Is it about Empowerment?

We've been spared a lot of weather this winter - which is good since this is my first winter here and I'd rather phase in gradually - but today we're getting a nice deep snowfall. Maybe 8 inches by tomorrow morning. I made a loop around the Riverwalk just before the storm hit this afternoon.

Top of the Falls and south side of the Riverwalk below Library parking lot

The Riverwalk is a work in progress of trails around the part of the Nashua River that runs through the city of Nashua. From my condo by the Main Street Bridge, I can walk down the north side, over the river on the old railroad trestle bridge, continue past the new Senior Activities Center, then the Crosby Bakery (yum!) and back down Main Street back to the bridge. Today, I took my alternate path to stop at the Nashua Library. They do a great job of community outreach with a lot of interesting programs for people of all ages. Their auditorium is the most active meeting place in the city, with groups from Condo associations to Photography clubs to speakers of all types.

In New Hampshire, each city is responsible for its own library. In Florida where I lived, libraries are a county-wide operation. While that allows sharing of resources (all the books in each library are available to each county resident), it seems to inhibit initiative. Libraries here are motivated to provide REALLY interesting activities for kids after school; to help unemployed residents get back into the swing; to bring the community together over common interests such as health, nature, hobbies and music. The libraries here are keeping up with new technology, too. No clinging to the printed word as job security!

The Nashua library is a big part of the vitality of downtown Nashua. The library touches people and adds to their whole...What drives this organization? Is it about empowerment? Maybe I can find this elusive ingredient in other successful downtown organizations...