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  • LIFT
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  • LIFT
  • Library School Partnerships
  • Digital Archives: ¡Loíza Vive!
  • Puerto Rico Library Directory Web Page
  • CT State Library Case Study
  • Laundromats Into Libraries

Connecticut State Library Case Study

Library Outreach Pilot Project

March 2023-February 2024

The Connecticut State Library and Libraries Without Borders US launched a twelve month pilot to enhance the capacity of Connecticut libraries. The pilot included a cohort of six libraries representing urban, suburban, and rural communities across the state. The overarching goal was to grow each library’s reach and sustainably connect community members to its resources and services through solutions tailored to the unique circumstances and opportunities within each community.

Map of Connecticut with pins of the partner libraries in the pilot project: Falls Village, East Hartford, Willimantic, Nowich, Norwalk, and West Haven

Our Approach

LWB US implemented a three-phase methodology for each site:

Data Collection

We conducted interviews, surveys, and focus groups while reviewing community demographics and library usage data to identify specific barriers preventing residents from using their local library.

Outreach Strategy Implementation

Based on our findings, we designed and implemented targeted outreach strategies including door-to-door canvassing campaigns, social media awareness initiatives, community partnerships, and school-based library access programs.

Sustainability Planning

We created guides and training toolkits for each library to continue implementing outreach beyond our partnership, ensuring lasting impact.

Results

Partner libraries reported measurable increases in access and usage, along with transformed staff capacity:

“The partnership will catapult the library forward in ways that would have taken us years.”

 

 

“Foot traffic has increased every month. Actually, statistics have increased across the board; visits, circulation, new patrons, website hits, Wi-Fi use, and computer use.”

The success of this pilot led CT State Library to sign on for a second year of partnership—a
statewide webinar series extending these strategies to all 190 libraries across Connecticut.

 

Read more about the work and the impact here!

 

This project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Connecticut State Library.

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