Strengthening Library Ecosystems: Collaborate for Advocacy and Impact, Dorcas Hand, Sara Kelly Johns, Michelle Robertson, & Eryn Duffree, ALA Editions, 2024, 272p. Softcover, $54.99. 9798892555722

Strengthening Library Ecosystems: Collaborate for Advocacy and Impact provides an important exploration of ecosystem framework in the context of library advocacy. It builds on a previous project stemming from ALA’s Ecosystem Task Force called One Voice: The Toolkit. This title explores the practical implementation of ecosystem strategies while also highlighting the resources developed by ALA and its affiliates that support library ecosystems. It is evident that the content presented was composed with an acute awareness of the current geopolitical landscape given the emphasis on the urgent need for advocacy efforts to protect the core values of libraries considering increasing attacks on intellectual freedom and civil liberties.

Amid efforts to ban materials, defund programs, and criminalize the work of librarians, this book offers a roadmap for advocacy by strengthening the connections between libraries of all types, library stakeholders, and policymakers. Even with the ongoing escalations in the political climate and the intensification of challenges to equitable access to information following the book’s publication—exemplified by the recent dismantling of the IMLS—the foundational concepts and resources remain increasingly critical. The theme that an attack on one library is an attack on all is an enduring chorus. The authors’ promotion of ecosystem ideals is based on the assertion that strengthening the collective voice and speaking in unity is more important now than ever.

Hand, Johns, Robertson, and Duffee’s Strengthening Library Ecosystems boasts a wealth of collective knowledge from wide-ranging professional backgrounds and represents the three largest library categories: public, K-12, and academic libraries. Several of the contributors have served as leaders in major library organizations, including a former ALA president, and many have experience on national advocacy and ecosystem committees. The scope of their expertise cements the book as a credible and constructive resource for advocacy fieldwork. The book showcases the value of ecosystem thinking in advocating for libraries largely through its structure. It is divided into five key parts with each part building on the argument for the necessity of a networked community framework in advocacy. Part I “The Ecosystem Foundation” introduces ecosystem theory and highlights how all libraries, despite their differences, share core values, goals, and interconnections. Part II “Elements of Ecosystem Thinking,” delves into the application of a continuum model which can be used to assess competencies like leadership, communication, collaboration, and sustainability. This model allows ecosystem groups to scale their progress from “Beginning” to “Evolving” to “Highly Effective.” In Part III, “Applying Ecosystem Ideas,” the connection between ecosystem thinking and advocacy is further investigated, beginning with a broad definition of advocacy then narrowing the focus to best practices for creating library legislative agendas and policies that protect information freedom.

Part IV “Many Kinds of Library Advocates,” explores the concept of “One Voice” in greater depth. These chapters outline the contributions of public, school, and academic libraries to their communities and show how different types of libraries connect back to overarching library core values. They examine each type of library’s distinct challenges from attacks in the state legislature to roadblocks from the municipal administration but also include advocacy tips to fight opposition. Here, the authors also broaden the library ecosystem beyond just libraries and identify potential allies such as professional associations, vendors, foundations, community groups, and other organizations that share similar values and can amplify advocacy efforts. Finally, Part V “Ecosystems in Action,” presents five case studies of ecosystem-driven advocacy. It presents practical insights into their successes, challenges, and lessons learned. The book concludes by combating what is coined as the “myth of going it alone,” a common pitfall of advocates and a known cause of burnout. As library supporters, coalition building is the only sustainable path to robust activism. The appendix is also an important feature of the text as it offers templates, checklists, and suggestions for additional reading materials that can provide grounding for theoretical concepts with real-world applications.

One strength of this book lies in its clear, practical resources. For example, Part II includes charts for assessing progress along a continuum. These tools help groups evaluate their development across competencies referred to in the text as “pillars.” Examples under the “leadership” pillar include continuum assessments for ecosystem perspective, change agent, core values, and relationships. Users of the continuum models will find value in the framework’s acknowledgment that building an ecosystem can be a slow and constantly evolving process. Ecosystem groups are given developmental benchmarks for ongoing reflection rather than fixed standards. The book also provides easily identifiable and clearly defined key terms, highlighted throughout the text, making it accessible for readers unfamiliar with ecosystem or advocacy topics. Another core strength of this title is its reliance on real-world examples of successful ecosystem advocacy. Cited throughout the book and featured as a focus in Part V, these tangible case studies can be applied to the reader’s own advocacy efforts. Strengthening Library Ecosystems is a valuable resource for libraries of all types and the people who support them. Its focus on fostering connections between libraries makes it a good fit for any collection. This book is also a beneficial acquisition for groups looking to build or strengthen ecosystem efforts due to its excellent compendium of existing tools and resources from ALA and its affiliates. Furthermore, this book is essential for anyone engaged in legislative action, public awareness campaigns, or broader coalition development, standing as both a call to collective action and a guide to building resilient, unified library ecosystems.— Madeline McConnell, University of New Mexico