THE 5C THEORY: Library & Community Programme Guide

A practical framework for libraries and community organizations planning a responsible public discussion or reading programme.

Resource type
Library resource
Audience
Community facilitators, Libraries & institutions
Suggested use
Programme planning resource
Format
Web guide
Revision
2026-08-13

Use this guide to plan a library, civic or community programme that is clear about purpose, accessible to participants and appropriately connected to the title and publisher.

Define the programme

  • State whether the activity is a reading group, public conversation, classroom partnership, staff-development session or community forum.
  • Identify the intended participants, venue, access needs, language needs and realistic group size.
  • Decide which authorized edition, excerpt or resource participants will use.
  • Separate independent discussion from any event represented as an official Leone Connect or author appearance.

Build a responsible session

  1. Publish an accurate description that does not imply endorsement, partnership or title availability beyond the official record.
  2. Name a facilitator, safeguarding contact where relevant and a person responsible for accessibility.
  3. Use questions that invite evidence and interpretation rather than party-political loyalty tests.
  4. Explain whether notes, photography, audio or video will be taken and obtain any required consent.
  5. Provide a clear route for participants who need to leave, decline recording or raise a concern.

Institutional checklist

  • Confirm title availability before advertising copies or purchase arrangements.
  • Request written permission before reproducing substantial text, adapting a resource, recording a paid programme or distributing material beyond the permitted use.
  • Use the secure enquiry form for bulk interest, educational licensing, author participation or institutional partnership.
  • Retain the exact written permission, scope, dates and credit requirements for any approved use.

After the programme

Record attendance only where necessary and consented, note the questions that generated useful discussion, document accessibility or safeguarding improvements, and share public outcomes without identifying participants who expected privacy.

For educators, libraries and facilitators

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