One of Eight Libraries Selected to Create a Model for Local News Collaboration
ANNAPOLIS – Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of eight public libraries nationwide for a program connecting public libraries with local news organizations.
The Libraries and Local News Initiative, led by More Perfect, an American alliance dedicated to revitalizing democracy, and the Urban Libraries Council (ULC), an organization dedicated to strengthening libraries as dynamic civic institutions, will work to put community members at the center of local journalism, creating opportunities for residents to shape the stories and information in their communities.
“We are honored to be a part of a project that gives a voice to members of our community and highlights the importance of storytelling,” said AACPL CEO Skip Auld. “This program reinforces the library’s role as a community connector, helping to preserve history and shape the future of our county through partnership and engagement.”
The project works to leverage public libraries’ role as one of the most trusted, low-barrier and welcoming civic spaces in American life to foster community engagement and well-being. Each library will participate in trainings and peer problem-solving focused on increasing access to and trust in reliable local information, strengthening community voices and narratives in local storytelling and supporting civic dialogue.
“Libraries and newsrooms share a central civic function: helping residents understand their communities, navigate public systems and participate in local democracy,” said Shamichael Hallman, Senior Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at the Urban Libraries Council. “This pilot program teams local libraries and newsrooms to put residents at the center of local news, giving them a voice in the stories that affect their lives and communities. By combining library resources with newsroom expertise, we are creating a model for community-driven local news that can be replicated nationwide.”
The participating libraries, all members of ULC, are:
- Alameda County Library (CA)
- Allen County Public Library (IN)
- Anne Arundel County Public Library (MD)
- Clayton County Library System (GA)
- Kalamazoo Public Library (MI)
- Pima County Public Library (AZ)
- Sacramento Public Library (CA)
- Saint Paul Public Library (MN)
“Public libraries and local newsrooms are two vital pillars of civic life, and we are proud of the progress this program has already made in bringing them together,” said John Bridgeland, Founder and CEO of More Perfect.“By partnering these eight libraries with local news organizations, we are ensuring that civic leaders become active shapers of the stories that define their communities. We believe this model will serve as a blueprint for renewing civic life across the nation.”
Brooks Rainwater, President & CEO of the Urban Libraries Council, added, “This initiative demonstrates the transformative power of libraries as civic conveners. By connecting libraries with local newsrooms and supporting collaborative, community-driven journalism, we are equipping residents with the tools to engage meaningfully in their communities, combat misinformation, and build stronger, more informed neighborhoods. We are excited with the diversity of ULC members featured, and proud to partner with More Perfect to pilot this innovative approach to civic engagement.”
Notably, the work will be advised by two veterans of the news industry, Samantha Ragland, Senior Vice President at American Press Institute, an experienced journalist, educator and digital strategist with more than fourteen years of experience including at USA Today, and Terry Parris, Jr., a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow and founder of the Library Newsroom Project with over 15 years of experience creating innovative, community-driven storytelling initiatives, including as Public Square editor for Headway, an initiative of the New York Times.
