Community Engagement: a case study at Seattle PL

This program by Seattle Public Library had me a little confused and the presenters were a little scattered.  The gist is that SPL created 5 service priorities to identify a strategic path to community engagement and outreach.  The priorities are: 1. Listen and Learn - Cannot expect that ppl will come to you. Go to them and ask them what they need, what they do.  Listen and learn. Take time to figure out how its going to work. Take time to go out and discover. Buy the coffee and have the means to engage.  Sometimes you have to say yes and not be sure where its going to lead. 2. Prioritize equity - equity and equality not the same. Create program of service with an equity lens. 3. Showcase community voices - work with "Seattle Collection" a special history and culture collection allowed them many opportunities to work with community on oral and digital histories.  eg. Community college writing project where best student papers were added to the special collection.  Also they make every effort to connect ppl and voices in the community as the library is a trusted convener and natural connector. 4. Reach people where they are - this is obvious and something libraries already do well. Getout of the building. speak their language-literally. They created a Spanish FB page. 5. Bring ppl together - look at spaces and see how they work for ppl. Strive for deeper engagement. Miscellaneous notes: Library still has an identity/awareness gap. Community engagement may  be impacted by this. Need to work on discoverability -how do ppl engage with you. Go digital, go mobile! Create greater presence in the community. Need to support staff to develop skills to do this work.