Community Information Programs

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Community Information Programs

• John McDonald
• Community Information Program
• Peninsula Library System
• [phone] / mcdonald_at_plsinfo.org

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Overview

• I. Definitions
• II. What is Information and Referral?
• III. What is Community Information?
• IV. Community Information Program

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I. Definitions

• Community Any geographic community or
  neighborhood is made up of smaller groups defined
  by social or economic factors, race, religion,
  employment, etc. Each with its own informal
  information networks that were created without
  the help of libraries
• Information Information is created, shared, and
  used by two or more persons acting together
• Community Information the adhesive that binds
  disparate elements together to form a community.
  Just as some adhesives need a catalyst to form a
  bond, CI performs that function.

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II. What is Information and Referral?

• Government
• 1961 - Community Health Services and Facilities
  Act
• 1965 Title 3 and Title 4 of Older American Act
• 1966 Neighborhood Pilot Centers
• 1967 Rumor Control Centers
• 1970 Community Information Centres A Proposal
  for Canada in the 1970s
• Private
• National Easter Seal Society
• United Way of America

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II. What is Information and Referral?

• Information/Referral
• Problem identification
• Information giving (simple and complex)
• Advice
• Referral
• Escort
• Follow up
• Counseling
• Advocacy

• Library Reference
• Finding information for user
• Assisting user to find information
• Library instruction
• Aiding user to choose material

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III. What is Community Information?

• Public Libraries
• Public Information Center (PIC)
• Enoch Free Pratt Library, Baltimore, MD
• 1970
• Neighborhood Information Center Project (NIC)
• Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Queens
  (NYC)
• 1972-1975

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III. What is Community Information?

• Human Services information
• Local information
• Citizen Action or Public Policy

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III. What is Community Information?

• Barriers
• Economic
• Cognitive
• Psychological
• Technological

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Toronto Public Library
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211Toronto.ca
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New York Public Library
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San Francisco Public Library
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Community Information Program
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Community Information ProgramSample Record
Tobacco Prevention Program
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Community Information

• John McDonald
• Database Manager
• Community Information Program
• Peninsula Library System
• San Mateo, CA
• mcdonald_at_plsinfo.org
• [phone]