In 2016, library scholar R. David Lankes said, "...Good libraries build services; great libraries build communities." This presentation showcases innovative approaches that leverage collaboration across campus and the wider community to enhance library resources, educational opportunities, and the visibility of the college. Through examples from Fayetteville Technical Community College's Paul H. Thompson Library, attendees will explore successful partnerships including The Living Law Project and the recently published FTCC book The Road to Success: A Love Letter to Our Students. The session demonstrates how engagement, communication, and mission awareness can drive libraries to become the heartbeat hub of their college. Participants will leave with practical strategies for building similar collaborative initiatives at their institutions.
About Mary DiRisio Mary K. DiRisio serves as Dean of Library and Student Learning Services at Fayetteville Technical Community College. She holds a Master's in Library Science from Texas Woman's University and brings diverse experience from public and academic libraries in New York State and North Carolina. A frequent presenter at professional conferences, Mary has shared her expertise at the NC Community College System Conference, NCLIVE, NCLA, NC Community College Archives Association, UNC-W Challenging the Paradigm Conference, and the NC Association of Historians. Guided by her belief that libraries serve as vital community hubs, her professional interests focus on community engagement, events management, programming, and leadership. Outside of work, Mary enjoys gardening, genealogy, Pilates, and cheering on the Buffalo Bills.
