Beyond Books: How libraries can serve the public

The SNF Dialogues is set to host a public speaking event that underscores libraries’ vital role in promoting civic engagement and strengthening democracy, scheduled for April 30th at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in New York.

The discussion will be moderated by Anna-Kynthia Bousdoukou, Managing Director of the SNF Dialogues, and the main speakers will be Dr. Tony W. Marx, President and CEO of the New York Public Library (NYPL), and Dr. Ares Kalandides, Urban scholar and Academic Advisor at New York University, Berlin. An intervention is also going to be made by the architect of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), Francine Houben, Founding Partner and Creative Director of the Netherlands-based firm Mecanoo. Additionally, Ricci Yuhico, Managing Librarian for Young Adult Services at SNFL, and Kaelin Motsoasele (they/them), student and library page in the flagship Teen Center in the NYPL, are going to shed light on the services the library provides to teenagers and young adults. Last but not least, Kathleen Carrasco, Borough Director at the Bronx Neighborhood Library Networks in the NYPL, will talk about the valuable contribution of the library to the local community.

The opinions expressed by SNF Dialogues participants, whether officially representing institutions or organizations, or themselves alone, at events, in articles, or in other audiovisual media are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) or iMEdD. Speakers’ remarks are made freely, without prior guidance or intervention from SNF. The factual accuracy of statements made by participants not employed by SNF or its affiliates is solely the responsibility of the participants or the institutions or organizations they represent.