For more information about the “Fostering Character” project, click the link below:
childrensmuseums.org/fosteringcha...
#Interactivity #ChildrensMuseums #CharacterEducation #CharacterVirtues #SocialEmotionalLearning #Evaluation #SocialScience
We’ll be presenting evaluation strategies from a series of collaborative grants in a cohort facilitated by the Association of Children’s Museums called “Fostering Character in Children’s Museums,” which is supported by The Lilly Endowment.
If you’re in San Diego for next week’s #Interactivity conference, come check us out! On Wednesday, April 22 (3:45-5pm), Knology CEO Joanna Laursen Brucker will be part of a panel on ways children’s museums can assess character virtues like curiosity, empathy, compassion, teamwork, and courage.
For guidance on how to put these ideas into practice, check out our latest newsletter, which contains a number of examples courtesy of our work with @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social. mailchi.mp/knology/soci...
1. Listening to and amplifying marginalized voices
2. Enshrining “Access for All”
3. Figuring out how building accessible, age-friendly spaces and services can contribute to broader institutional goals
Libraries are at the forefront of efforts to tackle ageism and ableism. Working with them, we’re learning more and more about what makes these efforts effective. Three key steps are:
This report is part of the ALA’s “Aging Together” initiative, supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation. It precedes a final report (expected in February, 2027) that will offer recommendations and best practices. To read our landscape review, click below:
programminglibrarian.org/articles/new...
Highlighting scholarly findings, our report is chock-full of insights on how existing programs are improving knowledge, attitudes and skills, advancing physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, and strengthening feelings of community belonging.
In a new report published with our @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social partners, we review the existing literature on older adult programming, focusing on programs that seek to:
1) Advance health and wellbeing
2) Promote social connectedness
3) Improve end-of-life care
4) Provide support to caregivers
In recent years, programming for adults aged 65 and over has become a distinct type of library service. But little is known about the impacts of these programs—or what makes them effective.
For more on the accomplishments of these first-time grantees, check out the full study here: programminglibrarian.org/articles/new...
#Accessibility #SmallAndRuralLibraries #Libraries #AccessibleLibraries #DisabilityInclusion #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #LibrariesTransformingCommunities
A graphic entitled "First-Time LTC Grantee Accomplishments." The graphic is split into 4 sections, each which includes text and an accompanying image. These are as follows: 1) More Accessible Spaces and Services -- An image of 2 people holding up a model of planet Earth, one of whom is using a mobility cane. 2) More Positive Attitudes Toward Disability -- An image of 2 people celebrating, one of whom is using a wheelchair. 3) Strong Sense of Positive Momentum -- An image of a person running with a prosthetic leg. 4) Becoming Community Leaders -- An image of a person standing at a table talking while 2 other people sit around them.
(1) Making their spaces and services more accessible to people with disabilities
(2) Improving attitudes toward disability
(3) Building internal momentum
(4) Becoming community leaders
Focusing on the experiences of first-time grantees, we found that the accomplishments of these libraries were often indistinguishable from libraries that had received prior grants. Through their efforts, these libraries succeeded in:
A single grant can go a long way toward building more accessible communities. We found abundant evidence of this in a recent study of libraries awarded funding through the @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social's "Libraries Transforming Communities" program.
The 40-page guide is chock-full of useful resources, while the eCourse contains prompts, templates, and a conversation planning tool. You can read more about both of these new materials here: www.ala.org/news/2026/03...
Developed with the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation, these free resources share best practices and strategies for navigating challenging conversations in ways that encourage listening, learning, empathy, and mutual respect.
ATTN: libraries! Looking for practical, research-backed guidance on ways to facilitate public conversation around divisive issues? Check out the new guide and eCourse from @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social!
Interested in learning how we could help your organization build social and relational capital within the community? Give our newsletter a read and then get in touch! We’d love to work with you.
mailchi.mp/knology/soci...
#communitybuilding #evaluation #socialcapital
An image titled "Evaluation as a Path to Community Building," that includes 3 separate pictures, each with the text. A picture on the left side of the image reads, "Bringing Community Members to the Table," and displays 4 individuals sitting around a table. The center picture is called "Broadening the Range of Voices that Contribute to a Project," and features individuals sharing thoughts and comments through text messages, social media engagement, and conversation. The picture on the right is called "Promoting Deeper Organizational Engagement," and shows 4 people sitting in chairs while conversing.
Evaluation is a form of community building. Our latest newsletter highlights 3 ways evaluators help organizations build community relationships:
1) Bringing community members to the table
2) Broadening the range of voices that contribute to a project
3) Promoting deeper organizational engagement
Do you have experience coordinating research projects and managing the logistical side of the research process? Do you have the skills needed to ensure that project teams stay on track with deliverables? We’re seeking a research coordinator.
To learn more, see below:
knology.org/job/research...
So happy to be working w/ @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social on the Aging Together project -- a nationwide evaluation of library programming for older adults. The project is supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation, and includes a team of 29 advisors. Click below for more:
www.ala.org/news/2026/01...
Our latest newsletter is live! Check it out for some reflections on Knology’s past, present, and future — courtesy of newly appointed CEO Joanna Laursen Brucker.
mailchi.mp/knology/soci...
Her appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to community-focused work that equips professionals with the tools and data needed to solve real-world problems in real time. For more on Joanna’s appointment, see our official press release: knology.org/article/knol...
In her career with Knology, Joanna's built partnerships at the national and local level, and led collaborations with museums, libraries, schools, and others. Prior to being appointed CEO, she was Knology’s COO, and guided the organization as interim CEO through two leadership changes.
We’re incredibly thrilled to announce that Joanna Laursen Brucker has been appointed as Knology’s new CEO!
For more from our study on employee assessments of leader trustworthiness, click the link below! knology.org/article/empl...
#Benevolence #Trust #WorkplaceTrust #OrganizationalTrust #BuildingTrust
To demonstrate commitment to employee well-being, leaders can: (1) Offer paid internship programs; (2) Undertake compensation and benefit adjustments; (3) Accommodate individual needs through flexible work structures; (4) Revise internal mobility practices to promote fair development paths.
Benevolence is key to maintaining leader-staff trust in times of workplace conflict. In new research, we found that staff generally rate their employers lower on benevolence than other measures of organizational trust — even when leaders are taking productive steps to resolve disputes.
And for a more general introduction to our trust research, see our trustworthiness framework: knology.org/article/a-fr...
#WorkplaceTrust #OrganizationalTrust #Leader-StaffTrust #Trust #BuildingTrust
