Resources

LTC is an ALA initiative that seeks to strengthen libraries’ roles as core community leaders and change-agents by developing and distributing tools and support for library professionals to “turn outward” toward their communities.

“Turning outward” — a method created by the non-profit Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities partner — emphasizes a shift in orientation from internal (library-focused) to external (community-focused). This change is achieved through practical steps: taking measures to better understand communities; changing processes and thinking to make your library‘s work more community-focused; being proactive to community issues; and putting community aspirations first.

LTC will help libraries become more reflective of and connected to their communities and achieve a domino effect of positive results, including stronger relationships with local civic agencies, non-prots, funders and corporations, and greater community investment in civility, collaboration, education, health and well-being. ALA also hopes to shift public discourse away from past themes about libraries in crisis and toward talk of libraries as agents of positive community change.

Visit ala.org/LTC to download free resources, including guides to help your team organize and facilitate community conversations; informational webinars designed for library professionals and led by Harwood Institute educators; worksheets to help you and your staff identify how you approach community engagement; and tools to help you remain engaged and rejuvenated, professionally and personally.

Libraries Transforming Communities is made possible through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Foundation Center provides free funding information through more than 400 Funding Information Network locations— libraries, community foundations, and other nonprofit resource centers located across the U.S. and several countries. Texas boasts 19 such resource centers covering nearly the entire Lone Star state.

A key initiative of the Foundation Center is to reach under-resourced and underserved populations throughout the United States and in other locations around the globe, who are in need of useful information and training to become successful grantseekers.

Arlington | Arlington Public Library
Austin | Regional Foundation Library
Beaumont | Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center
Dallas | Dallas Public Library
Denton | University of North Texas
Edinburg | Southwest Border Nonprofit Resource Center
El Paso | University of Texas at El Paso
Fort Worth | Center for Nonprofit Management
Houston | Houston Public Library
Houston | United Way of Greater Houston
Kingsville | Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Laredo | Texas A&M International University
Longview | Longview Public Library
Lubbock | Community Foundation of West Texas
San Angelo | Tom Green County Public Library
San Antonio | San Antonio Area Foundation
Temple | Temple Public Library
Tyler | United Way of Tyler/Smith County
Victoria | Victoria College/University of Houston
Waco | Waco-McLennan County Library
Wichita Falls | Nonprofit Management Center of Wichita Falls