The Rock Island Public Library is hosting a Community Conversations series of small group discussions designed to help it better understand people's aspirations for the community. 

The first set of "kitchen-table" type conversations are scheduled for:

6:00 pm, Tuesday, January 23, Downtown Library, 401 19th Street.

10:00 am, Thursday, January 25, Southwest Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road.

10:00 am, Friday, January 26, 30/31 Library, 3059 30th Street.

"These conversations are just three of several we'll be hosting with people across the community," said Angela Campbell, Rock Island Public Library director. "Each one is a chance to help us better understand people's aspirations for their community, the concerns they have, and what they believe might make a difference in strengthening the community. We'll take what we learn and use it to help make our work in the community more effective."

Part of a "turning outward" process created by The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, and the American Library Association's "Libraries Transforming Communities" project, the 90-minute conversations are not about the library, library buildings, services, or policies.

"They're really about you, the community. It's a learning process designed to help us better understand the community and to restore the belief that we can get things done together," added Campbell.

Each conversation is structured around five to 10 questions posed to small groups. The library is there to listen, and to help facilitate the discussion. While the results may help inform the library's strategic planning process, there's no guarantee that the conversation will lead to a new program or policy. "We do pledge to get back to participants and community leaders about what we learned, and how we'll use what we heard," she said.

Rock Island Library will also take these conversations on the road to meet with small groups in their Rock Island and extended Milan-Blackhawk Public Library District service area. If you represent a church, civic, business, social, cultural or neighborhood group that's willing to host a conversation, please call 309-732-7303 or email the library's outreach liaison, Lisa Lockheart.

For more details, see the library website, or contact the library at 309-732-READ.