Building Community Connections: Getting to Know the Community That is Outside Your Walls
November 17, 2020
Some people hear the word library and walk right in. Others run in the other direction. Why is that? What can you do to change that? This session will examine how to get to know your community and create partnerships, alliances, and new patrons using the community knowledge that every library staff member has.
Presenter: Maxine Bleiweis
Shifting gears from directing three award-winning public libraries over a span of 40 years, Maxine Bleiweis is spreading her innovative ideas and approaches to traditional services to keep libraries relevant and ahead of the curve. In her new chapter as Maxine Bleiweis & Associates, she is being called upon to speak on customer service, coach managers, guide strategic planning and innovative thinking, and implement the newest design thinking for library buildings.
Under her leadership, Bleiweis’ libraries were awarded 5-Star Status and were finalists for the IMLS Medal of Excellence. During her tenure, she established the first major makerspace and mini maker faire at a public library and was the first to introduce humanoid robots to teach computer coding. She authored the book, Helping Business: the library’s role in community economic development. She was named the Connecticut Outstanding Librarian of the Year in 2011 and the 2015 recipient of the PLA Charles Robinson Award for Innovative Leadership.
MB&A frequently works with award-winning graphic designers and architects, grant writers, and technology futurists to bring leading edge, interdisciplinary thinking to the client.