Subject: RE: Talking to each other/libraries as neutral forums
I was really struck by this person's suggestion, that libraries could serve as neutral forums for communities to come to grips with controversial issues. Virtually every other sort of forum (e.g., the local government) is bound to have some stake in the outcome, or be seen as having one. Libraries, by contrast, are seen (and have an interest in being seen) as being neutral sources of information. Moreover, librarians' access to information could make them effective interlocutors, and able to provide participants with references to important sources of follow-up information. Maybe this isn't where EPA envisioned this dialogue going, but it's still an excellent suggestion.
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