Navigating a Partnership of Knowledge and Service: The UConn Hartford-Hartford Public Library Model

Presented by: Hartford Public Library, and University of Connecticut-Hartford

In August of 2017, the Hartford Public Library (HPL) and the University of Connecticut-Hartford (UConn Hartford) launched an exciting and unique partnership that includes co-location of staff, materials and the sharing of programmatic resources. As the first public library-public R1 university collaboration in the nation, the HPL-UConn partnership leverages the historical strengths of both institutions to deliver a wide range of services to an expanded community comprised of both Hartford residents and UConn students, staff and faculty.Insights and Outcomes:

• Explain the structures and operating parameters of the HPL-UConn Hartford partnership with particular attention to the COVID era.
• Provide examples of successful collaboration resulting from the HPL-UConn Hartford Partnership.
• Examine the challenges to the partnership within the context of a diverse urban setting.