ABSTRACT
This chapter considers how to place community needs at the centre of public library strategy, structures, systems and organizational culture. It argues that social exclusion needs to be placed at the heart of the public library service to ensure that adequate resources are provided to meet community needs. The starting point for mainstreaming social exclusion is the library strategy because this in turn informs policies and resource allocation. While Working Together Project (WTP) was considered a pilot project with finite timeline, project funders, participating library systems and other library systems observing the project quickly became aware of the potential systemic impact that project learnings would have on library services. In Halifax, a Community Development Manager was hired to assist in systemic integration of community-led approach in branches and service areas. Service structures should also be aligned with the social exclusion strategy to ensure that the right services are in the right places and at right times to meet community needs.
