From Community Engagement to Community Resilience: The Evolving Role of Public Libraries

ABSTRACTThis study examines the role of public libraries in promoting community resilience and sustainability during times of crisis. It fills a research gap by investigating the relationship between library services, community engagement, and long-term resilience within the context of disaster recovery. Through a comprehensive analysis of literature and a case study of Kaohsiung Public Library in Taiwan, the study establishes a robust association between libraries and community resilience. The study emphasizes the importance of public libraries as agents of community resilience and advocates for a comprehensive approach to address community needs during crises.KEYWORDS: Community resiliencecommunity engagementpublic library Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan [MOST 111-2410-H-004 -040 -MY2].Notes on contributorsPei-Chun LeeDr. Pei-Chun Lee holds an MBA degree in Technology and Innovation Management, as well as a Ph.D. degree in Science Policy and Innovation Studies, both earned from the Graduate Institute of Technology and Innovation Management at National Chengchi University in 2005 and 2011, respectively. Presently, she serves as an Associate Professor within the Graduate Institute of Library, Information, and Archival Studies at National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Prior to her academic career, Dr. Lee amassed a decade of experience as an associate researcher at the National Applied Research Laboratories in Taiwan. During this period, she deeply engaged in the formulation and execution of science and technology policy, contributing extensively to policy planning endeavors. This substantial background underscores her profound understanding of the intricacies of policy formulation and implementation. Her research pursuits encompass a diverse array of subjects, including informatics, government information, science and technology policy, and patent analysis. These research interests are steered towards the exploration of strategies in policy and information, both on national and global scales, with the overarching goal of advancing science and technology development. As an educator and researcher specializing in informatics and government information, Dr. Lee has notably published her work in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Informetrics, Scientometrics, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Technological and Economic Development of Economy, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, and several other distinguished publications.