{"id":133143,"date":"2026-09-15T13:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T17:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=133143"},"modified":"2026-09-15T18:14:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T22:14:51","slug":"looking-for-new-friends-acpl-offers-adults-a-place-to-connect-with-speed-friending-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2026\/09\/15\/looking-for-new-friends-acpl-offers-adults-a-place-to-connect-with-speed-friending-events\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking for new friends? ACPL offers adults a place to connect with Speed Friending events"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This fall, the Allen County Public Library is creating a space where adults can take some of the awkwardness out of making new connections with two \u201cSpeed Friending\u201d events.<\/p>\n

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Allen County Public Library news release:<\/p>\n

Looking for New Friends? ACPL Offers Adults a Place to Connect<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fort Wayne, Indiana (September 15, 2026) \u2013 Making friends as an adult can be harder than it sounds. Between work, family responsibilities and increasingly busy schedules, many adults find themselves with fewer opportunities to meet new people. This fall, the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is creating a space where adults can take some of the awkwardness out of making new connections with two \u201cSpeed Friending\u201d events.<\/p>\n

\u201cCreating new friendships as an adult doesn\u2019t always happen naturally, yet our friendships are among the most important relationships in our lives,\u201d said ACPL Librarian Sarah Holmes. \u201cThe library has always been a place where people can come as they are and we\u2019re one of the few \u201cthird places\u201d left \u2013 so, we\u2019re in the perfect position to make connections and foster friendships.\u201d<\/p>\n

Libraries are increasingly recognized as \u201cthird places\u201d \u2014 welcoming spaces outside of home and work where people can spend time, participate in activities and encounter members of their community. ACPL\u2019s Speed Friending events take that role one step further by making meeting new people the entire point of the program.<\/p>\n

According to Holmes, \u201cSpeed Friending gives people an easy reason to walk through the door and start a conversation. Whether someone is new to Fort Wayne, or simply looking to expand their social circle, Speed Friending offers a chance to make that first connection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participants will rotate through short conversations with other attendees, providing a structured way to meet a variety of people without the pressure of walking into a room full of strangers. Hot cocoa and tea will also be served.<\/p>\n

Two sessions are planned this fall:<\/p>\n