With multiple building projects running concurrently, how will we know if we are authentically engaging the community in the building and service design of each library? Each project deserves a bespoke approach to recognize current community dynamics, reckon with the past, hold a high level of accountability to the community, and imagine a different future for public libraries in Multnomah County. These values provide an overarching structure to consider, review and align across all nine projects.
Our community engagement is a direct reflection of our project principles.
- Equitable - prioritizes listening and amplifying the voices of underserved communities
- Transparent - clearly identifies what is fixed, what is flexible, and where community can have impact and the outcomes of that input
- Just - understands and acknowledges the past and creates a different future
- Accessible - meets the community where they are, variety of methods of participation, culturally relevant and responsive
- Informed - is informed by research, review and recognition of what has already been asked of communities and what’s already been shared
- Flexible - asks for input on process, listens to feedback, is open to change and not sticking with a singular approach to engaging the community