NCDD October 2025 Webinar Recap - Libraries as Civic Hubs

On October 28, 2025, NCDD and the Listen First Project co-hosted an inspiring webinar, Libraries as Civic Hubs: Dialogue, Deliberation, and Civic Engagement in Challenging Times. This 90-minute session brought together library leaders and civic practitioners to explore how libraries are helping communities strengthen connection, trust, and belonging through dialogue and collaboration.

Co-presenters Sanobar Wilkins (EveryLibrary/The EveryLibrary Institute), Annie Caplan (Living Room Conversations), Jennie Garner (North Liberty Library/ALA Libraries Transforming Communities), Karissa Raskin (Listen First Project), and Keiva Hummel (NCDD) shared practical strategies and real-world stories of libraries fostering inclusive engagement. Speakers discussed how to navigate polarization, host accessible community conversations, and build partnerships that sustain civic participation and community resilience.

Panelists emphasized that this work is not just about hosting events, it’s about cultivating the conditions for connection and care. From accessible facilitation tools to creative partnerships and locally led initiatives, the discussion lifted up the courage, empathy, and innovation shaping libraries’ role in civic life today. Attendees left with concrete ideas, new inspiration, and resources to strengthen dialogue and engagement in their own communities.

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Key Themes & Insights

Libraries as Civic Anchors
Libraries are among the last truly public spaces where people of all backgrounds can connect. Presenters discussed how library workers use dialogue, facilitation, and partnerships to sustain community relationships and civic participation.

The Power of Listening and Curiosity
Several speakers emphasized that genuine listening—without the goal of persuasion—is foundational to building trust and connection. Libraries can help cultivate civic curiosity by modeling active listening, hosting reflective conversations, and creating spaces where people feel seen and heard.

Courage and Care in Hosting Conversations
Facilitating dialogue on complex issues takes courage and care. Presenters noted that library staff often hold emotional and social complexity in their communities. Convening conversations requires not only skill but also emotional intelligence and institutional support.

Accessibility & Inclusion
NCDD’s work with the American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative continues to expand facilitation and accessibility resources. A forthcoming Polarizing Conversations Guide and e-course will launch in early 2026.

Practical Tools for Engagement
Speakers showcased accessible models—from EveryLibrary’s voter engagement tools and Fight for the First campaigns, to Living Room Conversations’ dialogue guides and training resources—offering librarians and civic partners actionable strategies to bring conversations to life in their communities.

Local Leadership in Action
Jennie Garner’s work at the North Liberty Library in Iowa demonstrated how community conversations, radical trust, and intentional civic engagement can deepen belonging and create ripples of connection throughout a community.

The Role of Storytelling in Building Connection
Storytelling emerged as a key tool for helping people connect across difference. From sharing personal experiences to community narratives, stories allow participants to move beyond abstract issues and find empathy in shared human experiences.

Sustaining Engagement Beyond a Single Event
Another strong theme was the importance of consistency and follow-up. Many libraries are learning that hosting one conversation is a starting point, not a finish line. Building civic connection requires iterative engagement, feedback loops, and intentional partnerships that sustain relationships over time.

Partnerships for Civic Life
The Listen First Project and NCDD both underscored the power of partnerships in sustaining civic connection and collaboration. These networks bring people and organizations across sectors into shared learning and collective action. Libraries can play a vital role in this ecosystem—by joining networks like the Listen First Coalition, engaging with NCDD’s national network and communities of practice, or hosting programs such as the Better Together Film Festival and National Week of Conversation. These partnerships help libraries extend their impact, deepen relationships, and model civic habits that build stronger, more connected communities.

A Call to Collaboration Across Sectors
Beyond library walls, panelists highlighted the need for stronger connections between libraries, schools, nonprofits, civic organizations, and local governments. Strengthening civic life depends on collaborative ecosystems—not single institutions—working together toward shared goals of belonging and participation.

Challenges to Consider

While the conversation surfaced deep hope and innovation, presenters also named several challenges that must be addressed to sustain this work and support library workers in their role as civic conveners.

Navigating Neutrality and Trust
Many libraries struggle with the tension between being impartial spaces and active community conveners. Some community members view engagement efforts as “political,” even when designed to be inclusive and nonpartisan. Sustaining public trust requires clear communication about purpose and process and visible transparency in facilitation.

Capacity and Burnout
Library staff are often stretched thin, juggling programming, administrative work, and frontline community needs. Hosting meaningful dialogues adds emotional labor and requires time, training, and institutional backing. Several presenters emphasized the need for leadership support, resources, and cross-staff collaboration to make this work sustainable.

Engaging Diverse and Underrepresented Voices
While libraries are among the most accessible public institutions, reaching people who feel disconnected, skeptical, or unseen remains a significant challenge. Effective engagement requires intentional outreach, relationship-building, and sometimes reimagining traditional formats to meet people where they are.

Addressing Polarization and Fear of Conflict
Facilitating conversations on polarizing issues can be stressful for both staff and participants. There’s often a fear of conflict escalation or public backlash, leading some libraries to avoid complex topics altogether. Presenters underscored that libraries can hold these conversations more effectively with strong facilitation, preparation, and community trust.

Measuring Impact Beyond Attendance
Evaluating civic engagement success goes beyond counting participants. Libraries are still exploring meaningful ways to document changes in trust, relationships, and community cohesion.

Sustaining Momentum After the Event
A recurring theme was that hosting one dialogue or program is not enough. Libraries need ongoing partnerships, follow-up structures, and mechanisms to keep engagement alive between events.

Want to Watch the Webinar or Explore More?

• Watch the recording: linked here!
• Explore the PowerPoint slide deck: linked here
• Check out the curated resources from the webinar: linked here
• Complete our feedback survey to help shape future events

Stay Connected

If you’re inspired by the ideas and stories shared in this session, we invite you to stay connected with NCDD and our partners at the Listen First Project. Together, we’re working to strengthen the networks that help communities connect across difference, foster belonging, and create meaningful opportunities for dialogue and collaboration.

Whether you’re a library worker, facilitator, educator, or community builder, there’s a place for you in this growing network. By joining NCDD, you can continue learning from others in the field, access practical tools and resources, and find support for your own engagement work.

Continue the conversation, explore upcoming events, and become part of the community at ncdd.org/join!