Research Assignment on Community Engagement

Interview Conducted By: Cameron Beaty

Interviewee: Heather Grogan, Humane Education Manager
Nonprofit: Charleston Humane Society
Date of Interview: November 10, 2016
Research Question: How can libraries engage with other community organizations, especially nonprofits to support their needs with the unique skills offered by librarians?
What do community organizations need from the library?
Heather: Our organization is community supported as is yours. We need to partner - to educate people on
important relevant topics that affect our communities, to give people information, to host events, to host
workshops, etc. My entire job is built on educating people regarding the humane treatment of animals. If
we worked together, it could be really cool. We can reach a larger pool of people.
What information skills do librarians have that these organizations could use?
Heather: Well, finding a lot of information on the different topics that affect my organization is always
helpful - animal abuse, how to raise a pet, the benefits of having a pet, etc. Also, I am not great with
technology, having someone who can help me market our organization or connect me with people who
know how would be super helpful. I dont know, again, I think there are a lot of ways.
1. These traditional values which are part of librarianship might also be shared values with other
community non-profits, check all that apply:
Access to information Heather: Absolutely. Speaking of which, could you set up a book display? (A laugh was shared.)
Equity
Heather: Yes
Intellectual freedom
Heather: Somewhat, but I wouldnt say it is a top priority.
Privacy
Heather: Somewhat. We protect peoples privacy to an extent, but it is not a main concern.
Community
Heather: Absolutely!
Social justice
Heather: Again, absolutely!
Preservation and Heritage
Heather: Somewhat
Open Government
Heather: To an extent, we are transparent.

Civic Engagement
Heather: Yes
Comments: We share values between our organizations. Our goal is to eliminate animal abuse and
continue to push to build communities that are no kill. The only way to do that is to educate people
4. These attributes can also be part of a librarians competencies and might also be shared skills with
other non-profits, please check all that you consider relevant:
Collaborative
Heather: Yes
Inclusive:
Heather: Yes
Creative
Heather: Yes
Take risks
Heather: Yes
Socially innovative
Heather: Yes
Leadership
Heather: Yes
Tech savvy
Heather: Yes
Entrepreneurial
Heather: Yes
Transformative
Heather: Yes
Comments: These are competencies for the employees at our organization as well, and I hope I have them.
(Again, a laugh was shared.) We both have to reach out to the community and gather support from them. It
requires a person who is willing to get out there, try new things, and be proactive. The last competency transformative - that is a great word. I mean my whole purpose is to make our community into a model for
animal protection. I think we need to at least try to be transformative.

Summary:
I thoroughly enjoyed this assignment. Heather works for an amazing organization, and she was
incredibly willing to share her views and opinions. At the high school where I work, we host a career fair for the
students and invite people from a number of different organizations. Every year a representative from
Charleston Humane Society attends, and their session is always a huge hit. I knew, when this assignment was
posed, that I wanted to interview someone from this organization. I wanted to reach out to the Charleston

Humane Society for a number of reasons. One it has a strong community presence. They partner with a number
of different organizations and host large events throughout the year. These events are well attended, and I
believe a partnership between my library and this organization could be mutually beneficial. Another reason I
wanted to interview Heather is because of her role as the education manager. While our roles are different, we
both must act as educators, and we can learn from one another.
Before the interview officially started, Heather and I were discussing some of the specific ways in which
my school library could work with their organization. Many of my students come from impoverished
neighborhoods, and she informed me that many poverty and violence stricken neighborhoods also have high
instances of animal abuse. One way we thought about partnering is bringing their dog-training program to the
school on Saturdays. We thought if they offered a session at the high school, more community members would
be able to attend. Heather also said that she does not get a lot of time with high school students. Most of her
classroom programs are conducted with elementary aged students. We both agreed that the students would
benefit from several of the classroom programs they offer - Become a Future Veterinarian and How to Treat
Each Other and Animals to name a few. She informed me they work with classes to conduct a service-learning
project. This is something I believe our students would absolutely love. We did not work out all the details, but
we are planning to start in January during 2nd semester with mixed Biology and English class or the Freshman
English classes. One potential idea is a community outreach initiative by the students with a student-organized
culminating event - Love Animals and Each Other - held at the high school.
Every time, I asked a question she reiterated how important it is that community organizations partner
with each other. She said that every nonprofit should see the value of a partnership with libraries, but also,
libraries must see the value of a relationship with nonprofits as well. She stated that she always has to reach out
to organizations - they rarely reach out to her. We both agreed that collaborative relationships between
organizations that are working within the community are mutually beneficial. She stated a number of ways that
librarians can help her - providing a space for education outreach, hosting events and programs, collecting
resources that can inform the community, conducting service projects, and assisting the organization in
marketing the information they want to share.
Our shared vision in the library is to be an innovative learning community that inspires all to build a
better future. By partnering with different organizations that are working to build a better future for our
community through different acts of service is completely in alignment to the vision of my library. When
outlining the competencies of an information professional to Heather, she noted how those are essential traits
that she needs from a partner. She noted how leadership, social innovation, and creativity are particularly
important because I have the ability to collaborate with a number of classes and host school-wide events that
could affect change in the homes and neighborhoods were the students live. Heather said, If students develop a
passion for anything that can better their communities, than we all win. We just need to give them exposure and
information.