On December 18, 2018, Grinnell Rotarians met at West Side Family Restaurant for their weekly meal, meeting, and program.
Following a brief business meeting, the speaker for the evening was introduced.
Marilyn Kennett, Grinnell City Librarian, was the speaker, and her topic for the evening was Trust. When library staff interviews candidates for employment, one of the questions asked is…… what do the words “intellectual freedom” mean to you. Most candidates come up with something close for an explanation. Marilyn stated that it makes her feel good when a 14 year old applying for a library page position talks about freedom to read what you want to read without feeling like you are being judged. Many studies show that libraries are among the most trusted institutions. According to a 2015 study by Pews Research, 78% of adults say that public libraries help them to find information that they consider to be trustworthy and reliable. Marilyn said that a whopping 87% of Millennials, or those who are age 18 to 35, are the biggest users of libraries in the United States. So, perhaps, libraries in general have a good handle on trust because of their policies on confidentiality and the fact that they do not operate on a commercial basis. When it comes to trust, it is important to be perceived as part of the local community. Trust can lead to community partnerships.
Grinnell Rotary meets every Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.
Dennis Conway
