What Is a Program, Anyway? Findings from NILPPA, ALA's National Study of Library Public Programs
In this free 60-minute webinar—the first in a two-part series—the ALA Public Programs Office and research team members for the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA) will share findings about what libraries are doing in terms of programming and how we should think about it.
As U.S. libraries transform to meet the needs of a changing nation, public programming is rising to the forefront of daily operations. While libraries have always had a broad educational mission and an esteemed role as collection holders and lenders, the 21st century is witnessing their rapid transformation into centers for lifelong experiential learning, hubs for civic and cultural gatherings, and partners in community-wide innovation.
In light of this shift, the ALA Public Programs Office and a team of researchers conducted the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA), an intensive two-year research study that asked: how can we characterize and categorize public programs offered by libraries today? In this free 60-minute webinar—the first in a two-part series—NILPPA research team members will share how this research sheds a light on what libraries are doing in terms of programming and how we should think about it.
NILPPA: Phase I is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant number LG-96-17-0048-17.
Carolyn Anthony currently serves on the Standing Committee of the Metropolitan Libraries Section of IFLA and continues as a consultant in aspects of public library leadership and planning. She retired in 2016 after a lengthy time as director of the Skokie Public Library, which won a National Medal from IMLS in 2008 and the ALA Excellence in Library Programming Award in 2016. She served on the ALA Public and Cultural Programs Advisory Committee from 2009 to 2013 and as chair for two of those years. She also served on the PLA Board from 2012 to 2016 and was president of the Public Library Association from 2012 to 2013.
Mary Davis Fournier is the deputy director of the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office and director of the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA).
