Public libraries as local civic tech hubs
The decline of (local) news and rise of digital threats has left communities struggling to maintain informed civic life. There's no quick solution, but we can start rebuilding democratic infrastructure from the ground up through public libraries.
Add civic tech infrastructure to library branches where:
- Local digital history in the creator space gets actively preserved
- Community members can work securely (burner phones, laptops, etc.)
- Help desks for digital security and privacy and to protect against online harassment
- Anonymous internet access
A small civic tech R&D team could work across multiple branches to:
- Build tools for local information needs (voting guides, service trackers)
- Provide archiving systems that work across platforms
- Help newsrooms and anyone who publishes with technical challenges
A practical example (h/t Robin):
This parent in New York recently navigated high school selection using a basic tool they created with AI and Google Maps. Their challenge - finding a suitable school from hundreds of options while balancing location, programs, and transportation - is one faced by thousands of families.
A library tech hub could host and support similar tools, but make them accessible to everyone regardless of technical skills. Library staff could help parents use these tools while providing context about schools from their deep community knowledge.
The infrastructure is modest – secure workstations, privacy tools, and staff training. But it provides essential democratic infrastructure: safe spaces to create, document, preserve and augment local knowledge.
This won't solve any national democratic crisis overnight. But as we search for ways to rebuild a vibrant, diverse and informed civic life, libraries can offer a practical starting point.
They're already trusted community spaces. They understand local context. They're committed to equal access and preservation of knowledge.