As part of the 2019 Project SET Cohort, Sara Deignan, Children’s Librarian at the Springfield City Library, is exploring library trends and connecting with colleagues outside of her library. On November 4, each of the 11 members of the Project SET Cohort will give a five minute presentation at the MLS Annual Meeting.
For her presentation, Sara plans to outline the importance of planning for climate change and it’s potential socioeconomic impact on our communities. As a result of her presentation, Sara would like to see more library leaders be proactive about preparing for climate change.
The Springfield City Library serves a population of nearly 155,000 people. Each neighborhood has its own distinct feel. Sara works in downtown Springfield at the central branch, and enjoys getting to know the people in her neighborhood. As a Children’s Librarian Sara has had the opportunity to watch the children of her community grow.
Sara was encouraged to apply for Project SET by her supervisor who told her about the program. To Sara, the appeal of participating in Project SET was the opportunity to develop her leadership and communication skills. She also knew this would be an opportunity for her to learn about how she could contribute to the future of libraries.
Working in a city like Springfield, Sara sees first hand how social inequality impacts her patrons and notes that trends predict its continued growth. That is why libraries are more crucial than ever and she is proud to provide free resources and services for everyone in her community.
“My current preoccupation is how climate change is going to affect public library patrons, and how public libraries can prepare to meet this challenge. These issues aren’t going away, but public libraries are particularly suited to meet them head on!”
We hope to see you on November 4th at our Annual Meeting, to be held at the Hogan Center at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Registration will open on our calendar in the coming weeks. To learn more about Project SET? Visit our LibGuide!
