Successful Community Development OLA Conference – February 4, 2005 Bob Ernest, Trustee Cathy Matyas, Chief Librarian Waterloo Public Library Waterloo,

Successful Successful Community Community

DevelopmentDevelopment

OLA Conference – February OLA Conference – February 4, 20054, 2005Bob Ernest, TrusteeBob Ernest, Trustee

Cathy Matyas, Chief LibrarianCathy Matyas, Chief LibrarianWaterloo Public LibraryWaterloo Public Library

Waterloo, ONWaterloo, ON

Waterloo Public LibraryWaterloo Public Library

WE WON!WE WON!

2004 Public Library Service 2004 Public Library Service AwardAward

Minister’s Award for Minister’s Award for InnovationInnovation


Located in southwestern Ontario, Located in southwestern Ontario, one hour west from Toronto one hour west from Toronto

Part of Waterloo Region: Waterloo, Part of Waterloo Region: Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and Regional Kitchener, Cambridge and Regional Municipality of WaterlooMunicipality of Waterloo

Four public library systemsFour public library systems Two universities, one community Two universities, one community

collegecollege


City of WaterlooCity of Waterloo Population of 105,000Population of 105,000 Highly educatedHighly educated High tech and knowledge-basedHigh tech and knowledge-based Diverse and stable employment baseDiverse and stable employment base High ranking in terms of wage and salary rates, High ranking in terms of wage and salary rates,

average household income and cost of livingaverage household income and cost of living One of the fastest-growing regional economies One of the fastest-growing regional economies

in Canadain Canada 20,000 post-secondary students20,000 post-secondary students


Main Library and one neighbourhood Main Library and one neighbourhood branchbranch

Well-used, well-loved civic serviceWell-used, well-loved civic service 1M+ circulation1M+ circulation Focus on four key roles as of 2003:Focus on four key roles as of 2003:

Popular collections, services and programsPopular collections, services and programs Early literacyEarly literacy Digital resourcesDigital resources Community developmentCommunity development


Community Development . . .Community Development . . .

““. . .the social, cultural, economic and . . .the social, cultural, economic and environmental enrichment of individuals environmental enrichment of individuals who are identified as a ‘community’. . .”who are identified as a ‘community’. . .”

The Partnership HandbookThe Partnership Handbook

Human Resources Development Human Resources Development Canada, 1997Canada, 1997


Focus on community-based partnerships to Focus on community-based partnerships to participate in local community participate in local community developmentdevelopment

Community-based partnerships Community-based partnerships take place in the community, have involvement take place in the community, have involvement

of community members and have a direct of community members and have a direct impact on the communityimpact on the community

provide enhancements outside of the provide enhancements outside of the organization organization

help people in general or for a community help people in general or for a community causecause


WPL has over 30 community partnerships, WPL has over 30 community partnerships, most of which have been developed over most of which have been developed over the past two yearsthe past two years

Community-based partnerships have Community-based partnerships have allowed us to reduce duplication, extend allowed us to reduce duplication, extend our collections, services and programsour collections, services and programs

((www.wpl.cawww.wpl.ca and go to “Partnerships”) and go to “Partnerships”)


Benefits of community-based partnerships Benefits of community-based partnerships Local participation and empowerment – “for Local participation and empowerment – “for

the community, by the community”the community, by the community” Enhance local and collective skillsEnhance local and collective skills Provide a learning environmentProvide a learning environment Integrate several areas of development: Integrate several areas of development:

social, economic, environmental, educational, social, economic, environmental, educational, culturalcultural

Challenge the status quo and motivate changeChallenge the status quo and motivate change

Waterloo Public LibraryWaterloo Public Library Examples of WPL community-based partnerships:Examples of WPL community-based partnerships:

Books-and-Quilts Books-and-Quilts (Waterloo County Quilters’ Guild)(Waterloo County Quilters’ Guild) Books to Grow Books to Grow (Waterloo Region Home Child Care)(Waterloo Region Home Child Care) Student ConnectionsStudent Connections (University of Waterloo) (University of Waterloo) ProjectNOW ProjectNOW (various organizations serving new (various organizations serving new

immigrants)immigrants) Community Art Community Art (Waterloo Community Art Centre)(Waterloo Community Art Centre) Emergency Food Hamper Program Emergency Food Hamper Program (House of (House of

Friendship)Friendship) Most Wanted Book Program Most Wanted Book Program (Bookstore, Cinema, (Bookstore, Cinema,

Library)Library)


Where we get our partnership ideas:Where we get our partnership ideas:

TrusteesTrustees

Chief Librarian Chief Librarian

Library staffLibrary staff

CommunityCommunity


Partnership skillsPartnership skills Negotiation and facilitation skillsNegotiation and facilitation skills Team building and group process skills Team building and group process skills Problem-solving and conflict resolutionProblem-solving and conflict resolution Planning skillsPlanning skills Evaluation skillsEvaluation skills Time managementTime management Financial managementFinancial management Stress managementStress management Marketing and media relationsMarketing and media relations


What has this partnership What has this partnership accomplished?accomplished?

What do I and others value about What do I and others value about this partnership and its this partnership and its accomplishments?accomplishments?

Waterloo Public LibraryWaterloo Public Library Dividends to our libraryDividends to our library

21% increase in operating budget over the 21% increase in operating budget over the last two yearslast two years

$1.4M capital funding to improve book $1.4M capital funding to improve book collections in 2004 and 2005collections in 2004 and 2005

$400,000 federal grant funding for $400,000 federal grant funding for ProjectNOWProjectNOW

$10,000 private donation for literacy activities$10,000 private donation for literacy activities $6,000 service club donation for $6,000 service club donation for Books to Books to

GrowGrow


WE WON!WE WON!

2004 Public Library Service 2004 Public Library Service AwardAward

Minister’s Award for InnovationMinister’s Award for Innovation


Thank you!Thank you!

Bob Ernest, WPL TrusteeBob Ernest, WPL [email protected]@hotmail.com

Cathy Matyas, Chief LibrarianCathy Matyas, Chief [email protected]@wpl.ca

Documents

Successful Community Development OLA Conference – February 4, 2005 Bob Ernest, Trustee Cathy Matyas, Chief Librarian Waterloo Public Library Waterloo,