To fulfill their civic mission in today’s polarized America, libraries must turn outward and actively engage citizens by bringing them together and involving them in democratic discourse. In the digital age, this means moving beyond libraries as book warehouses—breaking through their “edifice complexes” by reimagining their roles from collection-focused to engagement-centered services. Working closely with a diversity of partners, libraries can help rekindle civic engagement, promote greater citizen participation, and foster community problem solving. But listening to communities, curating local information, and convening deliberative conversations necessitates the adoption of new competencies by librarians and citizens alike. As the nation’s great experiment in democracy comes under increasing threat, librarians must shift from a mission that not only informs but also engages constituents. In this role, libraries will be repositioned as the cornerstone of strong democracy, bringing people together to make tough choices and to bridge divides in their communities.

中文翻译：

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图书馆：重聚美国各州

为了在当今两极分化的美国履行其公民使命，图书馆必须外向并通过将公民聚在一起并使他们参与民主话语来积极参与公民的活动。在数字时代，这意味着要超越图书馆作为书库，通过将其角色从以馆藏为中心转变为以参与为中心的服务来突破其“大厦群”。图书馆与各种合作伙伴紧密合作，可以帮助重新启动公民参与，促进更大的公民参与并促进解决社区问题。但是，听取社区意见，整理当地信息并进行有针对性的对话有必要使图书馆员和公民都采用新的能力。随着国家在民主方面的伟大实验受到越来越多的威胁，图书馆员必​​须转变为不仅要告知而且要与三方成员互动的使命。在这个角色中，图书馆将被重新定位为强大民主的基石，使人们团结起来做出艰难的选择并弥合社区中的分歧。