Professor Laura Delgado Researches Public Libraries as a Unique Form of Social Infrastructure

Header image taken by Otis Klawans ’25 of the South Philadelphia Library, an example of a library branch that is co-located with a community health and literacy center.

Spatially-oriented social sciences have witnessed an “infrastructure turn” over the past couple of decades. While much research has focused on the material and political aspects and consequences of traditional “hardware” infrastructure such as transport projects and municipal facilities for waste treatment, relatively little attention has been given to the critical role of social infrastructure such as local public libraries. This is exactly what Laura Delgado, Assistant Professor of Urban Studies, has undertaken as her research agenda with already published work in such top urban studies journals as Journal of Urban Affairs and a great opportunity for making further contributions to the field of urban studies (see Laua’s description of her research below).

Xiangming Chen
Director, Urban Studies

Public Libraries as a Unique Form of Social Infrastructure

Public libraries are a unique form of social infrastructure.  They are free, open to all, and provide services that are not means-tested.  Historically, public library branches have been located in single-story, standalone structures, but cities are increasingly redeveloping public library branches as mixed-use, or “co-located,” developments.  They may combine public libraries with affordable housing, which can offer financial benefits for public libraries while also addressing historic barriers to building affordable housing.  The co-located uses, however, extend beyond affordable housing.  Similar to the first public library Andrew Carnegie built in Pittsburgh in 1890, which was located in a five-story building with an art gallery and music hall, cities are finding creative partners for public libraries, from health centers to retail stores to luxury housing.  With the help of Otis Klawans (’25) and Chloe Santilli (’27), I am examining where cities have developed mixed-use public libraries in the US, what uses cities are co-locating with public libraries, and why cities and public libraries are pursuing this type of joint development.  In addition, I ask, to what extent do such developments benefit communities, city governments, public libraries, and developers?

Laura Delgado
Assistant Professor of Urban Studies