Libraries Transforming Communities Rich HarwoodFounder and President,

The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation

• Now more than ever

• People are looking for trusted organizations

• Safe, neutral space

• Boundary spanning

We Need Libraries

• Deep affection for the community

• Highly pragmatic

• Willing to take risks

Public Innovators

An Institutional and Professional Shift in Orientation from Internal to External

Turning Outward

1) Community Ownership2) Strategies that fit3) Sustainable Enabling Environment4) Impact and Belief5) Narratives

5 Keys

• Engage the community in a fundamentally different way

• The problem with “problems” and visioning exercises

• Shared aspirations

Community Ownership

• Local context

• What space do you occupy?

• Stages of community life

Strategies That Fit

• Underlying Conditions • Public Capital

Sustainable Enabling Environment

Impact and BeliefThe intangible factor

• The great hidden factor• The story a community tells about itself• Shapes people's mindsets, attitudes,

behaviors, and actions

Narratives

Libraries Transforming Communities Strengthening librarians’ roles as core community leaders and change-agents

What We’re Doing with ALA

• Tools and Resources for Libraries –bit.ly/transforminglibraries

• The Harwood Public Innovators Lab – Oct. 8-10

• Blog & E-Newsletter – Sign up to learn about current thinking and innovations

 @RichHarwood #turnoutward

How You Can Begin