Library Trustee Forum Spring Webinar: Belonging in Community: How Libraries and Library Trustees Build Belonging in Community

The Trustee Forum is continuing its virtual spring webinars for 2025. Participants can attend one, two, or all three sessions. The recordings will be available to participants after each session.

Belonging in Community: How Libraries and Library Trustees Build Belonging in Community

Library Trustees have responsibilities that go beyond finance, policies and compliance. Belonging is also central and may be the most important of the duties. Sean Gaillard’s blog post – “Belonging in the Library: A Hub of Connection and Inspiration”, he notes that the “Library (is) a space for Everyone to Feel Seen, Heard and Valued.” While Gaillard is pointing to school libraries – the same can be said for public libraries presence in the communities. Public libraries strive to be that place in a community that supports opportunities for learning, adventure, respite, peace, gathering and fun by offering both welcoming and, ultimately, belonging. Often hard to measure, belonging is vital for public libraries by serving as gathering spaces and places for communities across Illinois and beyond.

Library Board trustees play a valuable role in building and supporting belonging in many ways: reviewing and discussing mission and vision, working with the library director to ensure a welcoming place for all community residents through good customer service, fair and impartial policies, creating spaces and places to laugh, explore, learn and build connections. Trustees ensure that the public library is for the entire community and reflects community culture, history and stories. This session will highlight how belonging is an essential element in community – from a practical perspective and a
humanistic mindset. Library trustees – new and seasoned – will gain insights into the critical role of belonging is through representation, encouraging and supporting the library director with the hope and goal that all are welcome and belong.

Date: Saturday, May 10,  10:00 am - Noon
Speakers: Richard Kong, Skokie Library; and Anne O'Keefe, Rockford Public Library
Moderator: Christine Westerlund