PCI Webinar with Kerri Copus

Creating Community with Speed Friending at Your Library

Date: August 19, 2026

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