Capturing Library Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals with Project Outcome

Panelists

Carissa Hansen (she/her) is the Project Outcome subcommittee lead for PLA's Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment Committee. Carissa is a consultant for public libraries and a JD candidate based in Minneapolis. She's held numerous positions in libraries, from library page to library director and everything in between. Central to all of her work is a passion for empowering people to make an impact.

Daniela Skokovic (she/her) is library advisor at Požega Public Library, in the western part of Serbia. She works in the children’s department and is responsible for creating and realizing a variety of reading promotion programmes for all ages of children and young adults. She is especially dedicated to early literacy programs and picturebooks and reading clubs for teenagers. Požega Public Library established the first Green Library and United Nations SDG Teen Reading Club in Serbia. Daniela believes in involving children and YA in fostering their reading and lifelong learning competencies, by working together in partnership with schools, parents, libraries, and other cultural institutions. Daniela served as a member of the ALA 2030 United Nations SDGs Task Force (2020-21).

John F. Szabo is the city librarian of the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), which serves over four million people—the largest population of any public library in the United States. He oversees the Central Library and seventy-two branches. In 2015, LAPL received the nation’s highest honor for library service, the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, for its success in meeting the needs of Angelenos and providing a level of social, educational, and cultural services unmatched by any other public institution in the city. Under his leadership, the library’s major initiatives include those related to immigrant integration and citizenship, sustainability, civic engagement, digital inclusion, and lifelong learning. He has expanded the library’s reach into the city’s diverse communities through partnerships with several community-based organizations. He has more than thirty years of leadership experience in public libraries. John served as a member of the ALA 2030 United Nations SDGs Task Force (2020-21) and is a current member of the ALA International Relations Committee SDGs Subcommittee.

Sara Goek is project manager, data and research, at PLA. She is responsible for supporting PLA’s data and research efforts and developing related training content.