Learning from others: Bringing new ideas home to Gadsden

By Craig Scott, Director of Gadsden Public Library One of the things I’ve learned throughout my career is that no matter how long you’ve been doing something, there’s always something new to learn. Sometimes the best ideas don’t come from sitting behind your desk. They come from stepping outside your surroundings, listening to others and discovering how different communities approach the same challenges we face here in Gadsden and Etowah County. That’s precisely why I recently traveled to Winter Park, Florida, to participate in the 2026 Library Journal Directors’ Summit. I was honored to be selected as one of 100 public library directors invited to this national gathering. The opportunity to exchange ideas with fellow library leaders, hear from respected voices in our profession, and reflect on the future of public libraries was both rewarding and thought-provoking. But perhaps the most important part of attending isn’t what you learn while you’re there.

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