On November 7-9, 2017 54 Michigan library staff and partners began a nearly two year undertaking. They attended a Public Innovators Lab taught by coaches from the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation 
. During the Lab the cohort was organized into two smaller groups, which for the next 18 months will participate in additional training, and develop action plans to move their communities forward.
The participating libraries were selected via a competitive application process. They include:
The Harwood Public Innovators Lab 
is a 2.5-day experience to help you and your organization learn what it means to Turn Outward — to use the community, not your conference room, as your reference point for choices and action.
With support and guidance from MCLS and the Library of Michigan, cohort members are expected to attend coaching calls, contribute to an online forum, and demonstrate how their efforts are making a change in their communities.
The Library of Michigan and MCLS have been using the tools of the Institute and sharing them with libraries since 2013.
Learn more about our work with The Harwood Institute .
This project is supported by the Library of Michigan with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
