library advocacy resources
DESCRIPTION
presentation to library trustees on advocacyTRANSCRIPT
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Advocacy Resources:What Trustees Should
Know
Presented by:Dr. Curtis R. Rogers
Director, Division of Statewide Library Services
South Carolina State Library
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Overview
• What is advocacy?– The act of pleading or arguing in
favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support.
• Why is advocacy important?– Elevator scenario.– Exercise: three important facts about
the library.
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Advocacy Highlights
• American Library Association – Issues & Advocacy
• http://www.ala.org/ala/issues/issuesadvocacy.htm
– Association of Library Trustees and Advocates• http://www.ala.org/alta • Discussion group, training events at annual ALA
• FOLUSA – Friends of Libraries USA• FOSCL – Friends of South Carolina Libraries• National Library Week: April 10-16, 2005• Events/Programming - discussion
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What is FOSCL?
• To help foster, create, and support local friends of the library groups, and to provide a means for these groups to work together for the betterment of library service in South Carolina.
• To serve as a resource for local friends groups. • To promote wider knowledge and use of
libraries as cultural and information centers for individuals and groups.
• To support improved library education in South Carolina.
• To support the Library Bill of Rights.
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Where to start…
• Identify: Who are the advocates?– Library Trustees– Library Friends– Library Users– Community Leaders– Librarians and library staff– Potential advocates
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Tips…
• Build an “Advocacy Network”:– Designate a coordinator– Have a clear message (3-4
words/Slogan)– Create a database of names/contacts– Make sure all receive the library’s
newsletter. (If your library doesn’t have a newsletter, volunteer to create one!)
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What can be done…
• Library staff– Be enthusiastic
and positive– Meet with key
community members
– Stay informed– Keep supporters
informed– Recruit advocates
• Trustees – Keep up with hot
topics like censorship, funding, literacy
– Get to know local officials
– Participate in legislative day (March 2, 2005)
– Hold annual event for supporters
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Plan for Action!
• Define goals and objectives• Identify critical tasks:
– Steering committee– Budget– Volunteers– Activities coordinator/liaison– Fundraising
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Plan to communicate!
• Define the key message• Target the key audiences• Identify communication strategies (see
Communications Handbook)• Learn about local and regional media• Be prepared to spread the word in an
effective manner! Document!• Learn how to write effective press
releases.
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Timetable
• Set a timetable– Initially weekly– Then monthly– What is important in your community
during certain months? – Can you share activities with other
groups and offer the library’s meeting facilities?
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Evaluate
• Focus groups – before and after an advocacy campaign
• Questions: Has funding improved?• Did demand for service increase?• Did you receive editorial support?• Did you get requests after items appeared in
the media?• What type of comments did you hear?
Receive in letters?• Were you successful in building your
advocacy network?
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Telling your story…
• Statistics vs. stories• Thank you letters• Sharing a story with appropriate
audience:– Keep it simple, brief and personal.– Have a beginning, middle and end.– Have a good “punch line.”– Do not use real names unless you have
been given permission.
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Story Example
The children’s book Dinosaurs Divorce was challenged in one library by a parent who felt it might be distressful for children. However, one little girl wrote a letter to her library saying that book helped her to stop crying because it made her realize that she wasn’t responsible for her parents getting divorced. What if that little girl hadn’t been able to read that book?!
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Advocate Checklist
Contact the library Stay informed – get
on mailing lists Speak up! Talk to
neighbors, co-workers, relatives…
Suggest libraries for program topics to outside groups
Attend local government meetings
Call in to radio talk shows
Call, e-mail, write letters to legislators, local officials…
Attend library legislative day
Recruit others Join or start a friends
group
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Additional Resources
• FOLUSA Advocacy Checklist (#13)• PLA – http://www.pla.org • LFF/ALC http://www.lff.org/ • SCLA.org (Trustee Section)• SC Literary Map• FOSCL (next slide)• Your Library’s Promotional Items
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Q&A
• Contact:
Dr. Curtis R. RogersSC State LibraryPO Box 11469
Columbia, SC 29211Email: [email protected]
Phone: 803-734-8928