Building community, one meetup at a time
Libraries have grown into community hubs where people gather and create meaningful connections. From 2023-2025, Georgia public libraries experienced a 30% increase in the number of meetings or events held at but not sponsored by the library. From community meetups to musical performances to parent groups, libraries provide opportunities for Georgians to gather in a safe and welcoming environment. Here are a couple of examples.
Fathers Build Bonds and Brotherhood
The Library Dads, a nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, fosters bonding experiences between fathers and their children as they build a love of reading, while also creating a supportive community of fathers.
The group hosts Library Link-ups, which offers activities like storytime that help build creativity and literacy. It’s also an opportunity for fathers to meet other fathers. These meetups are hosted at several branches of the Fulton County Library System, most notably Wolf Creek Library.
Khari Arnold, 32, started the group, alongside his wife Arielle, after seeing the positive impact of weekly library trips with his daughter.
“When I was picking up my daughter’s birth certificate, I saw two young kids in the waiting room reading these really big chapter books, and I was impressed,” said Arnold. “Their mother told me they saw their older siblings reading, and their older siblings would see their dad reading.”
Arnold recognized that reading could become a way to bond with his daughter.
“It started with simply taking my daughter to the library every week and seeing how much our bond grew,” he said. “I also saw her vocabulary and cognitive skills grow. At 18 months, her pediatrician said she should know about 10 to 15 words. She knew 250.”
Inspired, Arnold wanted to create a group and space that could help more fathers, emphasize the importance of introducing children to reading at an early age, and encourage fathers to lead by example.
“I think every librarian will tell you they see more moms and their children than dads,” said Arnold.
“Something we’ve been talking about recently is that we want to remind dads that sports are fun, but so is reading. If kids only see you jumping up and down at the TV, but they never see you reading to or with them, why would they ever value reading?”
Michael Worthen is one of many fathers who have appreciated the meetups.
“I didn’t have too many dad friends, so having a day to let kids play together while dads mingle and connect was a great experience,” said Worthen. “Before, I wasn’t going to libraries, but now my kids are enjoying going there and getting different books. They want to go to the library more often!”
The Library Dads meetup also helps introduce families to other programs at the library.
“I don’t think many people realize everything that libraries offer,” said Arnold. “I encourage everyone to research programs on their library’s website to see things like first-aid courses, financial literacy workshops, chess club, and Lego club.”
“We have so many different types of groups that use the library to gather, share, learn, and more,” said Claudia Strange, public relations and marketing director at Fulton County Library System. “The Library Dads are one of our larger groups meeting up at the library, but we also see groups of writers, book clubs, neighborhood groups, teachers, students, and anyone needing a space to gather.”
The Library Dads will visit more libraries in 2026 through its Atlanta Fatherhood Tour, a five-month tour of Library Link-ups held in Fulton, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett counties. Learn more at thelibrarydads.org
Connecting the Local Latino Community
In Valdosta, the South Georgia Regional Library, in collaboration with the Valdosta Latino Association (VLA), hosts a monthly Latino Meet and Greet that is open and free to the entire community.
“The inspiration was rooted in our library’s mission to distribute reliable information to the community, aligning with the Valdosta Latino Association’s similar mission focused on the Spanish community,” said Miguel Vicente, director at South Georgia Regional Library.
The library has partnered for four years to provide the meeting room, technology, and support staff for the Latino Meet and Greet. Vicente also serves as president of VLA, so the library has close ties with the Valdosta Latino Association and its board members, who come from a variety of different backgrounds and industries.
“The program has blossomed into a networking event where guests can learn about Latino-related events and organizations, as well as practice their Spanish in a welcoming environment,” said Vicente.
“Having a consistent event helps us learn about each other’s businesses, as well as get to know and see how we can help each other,” said Dora Harding, VLA board member. “We’ve had people travel from different areas, not just Valdosta, to the meet and greet. I would say that’s the best part.”
Attendees are introduced to resources from the library and around the community, such as scholarships for students, mentorship programs for youth, homeownership guidance, financial literacy workshops, and others.
“The goal has always been to showcase all the resources we have in our community and what we could do to make it better,” said Maribel Trejo, VLA secretary.
Trejo says the library is a natural place for the community to gather.
“The library is very well known for unity in our area. The idea was that we’d help bridge the gap, to connect individuals, and what better place to do that than what our town already views as the central location,” said Trejo.
Explore community resources available at your public library: georgialibraries.org/find-a-library
