Creating Connections When You Are New

Changing jobs or starting in a new position is always challenging. For some, the greatest challenge lies in building new connections and networks in the community you are now serving. From school contacts to collaborations with youth-serving organizations and businesses, your outreach can be vitally important in helping you serve your new community.

A recent ALSC blog post by Chelsea Arnold, on behalf of the ALSC Managing Children’s Services Committee, has some very practical tips on ways you can go from a newbie to an old hand in creating connections in your new place of work.  She writes: "Starting out in or moving to a new library can be daunting, especially if it’s in a new geographical location. Not only do you have to learn new systems and policies but you have a whole new community to get to know. Regardless of your role in a library, getting to know your community is one of the most important things you can do. You need to connect to the people who live around your library so they know what is happening and they are invested and interested in using the library."

And if you are not new to a community or job, these are tips you can share with new colleagues in your library, library system or region. Almost everyone who is new welcomes a helping hand!

Stop here to read the great list of practical tips. [Connecting to New Communities. Arnold, Chelsea. ALSC blog. May 21, 2023.]