Concentric Learning Communities: Educating Rural Library Staff in Principles of Collaborative Family Learning

The Raise Up Radio Libraries research project applies sociocultural learning theories in the public library environment. In conjunction with university-based investigators, rural-serving library staff engage community families in a program to codesign a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) podcast series that will be broadcast over local radio. The first two libraries to participate represent two distinct models of service for rural communities in the United States. In Texas, the pilot library is an independent organization, operated by a part-time director and dependent on volunteers. In Alabama, the pilot library is part of a three-branch system, which includes service to a large city as well as a rural area. Staff at both libraries actively engage with community members and develop services and programs that meet local needs. Yet the ways in which staff achieve these outcomes vary greatly and often reflect the previous experiences and education of its staff members. The various stakeholders allowed for different learning communities to organically form. This paper explores the impact of the learning community formed by researchers and library staff (Learning Community 1) on the learning community made up of library staff and families (Learning Community 2), a crucial element of the library program project.