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community engagement

Going Beneath the Cultural Iceberg to Communicate with Your Community

Photograph of an iceberg

Communication is complex. The way people communicate and the beliefs we have are deeply layered; our life experiences impact how we connect and communicate with others.

People with whom we’re communicating also have a lived experience that they’re bringing to our interactions. They also have lenses through which they see the world.

Pre-Application Webinar for Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries Round 3

Libraries Transforming Communities logoLTC: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is open to libraries in the U.S. and U.S. territories that serve small or rural communities. The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) defines small communities as those with a legal service area population of 25,000 or less and rural communities as those more than, or equal to, five miles from an urbanized area.

Global Neighbors Series

globe sitting on a table

Gail Borden Public Library's Global Neighbors Series helps our patrons experience the culture and contributions of the people who live in our community. Our goal is to foster an understanding between cultural and ethnic groups to help build a stronger community through social, civic, and global awareness.

The series, held three times in 2019, featured local speakers from the chosen country as well as traditional food, music, film and other activities. We had programs for Scotland, Germany, Columbia and Poland.

Kingsessing Library Celebrates 100 Years with Fine Forgiveness Jubilee

Kingsessing branch managers from 1985 to the present celebrate 100 years.

The Free Library of Philadelphia received a 2017 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to implement the Skills for Community-Centered Libraries Initiative. The project’s goal is to create a practical curriculum to build community engagement capacity in 300 staff members at all levels.

Reflections on Year 2 of Skills for Community-Centered Libraries

Two people talking at a table

Blog post author Lynn Williamson is the chief of the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Neighborhood Library Services Division, the project manager of Skills for Community-Centered Libraries and a participant in Cohort 6 of the trainings. Read more about the Skills for Community-Centered Libraries project at their 

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