Extraordinarily Engaged: How Three Libraries are Transforming Their Communities
Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Colorado Convention Center, Room 601/603/605/607
What happens when you stop talking about your library and start listening to your community? Learn what community engagement looks like from libraries who have been using the Harwood Institute approach. Hear the good, the difficult, and joyful when Columbus (Wis.) Public Library, Red Hook Public Library (N.Y.), and Spokane (Wash.) County Library District share their experience of “turning outward” to engage people in conversation, identify aspirations, and make a difference in their communities.
An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.
At the end of this session, participants will:
1: Be inspired to leave the safety of your institution and venture into your community.
2: Communicate the importance of having a "story to tell" to your board and community and understand the first steps in shifting "outward."
3: Be confident that results are possible through examples of programs, partnerships and organizational shifts from experienced Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC) cohort members.
The session organizer(s) identified this session as appropriate for:
Level 2: People with some knowledge, who want to increase their understanding.
This session will have: Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program
Handouts: Download 1
Track: Collaborate
Tags: Leadership, Civic Engagement, Hot Topics, Leadership, Organizational Change, Transforming Libraries
Presenters
Amber Williams, Librarian
Spokane County Library District, Spokane, WA
Amber Williams has been with the Spokane County Library District for over nine years. As the current Deer Park Community librarian her focus is to integrate the library into the city of Deer Park but when she's not attending meetings, events, judging poetry slams and Lego contests she's working with youth and implementing fun.
Erica Freudenberger, Library Director
Red Hook Public Library, Red Hook, NY
Erica Freudenberger is a promiscuous collaborator who believes libraries can help communities transform. When not chasing people down to collaborate, she leads the Red Hook Public Library, designated a 5-star library by Library Journal, and a finalist for the Best Small Library in America. She had a blast as part of the American Libraries Association Public Innovators cohort for the Libraries Transforming Communities initiative.
Sarah Ostman, Communications Manager, Public Programs Office
American Library Association, Chicago, IL
Sarah Ostman is the communications manager in ALA's Public Programs Office.
Cindy Fesemyer, Director
Columbus Public Library, Columbus, WI
Librarianship is Cindy Fesemyer's second career, following 14 years in nonprofit administration and community organizing. Upon her 2012 graduation from UW-Madison SLIS, Cindy was pleased as punch to accept the position of Library Director at the Columbus Public Library in Wisconsin. Turns out community engagement is much more fun and effective as a public librarian, so she's never looking back.
Patrick Roewe, Deputy Director of Spokane County Library District
Spokane County Library District, ,
Patrick Roewe, the Deputy Director of Spokane County Library District, has worked for and with the public for roundabout 15 years. He thinks a library is at its best when it joins forces with like-minded change agents and uses its superpowers to help a community realize its goals and aspirations.