Barre and books? Unusual partnership leads to West Valley library branch upgrade

Shared by Peter Bromberg, like and 1 save total

https://medium.com/reimagining-the-civic-commons/rituals-awe-and-the-public-realm-865f599e320e

This stood out for me (esp. the points that libraries are particularly well-positioned to facilitate, and the suggestion to invite co-creation *with* the community (not just *for* the community)
———-
For the public realm, this has practical implications. Parks, libraries, community centers and other public spaces are uniquely positioned to host activities that invite people to move, breathe, sing, or paddle in sync: line dancing in a public square, tandem kayaking on a local lake group yoga on the lawn, or communal singing in a library atrium. These kinds of rhythmic, collective experiences do more than draw attendance — they create the conditions for awe, collective effervescence and belonging. Designing and programming for synchronized participation is one concrete way public spaces can help restore the shared rituals and emotional lift that modern life is often lacking.

Invite co-creation
Rituals are often location-specific, and informed or even created by individuals or small groups before they spread more widely across a community. Engaging community members in the co-creation of rituals in public spaces — particularly rituals related to specific cultural communities — can make them more meaningful and potentially, more likely to be adopted over time.

This means asking communities to inform and even lead the work of marking local transitions and important milestones. Co-creation ensures rituals are meaningful, not generic — and helps communities see themselves reflected in public space.

——————

Shared by Peter Bromberg, like and 1 save total

Intelligent Work Management Platform | Smartsheet

Shared by Peter Bromberg, like and 278 saves total

Better Images of AI

Our library is the start of a new alternative repository of stock images. They are available for anyone to use for free under CC licences, or just as inspiration for more helpful and diverse representations of AI.

Shared by Bryan Alexander, like and 16 saves total

Claudia Goldin, Babies and the Macroeconomy

Fertility levels have greatly decreased in virtually every nation in the world, but the timing of the decline has differed even among developed countries. In Europe, Asia, and North America, total fertility rates of some nations dipped below the magic replacement figure of 2.1 as early as the 1970s. But in other nations, fertility rates remained substantial until the 1990s but plummeted subsequently. This paper addresses why some countries in Europe and Asia with moderate fertility levels in 1980s, have become the “lowest-low” nations today (total fertility rates of less than 1.3), whereas those that decreased earlier have not. Also addressed is why the crossover point for the two groups of nations was around the 1980s and 1990s. An important factor that distinguishes the two groups is their economic growth in the post WWII decades, especially the 1960s and the 1970s. Countries with “lowest low” fertility rates today experienced rapid growth in GNP per capita after a long period of stagnation or decline. They were catapulted into modernity, but the beliefs, values, and traditions of their citizens changed more slowly. Thus, swift economic change may lead to both generational and gendered conflicts that result in a rapid decrease in the total fertility rate.

Shared by Bryan Alexander, like and 1 save total

Oklahoma libraries handle restrictions, costs as e-book audience grows

Shared by Peter Bromberg, like and 1 save total

Utah book ban lawsuit: Authors sue state officials, allege 'modern day book-burning'

Shared by Peter Bromberg, like and 1 save total

Imagining a better future: What I learned from solarpunk films – Ben Harris-Roxas

Shared by Bryan Alexander, like and 1 save total

Emmett Rensin, "A Brief History of AI Psychosis A short story"

Shared by Bryan Alexander, like and 1 save total

game: Israeli Independence: The First Arab-Israeli War, 1948-49

Shared by Bryan Alexander, like and 1 save total