""The world looks to us for new services and ideas, and ways to engage the community," [Ingrid Parent] said. "Public libraries in Canada really get out to the communities and serve them in ways beyond just lending books, like by being meeting places, welcoming sites for newcomers, and by teaching new skills.""
"Proactive Partner: The library in this quadrant enjoys high visibility to its constituency. The constituency actively seeks the library for collaboration, and the library also maintains close communication channels with the constituency. The library is widely seen as a critical component by the constituency for its success.
Proactive Provider: The library actively and consistently communicates its value to the constituency. Although not as high as the library positioned as the proactive partner, the level of interaction with the constituency is relatively moderate or high. The constituency seeks the library for assistance; however, the library is not recognized as the core component for its success.
Reactive Partner: While the constituency seeks the library for collaboration and assistance, the library does not actively market its value and services. Reasons for being reactive in serving the constituency can vary. Mostly, it may have insufficient resources, both personnel and budgetary, which can prevent the library from committing its resources to be a core collaborator.
Reactive Provider: Neither the constituency nor the library communicates with each other on a regular basis. The constituency does not regard the library as a critical factor in achieving its goal, and the library also does not have enough resources to support the constituency. The library only responds to infrequent and irregular requests for materials from the constituency."
"American Public Libraries During the Great Depression." Desert Sailor / Charles A. Seavey.