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- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the author
- Reviews
Tactical urbanism, a global grassroots movement to improve cities by and for the people who live in them, has applications that are tailor made for libraries. Tactics like "start small," "value intangibles," and "bundle pragmatics with delight" can help libraries engage with their users while also solving immediate problems. Best of all, these projects can be lightweight, inexpensive, and quick to realize. Here, Munro offers plentiful examples from cities and libraries that show where tactical urbanism is happening now and making a difference. A quick-start guide that inspires and empowers libraries to launch their own tactical library projects, this book addresses such topics as
- useful urbanism concepts such as placemaking, pink zones, design thinking, and optical leverage;
- 12 steps to becoming a tactical library interventionist;
- 4 tactical urbanism case studies, such as the Astoria Scum River Bridge, Park(ing) Day, and Self-Gentrification, with discussion of why they matter to libraries;
- 5 library case studies, including Library Box, Boston Street Labs Storefront Library, and a "Dewey-Less" Library System, that demonstrate how libraries can apply tactical urbanism concepts;
- how cities and libraries can overlap initiatives, spotlighting real-world examples; and
- ways that library leaders can cultivate a tactics-friendly organization.
This book illustrates how tactical urbanism offers librarians the tools to deliver fast, inexpensive, and innovative projects with big impact.
Acknowledgments
Chapter One An Introduction to Tactical Urbanism
Chapter Two Tactical Urbanism Case Studies
Sidebar: Some Useful Urbanism Concepts
Chapter Three A Realistic Tactical Approach
Sidebar: How about Tactical Business Practices?
Chapter Four Library Case Studies
Chapter Five Library Meets City
Chapter Six Coming Back to Earth
Chapter Seven A Library Leader’s Guide to Building a Tactical Library
Chapter Eight Twelve Steps to Becoming a Tactical Library Interventionist
Sidebar: Tactical Follow-Ups: Where to Find More
Chapter Nine Summing Up
References
Index
"The case studies that Munro presents prove that this guerilla-style intervention in communities is achievable ... Munro's passion and excitement is palpable, immediately engaging readers who will want to explore tactical urbanism in their communities and libraries."
— VOYA
"This book is unique in its attention towards librarians' role in the movement ... Will inspire librarians and library staff to identify and solve problems."
— Library Journal
"Appealing and very workable for people who have a passion for promoting a healthy environment ... This work should be on the shelf of people all who want to improve their world because it gives great ways about how to do it."
— Journal of Hospital Librarianship
"Using the vocabulary of tactical urbanism and employing the experiences of city planners, librarians can easily appropriate these concepts in small scale revolutions to advance services to patrons and influence leadership in a community ... This is a practical manual filled with sensible ideas whether considering a new advocacy campaign or renovating an entire library space. The book is complete with a comprehensive list of references and helpful index."
— Catholic Library World