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

Instructor: Kerri Copus has over twenty years of experience in libraries, focusing on reducing barriers and creating programs that build connection in rural communities. She is passionate about designing welcoming, accessible spaces and has presented on this work at PLA, sharing practical strategies with fellow professionals. Kerri is the Library Program Coordinator at Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library in Virginia, a 2026 cohort member of the Virginia Library Leadership Academy (VALLA), and a member of VLA, PLA, and ALA.

To register for this webinar please follow this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4317769783667/WN_bxtrdW6KSsybP3lRTfTrCw Sessions are free and available only to members of the Michigan library community. Registrants will receive instructions and a link to attend the session directly from PCI after they register.

PCI Webinars are recorded and available to members of the Michigan library community in the Library of Michigan's Niche Staff Skills Academy about a week after they air. New webinars will be in the New category for several weeks. You do not need to register for a webinar in order to view it later in the Staff Skills Academy.

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.