Developing An IPLA Town Hall Tradition

Public libraries are about community.

The new IPLA Mission elevates the importance of “aligning the public library community to act on matters of common interest.”  The new Vision Statement directly correlates the vitality of public library systems with the vitality of the communities they serve.

But what does that really mean for IPLA?

IPLA initiated the idea of town hall meetings last March in the midst of a tumultuous and confusing legislative session. The feedback was overwhelming – and an idea was born.

Again in June and July, IPLA invited public library advocates to participate in local meetings – each with the goal of providing direction to IPLA planning.

When asked, “Why do we need an IPLA?” those groups consistently reported two things: the building of unity and trust within the public library community around purposeful work with statewide impact – AND – the need for a proactive grassroots system which champions local input into a statewide advocacy agenda which cannot be effective without local community action.

Start local. End local. Create a map for building a statewide public library community with statewide impact.