Programs

Success High School serves more than 200 students— mostly juniors and seniors— completing coursework at their own pace. The school’s curriculum is focused on core classes, but Valerie Burleigh has turned the library into a space where students can learn practical life skills ranging from grocery shopping, with an aim toward cooking multiple meals during the week, to repotting plants to managing personal finances.

Teaching research skills at Georgia State University, Alvin R. Blount works hard at helping his students think critically—something, he says, that is “desperately needed in today’s society.” Previously, he was the archivist of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. It was there that he headed up Becoming Beloved Community (BBC), an initiative promoting social justice, racial reconciliation, and healing, not just within the diocese but throughout the entire community. 

Mariella Colon's groundbreaking collaboration with Chicago Public Library’s Archives and Special Collections on the Mellon Foundation–funded Renaissance Project showcases the library’s unique archival resources. Colon has developed programs to translate untold stories and connect participants with Chicago’s Black history through hands-on activities ranging from LEGO building to illustration workshops.

Christa Bell manages the school libraries districtwide in the same county she grew up in. A goal when she stepped into the role was to make students, especially the oldest, enthusiastic about reading. In 2022, she hit upon an idea for a program that tapped into the “blind box” craze among kids:

The work for entrepreneurs and inventors to protect their products via patents and trademarks can be mind-bogglingly bureaucratic and difficult to understand. Tara Nash, librarian at Multnomah County Library in Portland, OR, was developing small business classes in 2021 and realized how strong the demand for assistance was.

Once parodied as having a contentious relationship on NBC’s long-running show, Parks and Recreation, in recent years public libraries have found a range of ways to partner with local Parks & Recreation agencies, state parks, and even federal parks to bring residents to green spaces—and bring nature-based programs into libraries as well.

Libraries are evolving; their roles and services are being reshaped by our dynamic digital landscape. The new roles that libraries are assuming also demand new skills and expertise from librarians to remain adaptable and effective. MLIS programs provide the essential foundation for professionals to thrive in an increasingly digital landscape.

LJ has received an Eddie award for its February 2024 cover story “Hungry for Connection: Addressing Loneliness Through the Library,” by Editor-in-Chief Hallie Rich. In May, 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory calling attention to loneliness, isolation, and a lack of connection as a public health crisis increasing the risk of mental health challenges and even premature death. LJ’s feature examined how library programs “can build the very relationships our nation’s public health experts say we most need to cultivate.”

The librarians interviewed for LJ's September 2024 feature on voter engagement and the upcoming election have published a variety of LibGuides, toolkits, and other content. Check out a variety of resources from the American Library Association, EveryLibrary, and more.