Public Library Partnerships which Add Value to the Community: the Hamilton Public Library experience

This paper focuses on a selection of partnerships which have strengthened the Hamilton Public Library’s role in the provision of literacy and information services and added value to the City of Hamilton, in Canada. The focus is on community-based partnerships although the Hamilton Public Library also has many active partnerships with other libraries at the provincial and national level. The partnerships are arranged in chronological order. Over time, the Library’s role within a partnership has evolved - from information and referral to content management and community empowerment.