Public access to citizen science remains uneven, with many communities underrepresented in participatory research opportunities. Public libraries, as trusted community institutions, hold the potential to bridge these gaps by serving as hubs for lifelong learning and civic engagement. This case study examines the strategies, theoretical grounding, and outcomes that supported the adoption, scaling, and sustainability of Libraries as Community Hubs for Citizen Science, a multi-phase initiative led by Arizona State University and SciStarter. Designed to embed citizen science innovations within public library systems, the initiative progressed through three phases—an Arizona pilot (2017–2019), a scale-up pilot (2020–2021), and an ongoing national expansion (2021–2024+)—that collectively tested, refined, and demonstrated a replicable model for institutionalizing participatory science in libraries. Drawing on mixed-method evaluation data and informed by a theory of change based in educational scaling (Coburn 2003), adult learning (Knowles et al. 2015), and the role of libraries as facilitator organizations and conduits for lifelong learning (Falk and Dierking 2010; Lankes 2016), the analysis identifies key mechanisms that supported adoption and sustained engagement of citizen science in libraries. These included staff capacity-building, collaboration with local communities, and national outreach through professional learning communities and library networks. Findings demonstrate that libraries can serve as durable civic infrastructures for public participation in science—expanding equitable access, fostering ongoing engagement in citizen science, and connecting communities to research. We conclude by distilling essential elements and transferable lessons for other GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) institutions, both in the United States (US) and globally, offering a conceptual framework for embedding participatory science into GLAM organizational practices to advance long-term public engagement with research.
Cox et al. (2026) studied this question.