Libraries play vital roles in communities and networks that exist beyond their doors, whether that be in conjunction with other institutions (e.g. schools, universities, hospitals) or simply through the broader publics their work affects (from local neighborhoods to the national level). In this issue, you’ll see both the breadth of those roles and networks and their importance. Sarah Logan takes on both the state-funding-centric troubles of school libraries and the importance of the role of the interconnected librarian-advocate in their community. Meanwhile, Alex Byrne and our WLA 2024 election coverage capture some of the manifold methods and challenges of grappling with politics in and beyond the library. In terms of a library’s role as support network, Liz Morris and Emily Hamstra share their knowledge of an often-overlooked resource: Washington’s Network of Health Information Ambassadors. Similarly, Jenna Zarzycki and Eve Datisman help us think book recommendations through the lens of broader readers’ networks, first through social media influence (and redirection) and then through the community-building potential of a culturally inclusive calendar. Finally, Neil McKay closes our issue with some innovative forms of library advocacy.
As you’ll see in this issue, libraries are deeply entangled in various networks of our community, no matter how big or small you slice it. I invite you to boldly go to infinity and beyond in this issue, knowing that libraries have a vital place there—no matter the scope.
Jenny Van Houdt is Alki’s editor-in-chief and works at WSU’s Health Sciences Library. She likes reading, cats, and how those two things go together.
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