Bridging the Divide

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an example of a productive working relationship between a public library and a public school district. For years the Clearview Library District (CLD) struggled with an estranged relationship with the Weld Re-4 School District. Various contributing factors made it difficult for staff to proactively connect with educators and school administration. In 2008, CLD made a commitment to reassessing its role in the community and began exploring ways to better serve more members of the community. CLD selected schools as a priority because they presented a tremendous opportunity to touch a large percentage of the population. This new relationship became a major focus for the Youth Services and Outreach Departments of the Clearview Library District, who worked together to develop a plan to bridge the divide.