library advocacy

©Copyright Laurie Boettcher 2009

Library Advocacy KitTools of the

Trade: Easy Advocacy

Tipspresented by

Laurie Boettcher, John Thompson, and Leah Langby


Welcome

• Who is a library advocate?• Basic steps to success.• Valuable tools and resources.• Questions, answers, and discussion.


Who are library advocates?

• Librarians and staff• Library trustees• Friends• Library users• Community leaders• Potential advocates


Basic Steps to SuccessWhy do you

need to be an advocate?• A new building? • More computers? • Ward off a budget cut? • Increase community awareness?


Basic Steps to Success1. Start Now


Basic Steps to Success2. Lay the foundation.

• Excellent customer service• Cross cultural

barriers• Community

involvement


Basic Steps to Success3. Promote your image.

• Logo CRUCIAL• Use your logo on everything


Basic Steps to Success4. Have a clear, consistent,

memorable message.• Simple, but powerful • Ten words or less• Easy to use and repeat• Use it!


Basic Steps to Success5. Target your audiences.• Who needs to hear

your message? • Whose support is

most critical?• Internal audiences?


Basic Steps to Success6. Delivering the message.

• Take every opportunity• Stories have power • Know your audience• Give the information

they want• Be personable• Send an exciting,

positive message• Handouts


Basic Steps to Success7. Practice word-of-mouth

advertising.• Sell your programs• Patron awareness • Ask for help spreading

the word• Attitude helps build

relationships


Basic Steps to Success8. An enthusiastic, articulate

spokesperson.• Deliver with passion• Know presentation strengths• Tailor each message• Bi-partisan, community focused• Establish credibility and likability


Basic Steps to Success9. Express gratitude.

• Thank everyone• Small gift tokens• Memorable and unique


Basic Steps to Success10. Don’t stop.

• Ongoing effort• Tweak as needed• Keep up momentum


Resources• On-line publications• Web sites


Tools and Templates• Generic PowerPoint• Quotable facts and statistics• Why I love the library• Volunteer opportunities• Donation allocations


Questions, Answers, and Discussion

library advocacy

Education

basic steps

library advocates

memorable message

library advocacy kit

community awareness

message bipartisan

positive message handouts

community focused