There’s something almost storybook about the Berwyn Public Library—and it’s not just because their most popular event involves princesses, pirates, and fairy-tale castles. Under the leadership of Director Tammy Sheedy, the library has carved out a unique space in its vibrant, diverse community of 56,000 residents just outside of Chicago. With a population that’s 63% Hispanic and a city footprint of only four square miles, Berwyn is small but mighty—and so is its library.

Sheedy and her team have found innovative ways to not only engage residents but build lasting traditions that bring the community together.

Manatee County Public Library System (MCPLS) has taken the traditional concept of a branch library and re-envisioned it as something truly innovative: the Little Discovery Center, a unique space designed to ignite a joy in learning in the youngest members of the community.

In a testament to the transformative power of strategic planning, the Mason County District Library (MCDL) has emerged as a leader in creating community cohesion, leveraging its strategic planning process to address historical divisions and pioneer initiatives that resonate with their community. 

By embracing change, fostering partnerships, and prioritizing community engagement, Jennings County Library has redefined what it means to be a modern library in the 21st century.

We were excited to participate in the Indiana Library Federation conference in person this week. It marked the first time since the onset of the pandemic we have been able to attend a library conference in-person and the first time Rob and I have been able to present together in-person. We had a full room and fantastic audience participation.

When was the last time you heard, “I didn’t know the library did that”? I’m guessing it’s a routine occurrence and maddening at that. We have been listening to librarians and library staff for over 20 years and more recently have been seeking the voice of community members as well. In the past six years alone, we have worked with nearly 100 public library clients, facilitated over 600 community discussion sessions with over 8,500 attendees, and conducted 75 online surveys with over 20,000 total responses. We can honestly say that this sentiment is one of the most universal responses we hear time and time again in our community discussion sessions, regardless of the library size, budget, or level of usage.