Libraries Transforming Communities

Bolstering libraries as central community leaders by equipping librarians with new tools and resources for innovative engagement.

Libraries Transforming Communities seeks to strengthen libraries’ role as core community leaders and change agents. The initiative addresses a critical need within the library field by developing and distributing new tools, resources, and support for librarians to engage with their communities in new ways.

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Offering more than $7 million in grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities.

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Libraries as Leaders in Bridging Divides aims to enhance the role of libraries as vital centers for building community connections, encouraging civic engagement, and fostering critical thinking.

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Learn basic facilitation skills with ALA's free guide, "Leading Conversations in Small and Rural Libraries."

View the guide

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Get started with the free e-course, "Libraries Transforming Communities: Facilitation Skills for Small and Rural Libraries."

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Find dialogue and deliberation resources by library type.

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Read case studies and stories from Libraries Transforming Communities in practice across the field.

Free Facilitation Guides

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Created to equip users with tools and engagement best practices to create events which allow the whole community to participate.

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A guide to help small and rural libraries better serve people with disabilities in their communities.

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Gain the skills you need to not only prepare for and lead discussions, but also to overcome common challenges that arise when people gather to speak in groups.

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Resources

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Do you have what it takes to lead conversations?

Complete our short quiz to find out.
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Ask, Listen, Empower: Grounding Your Library Work in Community Engagement

Sharing numerous examples of successful change, dialogue and deliberation, and collaborative efforts, this book offers a comprehensive look at community engagement work that can help all libraries reinforce their roles as champions of lifelong learning.
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Learn to Lead Conversations Online

A free asynchronous e-course that introduces library workers to the basics of leading conversations.