Passing the Community Engagement Baton

“Passing the Community Engagement Baton: A Conversation with ALA President Molly Raphael and ALA President-elect Maureen Sullivan,” hosted by ALA 2013-2014 ALA President Barbara Stripling, features an unprecedented conversation among ALA leadership, focusing on the transition of presidential initiatives and a continued focus on civic engagement. It takes place on Friday, June 8 at 11:30 a.m. Central time.

“The more we in libraries engage with the communities we serve, the better we can understand how the library can contribute to transforming those communities,” said 2011-2012 ALA President Molly Raphael. “By really understanding the priorities of communities, we can ensure that libraries contribute to communities thriving in the 21st century.”

Raphael started the conversation about harnessing the evolving role of libraries and strengthening the library’s understanding of community aspirations during her presidential year. This webinar allows attendees to be part of the conversation as ALA President Elect Maureen Sullivan looks to build on this idea of civic engagement during her presidential year, which begins at the close of the 2012 ALA Annual Conference in June.

“Libraries are central to community engagement and ALA is uniquely positioned to prepare its members in all types of libraries to be leaders in community collaboration to solve problems and improve the life of the community. Rich Harwood of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation will partner with ALA to develop an ALA program that will enable us to realize ‘the promise of libraries in transforming communities,’” said Sullivan.

Barbara Stripling is Co-Chair of Raphael’s Empowering Voices, Transforming Communities task force and was just elected ALA President for the 2013-2014 year. She will facilitate this discussion on how to engage communities to advocate for libraries and their value based on factors that matter to communities and their leaders.

Passing the Community Engagement Baton

http://ala.adobeconnect.com/com-engage-6-12-2/