This week centered on community!

It began with a visit to the Martin Luther King branch, which felt full of life as members of the Jazz Arts Group brought live music to the halls. Adults and kids moved about to listen, hop on computers, pick up a book, or chat. I spoke with some of the staff about the return of programming in the space, and they kept mentioning their relationship to the people of their community. There is so much energy as they welcome them back into these library spaces.

The MLK branch occupies a new building that was opened in 2018 in the Near East Side area of Columbus. It’s defining feature is ‘the porch,’ which was built to mirror the important role porches play in this community. They act as places of gathering and connecting, places where community takes shape. The porch at the library is spacious and inviting and has huge windows that seamlessly connect the library with the neighborhood. It feels like a place created for communing and connecting.

Following this branch visit, The Columbus Foundation’s midweek learning session brought all of us fellows together to discuss collaborations and partnerships – key aspects of building healthy community and community services. We spoke about the systems, both formal and informal, that act upon us and our neighbors each day. It got me thinking about how our actions are never value neutral. Everything we do has an effect on our neighbors.

The following day, our development team gathered for an in-office team retreat, and to cap off the week, we had a virtual second quarter meeting for all members of the library’s Community Engagement Team. So many people in these meetings spoke of the collaborative partners, both internal and external, who are working together to build library services that engage Columbus residents.

With all of these activities, it was clear the universe really meant to bring community into focus for me this week. And after a year of challenges that made it difficult to feel in community, I am grateful to have these opportunities to be part of this collective work.

Till next week –
Amy