Department Spotlight: Government & Community Relations

Over the summer, I hosted some family members who were visiting New York City for the first time. They experienced the typical city sights: towering buildings, crowded trains, garbage-covered sidewalks, and endless options for lunch—but with the August 2022 primary elections just a few weeks away, they also observed an impressive number of campaign posters decorating store windows and campaigners handing out fliers on street corners.

While they had anticipated the gigantic buildings and subway rats, they were surprised by the bold strangers asking if they were registered to vote. They were also surprised to learn that, despite the volume of posters and campaigners, voter turnout in NYC is notoriously low.

In recent years, there's been a huge effort to increase turnout and get New Yorkers out to the polls. Advocates have called to open the primaries, allow same-day registration, and increase the number of poll sites, machines, and workers, to name a few ideas.

Brooklyn Public Library’s Department of Government & Community Relations plays a significant role in efforts to get out the vote, in addition to encouraging civic engagement across the borough. I had the opportunity to learn more about this work during an interview with BPL’s Manager of Government Relations & Advocacy, Naila Rosario.

Off the Shelf (OtS): Folks are often amazed (and excited!) to learn that BPL has an entire department dedicated to Government & Community Relations. Can you tell us about your team and what you do?

Naila Rosario (NR): Our team is responsible for strengthening and managing Brooklyn Public Library’s relationships with elected officials, community leaders, community groups, and library advocates at the City, State, and Federal levels.  We work closely with the Library's Marketing & Communications and Development departments; in collaboration with the Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) and Capital Planning & Facilities Management (CPFM), Government Relations works to ensure that supporters and partners in government understand the critical role BPL plays in the lives of Brooklynites of all ages.

OtS: Which community/government partners do you work with most frequently? What sorts of projects do you collaborate on?

NR: We work very closely with City and State elected officials.  This month, we hosted 18 elected officials for breakfast at Central Library. The senators and assemblymembers met with librarians from their districts, toured Central, and at the end of the day, were hopefully convinced to help increase their support for the Library.

OtS: Election Day is fast approaching! Did you work on any initiatives related to voting and elections?

NR: Yes, this year Brooklyn Public Library was an official partner on National Voter Registration Day (NVRD). NVRD involves volunteers and organizations from all over the country hitting the streets to create broad awareness of voter registration opportunities to reach the tens of thousands of voters who may not register otherwise.  All BPL locations had voter registration cards available for patrons to fill out and mail out on their own. NVRD at BPL also involved our partners at Brooklyn NAACP, Brooklyn Voters Alliance, New York City Campaign Finance Board, and NY Girl Scouts.  These organizations tabled at various BPL locations to register voters and distribute information about their organizations.  In addition, 18 BPL locations will be poll sites this election day. Our team coordinates election day logistics in partnership with BPL's Public Service, ONS, CPFM, and Custodial teams.

OtS: Patrons and staff alike continue to demonstrate an interest in civic engagement, but they aren’t always sure how to get involved. Do you have any advice for folks who are hoping to become more civically engaged? And—as this is a book blog—do you have any book recommendations to help them get started?

NR: The best way is to vote in your local elections.  At times, it might not feel very impactful when you’re checking the name or party of your choice, but the importance of casting your vote is underestimated. 

Another way to become more civically engaged is to stay up to date on local politics. It is very important to find out who’s in charge.  Knowledge is power, so make sure to stay informed on what happens around you. Follow local politicians on social media channels and, if you want, ask questions directly. Talk to your colleagues about the decision-making in your community and share your thoughts or attend community meetings if you can find the time. 

California Governor Gavin Newsome has a great book called Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government.  It's an inspiring story about how ordinary citizens can use new digital tools to dissolve political gridlock and transform democracy.

OtS: Finally, what are you reading right now?

NR: Right now, I'm reading Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston.

Get ready to vote!

• Check out these election-themed booklists for kids, teens, and/or adults to read more about voting, elections, and civic engagement.
• Register to vote, learn who’s running on November 8, and find your poll site at NYC Votes.
• Interested in getting involved with BPL and supporting its advocacy efforts? Learn more here.