Community by Design Episode 1 - More Than Books: Building Community at the Library
Social infrastructure is the system of organizations, spaces and experiences that enable people to connect with each other. They are the bridges necessary to build trust and civic participation, to create a sense of belonging and wellbeing. It’s the system that enables sustainable widespread community development. -- Eric Avner, WRCF’s President & CEO
In September 2025, Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) released the 2025 Vital Signs® Report focused on social infrastructure – bringing together data, insights, and lived experiences to show where the social infrastructure in our region is thriving and where gaps remain.
To continue the conversations that have been happening across the region about the themes from this report, WRCF has partnered with Midtown Radio to develop a podcast series – Community by Design: Exploring Social Infrastructure in Waterloo Region.
This five-episode series, with host Jay Harrison, takes a deeper look at how social infrastructure, our shared spaces, services, and community connections, shape daily life across our region.
In the first episode – More Than Books: Building Community at the Library –Troy Glover, shares insights on why social infrastructure is the invisible glue that holds a community together.
“The more we can encourage connection, the more we build trust within our community. And that trust is really important in terms of enabling things to happen. If we trust our neighbours, we’re more likely to help them out, and when we think about what’s on the horizon, what different crisis potentially [could happen], it’s really important for us to have those connections that bolster us from any sort of calamity, any sort of disruption, not unlike what we experienced during the pandemic.” -- Troy Glover, Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo
We also hear from Nathan Stretch at Kitchener Public Library and Cristina McLaren at Region of Waterloo Libraries, who touch on how local libraries are intentionally helping transform strangers into neighbours and isolated individuals into members of thriving communities.
“The library is a place that accepts wanderers. Whether they’re lost or whether they’re not. You don’t have to declare to anyone what you’re doing at the library when you walk in the front door. You don’t have to check into the front desk and get a badge. You can come in and you can self-direct. You can get your hold, talk to nobody, and leave. Or you can come in and you can sit for the day and study. Or you can record in the studio. Or you can make a connection with a service. Or you can join a program.” -- Nathan Stretch, Senior Manager of Community Development and Insights at Kitchener Public Library
Libraries remain one of the few public spaces where simply being there doesn’t come with any expectation to spend money. They are built on the foundation of sharing resources, and visitors can come and go as they please.
“Rural libraries are hubs of activity. The library is a great place to meet your neighbour or fellow community members. They’re really places where people can connect with one another, and we offer so many opportunities for that to happen organically… the Region of Waterloo Library branches have places for people to sit and to connect over a puzzle or a game. There’s really no expectation of participation in a program or taking any items home. People can just come to the branches, do things, connect with other people, and go home.” -- Cristina McLaren, Manager of Library Services for the Region of Waterloo Libraries
As Waterloo Region grows toward becoming home to one million people by 2050, this episode asks a crucial question: will we invest in the social infrastructure that turns a growing population into a connected community, or will we let our social fabric fray?
New episodes are released weekly on Saturday at 11:00 AM between January 17 and February 14, offering a fresh opportunity each week to tune in, reflect, and connect.
CREDITS
Jay Harrison, Host/Producer
Karyn Atkins, Writer/Reporter
Deren Atkins, Editor
Shrijith Ramaswami, Editor
David Harmes, Executive Producer/Engineer
EPISODE 1 GUESTS
Troy Glover, Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo
Nathan Stretch, Senior Manager of Community Development and Insights at Kitchener Public Library
Cristina McLaren, Manager of Library Services for the Region of Waterloo Libraries
