Building Thriving Communities: The Library’s Role in Economic Development

Building on the lessons learned and promising strategies from ALA’s Libraries Build Business initiative, this engaging, working session is an opportunity for participants to brainstorm various strategies and opportunities for integration with local workforce, small business, and economic development partners; innovative practices and resources for their libraries; and broad visions of economic opportunity and advancement for our communities through a lens of equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Led by peer facilitators, participants will work together to brainstorm innovative practices and strategies for working within the existing economic development infrastructure, building relationships and contacts to local stakeholders and decisionmakers, and championing both local entrepreneurs and the library. Leveraging tools from the Libraries Build Business initiative, participants will consider real life customer scenarios, evaluate materials and resources, assess current readiness and resources of their own libraries to apply toward innovative and relevant programming. Through peer dialogue, we will refine our understanding of economic opportunity and the needed supports to create thriving, inclusive communities. Participants will leave this conversation with a shared vision for impactful economic opportunity programming and collaboration, peer collaborators and supporters from around the country, and new takeaways about the topic.