The two Special Reports in this issue give you foundational information about two initiatives to help you decide whether you want to join them. One is very specific to libraries; the other is a new-ish social media platform. And you won’t want to miss this interview with a highly decorated marketer from California!

Special Report

How the Libraries Transforming Communities Initiative Has Worked, and How Your Library Can Participate
By Melina Sherman and Rebecca Joy Norlander
You might have heard of the Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC) project over the past 10 years, but do you realize how powerful it can be for participants? And did you know there’s another round of grant funding open right now? Learn about LTC’s amazing outcomes from two of the people who’ve been gathering data about them. And, great news: You can use the tools even if you’re not part of the grant project.

Special Report

Should You Add Threads to Your Social Media Mix?
By Linda Pophal
When Meta launched Threads, its Twitter-like social media platform, a few months ago, millions of people and organizations downloaded it almost immediately. But, what’s the outlook for this new communication tool? Who were the early users, and what are libraries doing with it? This short assessment could help your library decide whether to get on board.

Interviews With Marketing Masters

For SJPL’s Castañeda, Community-Building Runs in the Family
By Judith Gibbons
When she was young, Elizabeth Castañeda watched and admired the way her mother organized and strengthened the community they lived in. In college, Castañeda started using some of those methods to promote fun events. Now, she leads the communications team at the San José Public Library, which has won an amazing three John Cotton Dana Awards (and others) in only 6 years.