2019 MLA Annual Conference

When the City of Waseca went through their Vision 2030 process, the library integrated itself into the planning process--helping Waseca meet its goals. Waseca Public Library staff realized their organization was perfectly positioned to take on some heavy lifting in creating a more vibrant and dynamic community. From Wellness Day and Adventure Packs to School Coding Days and a Community Music Garden, the library interlocked its mission with the community's to create healthy, interesting, and forward-thinking community events and assets--held inside and outside the library. Staff also reached out to community members to connect them to the library itself through events and our Leaders Are Readers initiative. In this presentation, we'll talk about a variety of community engagement techniques we use in working towards Waseca's vision. We'll also cover how to spot opportunities for libraries to step up to the plate in their communities.