Skip to main content
Creating Community with "Speed Friending" at Your Library

Creating Community with "Speed Friending" at Your Library

2026-08-19T14:00:00 2026-08-19T15:00:00 Creating Community with "Speed Friending" at Your Library

We all recognize the patrons who come in to the library looking for conversation. But what about those quietly scrolling, hoping for connection and unsure how to take that first step? In an era often called an “epidemic of loneliness,” libraries have a powerful opportunity to spark genuine community connection.

Speed Friending offers a simple, low-cost, and engaging way to bring people together. With a welcoming space and thoughtfully crafted conversation starters, your library can help turn strangers into neighbors, and neighbors into friends. Let’s explore how to design and facilitate a Speed Friending program that encourages meaningful interaction, reduces social isolation, and builds lasting community connections. This session will provide practical tools, adaptable ideas, and real-world insights to help you confidently launch a program that fits your library’s size, audience, and resources.

As a result of this program, attendees will:

  • Identify groups in their community most impacted by social isolation and loneliness
  • Develop effective conversation starters to spark engaging and comfortable interaction
  • Learn how to plan, scale, and replicate a Speed Friending program tailored to their library

This project is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.

 , Michigan
Event Date

Start: August 19, 2026 2:00 PM

End: August 19, 2026 3:00 PM

We all recognize the patrons who come in to the library looking for conversation. But what about those quietly scrolling, hoping for connection and unsure how to take that first step? In an era often called an “epidemic of loneliness,” libraries have a powerful opportunity to spark genuine community connection.

Speed Friending offers a simple, low-cost, and engaging way to bring people together. With a welcoming space and thoughtfully crafted conversation starters, your library can help turn strangers into neighbors, and neighbors into friends. Let’s explore how to design and facilitate a Speed Friending program that encourages meaningful interaction, reduces social isolation, and builds lasting community connections. This session will provide practical tools, adaptable ideas, and real-world insights to help you confidently launch a program that fits your library’s size, audience, and resources.

As a result of this program, attendees will:

  • Identify groups in their community most impacted by social isolation and loneliness
  • Develop effective conversation starters to spark engaging and comfortable interaction
  • Learn how to plan, scale, and replicate a Speed Friending program tailored to their library

This project is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.

Click here for registration information
Continuing Education PCI Webinar Library Development LSTA Virtual For Libraries

Related Events

Horror Readers’ Advisory: How to Help Your Scariest Patrons
In this webinar she will explain how to talk to fans, break down the appeal of horror, identify what resources will serve you best, and most importantly, give you dozens of authors and titles to start suggesting with confidence, immediately!

Digital Collections Office Hours
Join our monthly discussion about all things digital. Discuss questions regarding digitization, digital collections, and digital preservation with staff from the Library of Michigan, DPLA Michigan Service Hub, and Michigan Digital Preservation Network.

Michigan Library Director Virtual Meeting
Monthly meeting of Michigan library directors to hear updates on news and resources from the Library of Michigan and get answers to current questions.

Building Basics (series): Planning Library Renovations, Expansions, and New Construction (Part 2)
The physical building is one of a library’s most important assets—yet facility management is often overlooked as a core leadership responsibility. This webinar series equips library directors, managers, and trustees with the knowledge to confidently steward their buildings, plan for the future, and protect public investment. Each session blends practical strategies with real-world examples, helping participants understand not just what needs to be done, but why it matters for safety, efficiency, and public trust. The sessions are designed for decision-makers at all levels, from first-time branch managers to experienced administrators.

MeL Training - Homeschool Help with Gale Resources for Secondary Students from MeL
Discover how Gale resources from the Michigan eLibrary can support homeschooling families with secondary students.

Library Law Office Hours
Are you a library director, administrator, board member or friend? Do you have a library law question? Join us for this informal session!