At the Arlington Hills Branch in St. Paul, children's story time coincides with job search counseling and support for parents. Participation in National and Local Civic Initiatives Public libraries participate in national and local civic initiatives. Seventy percent of libraries report that their communities are engaged in initiatives related to downtown development, workforce development and youth. Libraries report high levels of participation in these initiatives, as well as in initiatives to remedy the digital divide and promote public safety in neighborhoods. Other public libraries host health web sites, support flu shot immunization drives, and coordinate library outreach visits to new parents with visiting nurses.
Several communities are co-locating library and health clinic facilities.
Some libraries have even moved beyond traditional organizational boundaries to create new community collaboratives. As urban public libraries build relationships, experience and expertise in economic development, they are improving the economic well-being of cities. Library building projects are sparking physical investment beyond the library walls, bringing life to downtowns and stability to neighborhoods. Partnerships for services related to workforce development, small business and support to children, youth and families are powerful examples of the ways libraries contribute to the human side of economic development. Given the interdependent relationships between physical and human development, and the particular infrastructure and skills needed to thrive in the new economy, public libraries are allies and resources for dynamic local economies.