Library community partnerships have the power to increase capacity, reduce feelings of isolation, and create stronger, connected communities. Working Together: Powerful Partnerships that Transform Libraries and Communities shows libraries and their partners exactly how to make this happen.

This book skillfully interweaves decades of community research with 'Voices from the Field' that complement the academic discussion by sharing authentic experiences, challenges, and successes from practitioners. Together, the research and real-world voices offer practical models for communication, planning, and collaboration. The book aligns closely with the American Library Association's 'Libraries Transforming Communities' initiative.

By identifying the 'cracks' in the community pyramid where needs go unmet, libraries can build strategic alliances with organizations positioned to fill them. Exploring key areas such as social and health information and services, community resiliency, education, technology, workforce development, and cultural partnerships, the book demonstrates how libraries can serve as powerful community hubs.

Rather than offering generic advice, Working Together provides librarians with a clear framework and real-world voices to move from isolated efforts to partnerships that genuinely transform both libraries and the communities they serve.

Kathleen de la Peña McCook, Distinguished University Professor of Librarianship, School of Information, University of South Florida, USA

As funding for public services becomes increasingly scarce, public libraries often find themselves stepping up to serve their communities and create vital safety nets. Scope creep and burnout are real risks in this work. This book underscores the importance of partnerships in helping libraries sustain that support for their communities -- and its case studies offer an excellent roadmap for libraries looking to get started.

Nicolle Davies, City Librarian and Executive Director, Denver Public Library, USA

Working Together is a practical and grounded guide public libraries have urgently needed. Lenstra, Bossaller, and Connaway move beyond the familiar rhetoric of collaboration to provide a clear, step-by-step framework for identifying the right partners, aligning missions, sharing resources, documenting expectations, assessing impact, and knowing when to scale or step away. Grounded in research and strengthened by candid practitioner perspectives, the book directly addresses limited staffing, capacity, and mission creep while offering tools library leaders can apply immediately. As a downtown public library manager, I value its core concepts: effective partnerships are not about doing more for everyone, but about sharing expertise, resources, and responsibility to serve communities more sustainably. This is an essential resource for any library seeking to become a stronger convener, connector, and community partner.

Bradley Kuykendall, Branch Manager, Main Library Dayton, Ohio, USA

How to find, work with, and overcome challenges with partners are top of mind to so many people working in libraries today. An invaluable resource for those of us in the field, Working Together answers those questions, whether looking to start partnerships or for ways to improve the partnership experience. Chapters present case studies of what library partnerships look like in today's world, making the case for why libraries need partners to serve the increasing and dynamic needs of present-day communities as well as providing tools and guidance on how to make the best of those often-challenging experiences. Included are steps of a partnership lifecycle, working through the tough parts of identifying and approaching partners at the start and throughout a relationship, real-world example with lessons learned and insights, as well as practical tools, templates, and other guidance for working with other non-library agencies and organizations.

Cristy Moran, Librarian's librarian & Bibliotecaria excepcional

Having read Working Together, I feel both seen and validated in the practices I have developed as a librarian for over 35 years. Twenty-years ago I served as my library's first Partnership Coordinator for Digital Inclusion. I wish this book had been written then. It is gratifying to see, as Dr. Lenstra and his co-authors recognize, that community partnerships are the lifeblood of a modern library. This title will inform the library field for years to come.

Jennifer R. Nelson, State Librarian, New Jersey State Library, USA