderator.
  • Outreach & Marketing are Key: Outreach, partnerships, and marketing are essential to the success of any Book to Action series. Write a press release. Make follow-up calls or emails. Offer to write an article (which media outlets might publish directly) and invite media to events. Consult the Public Relations or Communications Officer at the library or city/county system level. Use #BookToAction as the official hashtag (and search social media for prior examples).
  • Document, Evaluate and Share: For each Book to Action event provide surveys with pens/pencils to participants and/or hand the participants a card with the library’s Book to Action SurveyMonkey link or QR code. For virtual events, share the SurveyMonkey link with an invitation to provide feedback. Debrief with staff and volunteers to discuss what went well, and what needs additional supports, and be sure to adjust the next program accordingly. Document events with photos, video, and social media posts. Invite community members and partners to talk about their Book to Action experience and tag all social media posts with #BooktoAction.

Sample Program

Sample: Monrovia Public Library 2021 Book to Action

Title: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Community Partners: City of Monrovia Hillside Wilderness Preserve Team, Arlington Garden in Pasadena

The Monrovia Public Library’s 2021 Book to Action focused on the theme of sustainability, specifically the topics of Indigenous land stewardship practices and California wildfires, by reading Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. Virtual programs included a book discussion, nature workshops, documentary screenings and live interviews with local experts on California native plants, regenerative farming, composting, the 2020 Bobcat Fire, and general fire safety. Monrovia aimed to present their community with everyday actions they can take to help prevent wildfires by connecting with nature and being good citizens of our one and only Planet Earth.

Additional Outputs: Monrovia Public Library’s Book to Action 2021 YouTube Playlist. Enjoy all of the interviews and programs from Monrovia Public Library’s Book to Action program!

What have other libraries done?

  1. Anaheim Public Library: It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand by Megan Devine (adults), Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder (teens), and Where Do They Go by Julia Alvarez (kids)
  2. Benicia Public Library: Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankine
  3. Butte County Library: The Bob Ross Cookbook: Happy Little Recipes for Family and Friends by R. Pearlman
  4. Daly City Public Library: Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, Too by Carol Novello
  5. Folsom Public Library: The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan: Discover the Joy of Spending Less, Sharing More, and Living Generously by Liesl Clark and Rebecca Rockefeller
  6. Lake County Library: The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner
  7. Mendocino County Library: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
  8. Pasadena Public Library: Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara
  9. Santa Barbara Public Library: Island Visions by Jacob Seigel Brielle and Isaac Seigel-Boettner
  10. Santa Cruz Public Libraries: Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America by Conor Dougherty
  11. Santa Maria Public Library: True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News by Cindy L. Otis
  12. Solano County Library: The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee (teens, adults) and Front Desk by Kelly Yang (kids)