Beyond Books: How libraries can serve the public
Anna-Kynthia Bousdoukou
In collaboration with The New York Public Library
Event Location
The SNF Dialogues is set to host a public speaking event that underscores libraries’ vital role in promoting civic engagement and strengthening democracy, scheduled for April 30th at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in New York.
Speakers
The discussion will be moderated by Anna-Kynthia Bousdoukou, Managing Director of the SNF Dialogues, and the main speakers will be Dr. Tony W. Marx, President and CEO of the New York Public Library (NYPL), and Dr. Ares Kalandides, Urban scholar and Academic Advisor at New York University, Berlin. An intervention is also going to be made by the architect of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), Francine Houben, Founding Partner and Creative Director of the Netherlands-based firm Mecanoo. Additionally, Ricci Yuhico, Managing Librarian for Young Adult Services at SNFL, and Kaelin Motsoasele (they/them), student and library page in the flagship Teen Center in the NYPL, are going to shed light on the services the library provides to teenagers and young adults. Last but not least, Kathleen Carrasco, Borough Director at the Bronx Neighborhood Library Networks in the NYPL, will talk about the valuable contribution of the library to the local community.
Event Details
Marking the initiative's first U.S. event and a significant expansion of its outreach, this session underscores libraries' pivotal role as safe spaces that serve the public. As foundational pillars for democratic societies, libraries foster cultural preservation, enable community participation, and, therefore, promote civic engagement. Their architectural design, as well as the advent of technology and the transformation of their traditional role, are topics to be included in the discussion, too.
At the heart of the SNF Dialogues event lies the launch of a four-part podcast series, "Beyond Books: The Many Lives of Libraries," hosted by Dr. Ares Kalandides. It will be a deep dive into how libraries around the world have navigated the challenges posed by technological innovation and changes in urban settings. The podcast series will be available right after the event at the SNF Dialogues platform.