Have you ever said, “why don’t people come to our library programs?” Often events grow from ideas someone at the library has for what they think will be a great program, but what if we instead look outward, asking our communities to help develop programming that will be of interest to them. Attendees will learn how they can move from a library-centric approach — to program planning — to one that more effectively engages our communities. You’ll feel both recognized in the library’s programming offerings, but also feel engaged in the process of program development, and explore how IMLS’s asset mapping tools can reshape the way we look at collaboration.
Date Recorded: 3/25/2026
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Barry Trott, Adult Services Consultant / Library of Virginia
This webinar will discuss foresight (or futures thinking) and how strategically thinking about the future can support the people that work in libraries, the library organization, and the community the library serves. With insights from a group of library staff across the state of Idaho, library consultants at the Idaho Commission for Libraries have been investigating how to incorporate thinking about the future into library work and developing fun ways to share what they’ve learned. Their newest toolkit, the Things From Future Libraries Toolkit, provides a guide for anyone to put on a creative, participatory design workshop where attendees imagine and prototype an object from a library in a future they select.
Learn how our library works closely with community partners to bring fun adventures to our patrons. By working closely with our local game shop, toy store, comic book store, volunteer GMs, a local brewery (the list could go on and on), we’re able to provide an array of fun events related to gaming, filmmaking and more. These events bring new users to the library who sometimes have never set foot inside before. Find out how we make it work and strategies we suggest to work with partners in your community.
