Mobile Library Services: Building Connections through Outreach

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Every library serves a community, and to reach the entire community, you need to get outside of the physical library. In this event, staff from the Memphis Public Library will show how their Connect Crew approach has taken the library outside of its walls and reached populations who had previously never visited the physical library. You’ll learn how mobile outreach can help you increase engagement, find new patrons, and develop lifelong relationships with parts of your community that may be underserved and underrepresented. This event will help you reach these community members whether you’re in a large urban system or a smaller library.

By participating in this webinar, you will learn:

  • How to identify areas of your community in need of outreach
  • Strategies for selling the idea of mobile outreach to library directors, boards, and other stakeholders 
  • Ideas for launching and funding mobile outreach programs
  • Strategies for marketing mobile programs to raise awareness
  • How to use mobile outreach to bring new patrons into the physical library

Courtney Shaw is the Programming & Outreach Manager of Connect Crew. Connect Crew is Memphis Public Libraries' outreach department, responsible for going beyond the library walls and bringing the library to various communities. During Courtney’s time at Memphis Public Libraries, she has worked as a Teen Librarian, Children's Librarian, and Branch Manager. She is a recipient of the 2023 Library Journal Movers & Shakers Change Agent Award.

Darletha Matthews has been employed with Memphis Public Libraries for over 20 years. Before her current position, Ms. Matthews worked in circulation and reference and taught numerous staff development trainings on library databases and Readers' Advisory. She is an active member of the Association of Bookmobile & Outreach Services. She is currently Outreach Specialist Supervisor of the Connect Crew, Memphis Library's outreach team.

This event will be hosted in Zoom. Automatic captions will be enabled for this event. This event will be recorded, and registrants will receive access to the recording within a day after the event ends.

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact us at ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.

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