A new County public library in a diverse neighborhood adjoining a mid-sized Mid-Atlantic city opened in 2019 following an ambitious, community-engaged design process. Workshops were held. Surveys were conducted. Voices were heard. But five years later, a critical question remains: Did the building deliver on its promise of access and equity? This session moves beyond design intent and into lived experience. Through a cross-stakeholder conversation, a librarian, the architect, and a graduate researcher examine what worked, what surprised them, and what the data reveals about how the community actually uses the space. Drawing on post-occupancy surveys and interviews with patrons and staff, the panel will discuss findings related to seating choices, spatial zoning, interior design decisions, and user satisfaction. Where did early community input shape outcomes? Where did reality diverge from expectation? And how can libraries better translate engagement into measurable impact? Rather than presenting a single narrative, this session stages a candid dialogue across roles and perspectives. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for turning community engagement from a checkbox into a sustained, research-informed partnership — ensuring that public libraries are not only designed for communities, but truly shaped with them.
