10 Indiana libraries were selected to receive a scholarship from MCLS to attend the 2016 Harwood/ALA Public Innovators Lab in Atlanta, Georgia, October 19 – 21.
The funds were made available to MCLS member libraries in Indiana through a grant program established by the MCLS Board of Trustees from the proceeds of the sale of the former INCOLSA building in Indiana. The scholarships will provide tuition and travel support to 15 individuals from the 10 libraries.
The Harwood Public Innovators Lab is a 2.5 day experience to help libraries learn what it means to turn outward – to use the community as your reference point for choices and action. The Lab is part of the American Library Association’s “Libraries Transforming Communities” initiative, a national plan to help librarians strengthen their role as core community leaders and change-agents.
According to MCLS Executive Director, Randy Dykhuis, “MCLS has been using the community engagement tools of the Harwood Institute and sharing them with libraries in Indiana and Michigan since 2013. We are excited to be able to support training for a cohort of Indiana librarians.”
The selected libraries represent a spectrum of library types, sizes and geographic locations in Indiana, all with a common goal to engage more deeply in their communities.
The following libraries were selected:
- Brownsburg Public Library
- Hagerstown Public Library
- Hammond Public Library
- Jeffersonville Township Public Library
- John W. Anderson Library (Indiana University Northwest)
- Monroe County Public Library
- Monticello-Union Township Public Library
- New Castle-Henry County Public Library
- Ruth Lilly Science Library/Irwin Library (Butler University)
- Sullivan County Public Library
MCLS is committed to continuing to support the community engagement efforts of Indiana and Michigan libraries beyond the Lab, and will offer communication forums through social media and community engagement roundtables as they begin to put the Harwood tools into practice in their community.
