The Library of Michigan 
and MCLS were pleased to continue their partnership with The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation in 2019, and extending through 2020 and into 2021. An additional 50 Michigan library staff were trained in the framework of the Institute through an eight-week, online Virtual Public Innovator Lab which wrapped up in December 2019, followed by 18 months of coaching. With the completion of this cohort, 200 library staff will have completed training, representing dozens of Michigan libraries.
The training was led by Certified Harwood Coaches from the Institute . It was robust, extensive, and offered at no charge to selected Michigan libraries with LSTA funding provided through the Library of Michigan.
Starting Oct. 1, 2019 participants were immersed weekly for 1.5 hours into the Institute's practice of Turning Outward. The Lab focused on five key areas that help to drive the success and impact of local efforts. Lab participants spent most of their time in small groups applying the Harwood practice to their real-life challenges. The Lab sessions consisted of self-assessments, frameworks, case studies, and an actual Community Conversation, and participants left with an action plan.
Lab sessions were held weekly on Tuesdays from 11:30am-1pm Eastern, Oct. 1 through Dec. 3, 2019. Coaching (through monthly Zoom calls and email updates) for libraries which had not previously participated in the MCLS/Library of Michigan Harwood project began in January 2020 and concluded in July 2021.
The Library of Michigan and MCLS have been using the tools of the Institute and sharing them with libraries since 2013. We are excited to have been able to support training for another cohort of Michigan library staff.
Past participants of similar initiatives have shared the following examples of impact:
For examples of the value of applying the Harwood practice over time, take a look at the following videos from your peers in Michigan and an overview from The Harwood Institute:
http://www.librariesengage.org/videos.php
https://youtu.be/EMfAC-CQlZA
Learn more about our work with The Harwood Institute .
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Additional funding is provided by the State of Michigan.
