Located in Colorado's Grand Valley with a population of 14,000, Fruita is a community in transition. Once reliant on agriculture and ranching, Fruita's economy has recently shifted toward adventure-based tourism, igniting cultural changes and revealing divisions in the community.
Igiugig Village ("iggy-AH-gig") has a population of 70. Located in southwestern Alaska on the south bank of the mouth of the Kvichak River and Lake Iliamna, its population consists primarily of Yup’ik Alaska Natives. As a tiny and remote community of people who live close to the land, villagers rely on salmon as the main food source and have a passion for sustainability and clean energy.
Keene is a working-class community located in New Hampshire, one of the most racially homogenous states in the country. Living as a person of color in a predominately white community can be an isolating experience, but race is an important conversation topic no matter where one lives. Librarian Gail Zachariah of Keene Public Library created conversation programs with the goal of helping Keene residents learn from and understand one another.
In the library world, we often talk about how knowledge of the community is one of the most important, if not the most important, skill a librarian should have. If that’s the case, then who could be more knowledgeable than a librarian born and raised in the town they work in?
Although video calls are more common these days, tele-conferencing may be the more accessible option for some members of your community.
People with poor internet connectivity and those who lack tech skills can be left behind when it comes to video conferencing and video-based programs. Tele-conferencing can be easier to use and still offer the same benefits as a video call.
