A brief (20 minute) presentation at the 2016 New England Library Association conference. Topics: International relations, world affairs, partnering with World Affairs Councils, Foreign Policy Association, building community, creating trustworthy spaces for community conversations. Public Libraries. Academic Libraries.

1. Library Programming: Coming to
Grips with Our International Future
Steve Butzel, Library Director
Portsmouth Public Library
Portsmouth, NH

2. What We Did
Foreign Policy Association
“Great Decisions” Discussion Series
“World Affairs at the Library”
Lecture Series

4. Why you ask?
1. Our patrons are interested in talking about
serious, complex international issues

5. Why you ask?
2. They need a neutral, safe space in which to
gather and discuss these issues, and libraries
are ideally situated to provide such a space

6. Why you ask?
3. By providing this space and facilitating
conversation, libraries help build a sense of
community, shared concern and purpose

7. Foreign Policy Association
• Great Decisions Discussion Series
“Great Decisions is America's largest discussion
program on world affairs. The program model
involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing
Book, watching the DVD and meeting in a
Discussion Group to discuss the most critical
global issues facing America today.”
http://www.fpa.org

8. Foreign Policy Association
• Great Decisions Discussion Series
– 8 topics
– Briefing booklets
– DVD
– Moderator
– Facilitators Guide
– Schedule

9. Foreign Policy Association
Great Decisions Discussion Series 2016 topics
1. Middle East Alliances
2. The Rise of ISIS

10. Foreign Policy Association
Great Decisions Discussion Series 2016 topics
3. The Future of Kurdistan
4. Migration

11. Foreign Policy Association
Great Decisions Discussion Series 2016 topics
5. The Koreas
6. The United Nations
7. Climate Change
8. Cuba and the U.S.

12. Foreign Policy Association
Great Decisions Discussion Series Keys to Success
1. A good, qualified moderator (and host)
Not so much…

13. Foreign Policy Association
Great Decisions Discussion Series Keys to Success
1. A good, qualified moderator (and host)
Better…

14. Foreign Policy Association
Great Decisions Discussion Series Keys to Success
2. Create a “safe” place, “set the right tone”

15. Foreign Policy Association
Great Decisions Discussion Series Keys to Success
3. Consistency of format
4. Good marketing (as always)
5. Budget for briefing books (up to you)

16. Foreign Policy Association
Great Decisions Discussion Series 2017 topics
1. The Future of Europe
2. Trade and Politics
3. Conflict in the South China Sea
4. Saudi Arabia in Transition
5. U.S. Foreign Policy and Petroleum
6. Latin America’s Political Pendulum
7. Prospects for Afghanistan and Pakistan
8. Nuclear Security

17. “World Affairs at the Library”
Speaker Series

18. “World Affairs at the Library”
Speaker Series

19. “World Affairs at the Library”
• How?
– Partnered with WACNH
• Researching speakers
– Boston area universities
– Washington, DC. area
• Budgeting
• Marketing & Building a Following

20. “World Affairs at the Library”
Some more of our 2015-16 Speakers
1. Prof. Massood Samii, SNHU
2. Peter Kornbluh, National Security Archives
3. Joseph Keefe, PAX World Investments
4. Prof. Sinan Ciddi, Georgetown University
5. Tad Oelstrom, Kennedy School, Harvard

21. “World Affairs at the Library”
Most Recent and Upcoming Speakers

22. Library Programming: Coming to
Grips with Our International Future
Questions???
skbutzel@cityofportsmouth.com