Community Engagement: You CAN

do it!Randy Dykhuis

Michelle BradleySeptember 18, 2015

What would it take for you to have a bigger impact on your community?

• More money?

• A bigger building in a better location?

• More staff?

Ann Marie SmithPickford Community Library

Knox County Public Library• “Close the Book on

Hunger”• Community conversations

with local disabilities group led to tactile art exhibits and descriptive DVDs

• Historic preservation award for Carnegie renovation—paint color selection was based on community input

East 38th St. Branch--IPL “ASK probing questions to determine TRUE needs” Shanika Heyward, Branch Manager

• STEM based storytimes

• Breakfast with a cop

• Mobile food pantry• Job Center

Red Hook, NY Public Library

Engaged the community using tools from the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and learned:• Not everyone could get to the programs at

the library• There was a need to create leadership and

volunteer opportunities for teens.

Designed a "mobile maker program" and formed new partners

Turning Outward

“Turning Outward makes the community and the people the reference point for getting things done.”

Outreach

Aspirations

Public Knowledge

TransportationSafe Neighborhoods

Education

Ask ExerciseAspirations TreeAspirations BoardAspirations ExerciseCommunity Conversations—

going deeperInnovation SpaceCommunity Engagement

Roundtables

Tools You CAN Use

A one-on-one 3-5 minute conversationQ1: What kind of community do you want to live in?Q2: Why is that important to you?Q3: How is that different from how you see things now?Q4: What are some of the things that need to happen to create that kind of change?

Ask Exercise

• Your turn to talk• Take a few minutes to talk

with those around you about your aspirations for your community

Aspirations

• Now that you have identified some aspirations, what are the challenges that stand in the way of accomplishing them?

• Take a few minutes to discuss in the same group

Challenges and concerns

• What did you learn?• Any insights from your discussions?

Report out:

Create a story

Identify themes

90 minute conversations

10 questions

8-12 people

Community Conversations

People want (aspirations) , but they’re concerned that (main concerns). As people talk more about those concerns they talk specifically about (specific issue(s)). They believe we need to focus on (actions) and if (groups) played a part in those actions that folks would be more likely to trust the effort and step forward.

Community Narrative

Aspirations Tree

Aspirations

Aspirations

• Regularly scheduled conversations that bring different departments together to focus on what you’re learning as an organization and how to use what you’re learning to create change.

• The goal is learning and innovation—not planning• Make attendance voluntary

Innovation Space

• Imagine your community transformed• Invite your community to share aspirations• Invest in the process• Initiate change

Take the journey with us

Community Engagement

Roundtables---share successes, seek advice, get ideas

Community Engagement Support

Harwood/ALA Public Innovators Lab. Detroit, MI October 14-16

Libraries Transforming Communities—Free tools and webinars from ALA

http://www.ala.org/transforminglibraries/libraries-transforming-communities

More Information

Questions?