Library Advocacy from the Front Lines

Insert presenter’s name & event

Who’s who?

Presidential initiatives ACRL “Can’t do it alone.” Sustainability Expansion of trustees model & Library

Advocacy Now!

Why Was Frontline Advocacy Important?

“Active support of a cause or course of action.”

What is Advocacy?

Legislative◦ Library administrators◦ Trustees◦ Friends◦ Grassroots

Frontline◦ Librarians and library support staff.

Types of Advocacy

1. Value of our libraries.

2. Value as library employees.

Two Simple Concepts

Frontline Staff

Users & Other Folks

Grassroots

Connection

Library Advocacy

Frontline Workers

Grassrts.

Admin.TrusteesFriends

Should everyone be involved in frontline advocacy?

Identifying Frontline Staff to Deliver the

Library Message

6 EXCUSES

H/O

Advocacy University

Frontline Advocacy Toolkit

Thank you, Neal -

Schuman!

Toolkit …scroll down for more…

Public

School

Academic

Special

Frontline Advocacy for Public Libraries

4.1 What Is Frontline Advocacy? 4.2 Why Is It Important? 4.3 Who Me? 4.4 Frontline Advocacy Every Day : Leadership and Staff Working Together 4.5 Going Deeper: The Role of Library Leadership in Planning for Frontline Advocacy

◦ 2.5.a Taking the Lead 4.5.b Looking Closely at Your Library 4.5.c Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 4.5.d A Job for Everyone 4.5.e Working Together 4.5.f Your Message 4.5.g Your Audience 4.5.h Communication Tools 4.5.i Putting Your Plan on Paper 4.5.j "How'm I Doing?"

4.6 More Resources

Webpage Table of Contents

23 Advocacy Tips H/O

52 Ways to Make a Difference - PL

1. Involve

2. Teach

3. Inform

4. Illustrate

5. Encourage

6. Enlist

7. Listen

8. Brainstorm

9. Welcome

10. Thank, thank, thank!

Ten Action Steps for Frontline School Libraries

1. Create a dialogue.

2. Create a task force.

3. Decide on a simple message.

4. Determine ways to communicate the

message.

8 Steps to Get Started

5. Infuse Frontline Advocacy into everything you do.

◦ Strategic Plan

◦ Programs and Events

◦ Circulation

◦ Staffing and Training

8 Steps to Get Started

6. Train Staff.

7. Devote Time.

8. Evaluate.

8 Steps to Get Started

Goals Objectives Strategies Message Data to support the message Target audience Assessment

ADVOCACY PLAN COMPONENTS H/O

1. What is your goal? (What are you trying to accomplish?)

2. What are your objectives? (Why is it important?)

3. What are your strategies? (The activities you’ll do to accomplish your goal)

Advocacy Plan – Goals + H/O

4. What is your message? (15 words or less)

5. What data (or stories) support this message?

Advocacy Plan – The Message

6. Who is your target audience?

7. Why should they care?

8. How are you going to reach them? What will be your best tools?

Advocacy Plan - Audience

1. Think about your goal and objectives.

2. Make your message really easy to remember.

3. Don’t think only about what the message means to your library.

4. Come up with some “talking points.”

Crafting Your Message H/O

What are the most important words and ideas that emerged?

1. Goals and Objectives

Can you reduce it to 10-15 words in your mind?

◦More funds for the college library’s materials budget mean no cuts in journal titles for students and faculty.

 

2. Easily Remembered Messages

Don’t think what the message means to the library….

Cutting library hours will mean staff layoffs.

Think about what the message means for your users/community…

“Cutting the library means we will have to close some branches. Consequently, computers for job searches and Internet access will be no longer be available at this branch.

3. Message Important to Whom?

SITUATION: Your public library will be facing additional cuts that will drastically affect the IT budget this round.

GOAL:◦ To mobilize community grassroots to support the

library at an open forum at city council.

OBJECTIVES:1. To show how the public library helps the

community.

To share the information about ways in which residents can get involved and spread the word.

EXERCISE - Creating the Message

CREATE YOUR MESSAGE……

What things in your library system are you already

doing successfully?

What are some obstacles you may run into?

Wrap-up

Thank you!