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Libraries show up in moments of crisis because they have spent years earning the trust of the people they serve. When disaster hits, when a pandemic reshapes daily life, or when the quieter crisis of mental health need settles into a community, people find their way to the library. The question is whether staff will have what they need to respond in ways that actually meet people where they are.
The Ready NOW Field Guide was built with that question in mind. Developed through a multi-year IMLS-funded project at the University of Maryland, it is a free, research-based toolkit that helps library staff at every level move from good intentions to grounded action through two core mindsets and three essential tasks focused on relationship-building, co-creation, and internal capacity.
In this session, you will hear directly from project staff on what it looks like to bring this framework into libraries. We will move from the foundations of the toolkit to real outreach and programming strategies you can take back to your own community.
If you are trying to build services that hold up when your community needs them most, this session is for you.
Our Presenters
Dr. Mega Subramaniam is a Professor at the College of Information at the University of Maryland and lead Principal Investigator of the Ready NOW project. Her research focuses on strengthening the role of libraries in advancing digital literacies among marginalized populations through community-centered approaches. Her work bridges research and practice to enhance the skills of library staff. Dr. Subramaniam’s contributions have been recognized nationally and internationally, including the Library Journal’s Movers and Shakers Award, Young Adult Library Services Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award, and both Fulbright Specialist and Fulbright Scholar Awards.
Tyler Hahn is the Director of the Cherokee Public Library in Cherokee, Iowa, where he leads initiatives focused on digital equity, inclusive engagement, and future-ready workforce development. A 2024 Library Journal Mover & Shaker and 2025 Distinguished Leadership Award winner from the Iowa Library Association. He advocates for rural libraries as essential civic infrastructure—empowering communities through innovation, education, and connection.
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By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe the two foundational mindsets (equity and community-centered practice) and three essential tasks (Build Transformational Community Relationships, Co-Create with Community, and Shape Internal Capacity) outlined in the Ready NOW Field Guide
- Explain how these elements prepare libraries to support communities during mental health and other crises.
- Identify at least two concrete strategies from the Ready NOW toolkit, such as relationship mapping, co-creation session planning, or policy auditing that can be applied in their own library setting to strengthen community mental health outreach and programming.