Adult Programming through Community Partnerships

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL) is focused on reaching underserved populations by building partnerships with community organizations. Like many library systems, LCPL needed to raise awareness among adults in their 20s and 30s about Library resources. Many programs geared toward adults, particularly those who are single and/or without children, often drew crowds that were counted in the single digits. In response, LCPL began offering programming exclusively for those 21 and older with the help of businesses within the county. The reasoning was based in part on the fact many adults aren’t interested in attending programs with children or teenagers present. There was also an opportunity to support local businesses are frequented by those 21 and older. The results of this initiative are events such as “Harry Potter Night,” which drew 600 attendees and was bolstered by partnerships with numerous local restaurants, a winery and the county’s Department of Mapping and Geographic Information. Another example is “Science on Tap,” a monthly series hosted by a local brewery that features talks on cutting-edge subjects. The discussions are led by professors from local universities and scientists from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus. Crowds of 150 to 200 people, the majority of whom were previously not library users, have enjoyed topics like “What if Einstein Was Wrong? Finding Evidence of Faster-than-Light Particles” and “The Machine Learning Revolution.” Businesses have benefitted from the partnerships through increased sales and brand awareness. LCPL’s community partnerships have also focused on more targeted adult groups with specific needs. Programs dealing with challenging issues such as mental health, drug awareness, domestic abuse, and helping those with disabilities have had a tremendous impact — not only because the programs were well received, but also because of the connections that were made between patrons and organizations that provide expert support.