Libraries for the People: The Connected Library - Vetting and Partnering with Social Service Providers

This webinar series is comprised of five 90-minute sessions – one session each month from December 8, 2022 to April 12, 2023. 

As books, media, and research have become available online, many public libraries are reimagining their work. Live music, video game tournaments, and even weddings are taking place in our libraries! While books will always be central to the mission of public libraries, increasingly, libraries are about people more than books.

This series will help develop “people skills” including: the creation and vetting of community partnerships, becoming trauma-informed, de-escalation, and related topics.

Together, we will reimagine the role of public libraries in strengthening communities and protecting vulnerable populations.

Webinar Series Information:

Session #4 – Tuesday, March 7 @ 1:30 PM: The Connected Library: Vetting and Partnering with Social Service Providers

Session #4 signup link

As we have witnessed the social, financial, and mental health challenges of our patrons escalate during the covid-19 pandemic, libraries must connect and build relationships with local providers focused on these needs so that we may serve our communities as effectively as possible. This session will explore why it is imperative that libraries connect with social service providers in their communities, how to cultivate these connections, and tips to make sure the agencies you work with are effective, ethical partners.

Session #5 – Wednesday, April 12 @ noon: I See You: The Strengths-Based Perspective in Public Service

Session #5 signup link

Think of a time when a friend or loved one built up your confidence and made you feel understood. What did they say? What was their tone? What did they notice in you? Did they focus on your faults or did they emphasize your strengths? Often, our world tends to focus on problems, pointing out faults before recognizing resilience. Choosing to focus first on strengths rather than deficits is called a strengths-based perspective and it has the potential to shift both our work as public servants as well as the ways in which we see our patrons. This session will introduce the strengths-based perspective, examine its use in a world that is often problem-focused, and discuss the ways in which focusing on the strengths of our patrons can help empower our communities.

This webinar series is intended for library staff at all levels.

Wondering if you have to sign up for the whole series, or if you can pick and choose webinars? While we recommend taking part in the whole series, we have set it up so participants can sign up for individual weeks if that works best for their schedule.

While registration is unlimited for this series, attendance in each session is limited to the first 50 people who join a session.

This webinar series will be recorded, and the recordings, slides, and any other resources will be available via links added to this page within 24 hours after each webinar occurs.

To check your system’s compatibility with Zoom and/or download software for your computer/tablet/smartphone, see this page.

Speaker’s slides will be available the morning of each webinar session.

Presented by :: Patrick Lloyd

CALL Training Partner for this Event: Infopeople