Episode 201: Community Engagement

Linking Our Libraries

Season Two Episode 201

Welcome back to Season Two of Linking Our Libraries podcast!! We are excited to be back, sharing information and ideas for all types of libraries.

We are from Central Minnesota Libraries Exchange, and our mission is to support libraries. That means we are here to help libraries and library people to find information they need, to build skills, and to share ideas about all the things that make our profession great!

Do you want all our background information on this topic, with lots of information and links? Go here to our website!

This week we are talking about Community Engagement. This is an extremely important area for libraries, as making connections with your community is at the heat of all your service.

You need to define your community, and to really know who is there. It’s not enough to just have some ideas – do some research.

• In a public library, your community is everyone in your district or taxing area; and that is a community that changes more frequently than you might guess, so you need to keep checking on that.
• In a school library, your community is of course the students, but it also includes administrators and staff in the school, parents, and even members of your town or county who have a stake in good libraries and good schools.
• An academic library has a community of students, and again the wider community of profs, staff, alums, and maybe members of your town if they also have access to your material.
• Hospitals serve doctors and nurses, but also patients, researchers, and other people who may need to use your specialized collections.
• Law libraries serve lawyers, court staff, people who are representing themselves, students, and more.

“Community” really varies depending on your individual library’s mission; so be sure you know who they are!

Want to talk with us about this topic? Do you, your staff, or your organization need training in this topic? Want to write a policy, or develop a program? We are here for you!
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