"the measure passed! what's next?" 2016 long island library conf

The Morning After: The budget passed – now what?

Long Island Library Conference 2016

@MrChrastka@everylibrary

Building voter support for libraries

John ChrastkaExecutive [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

● First Nationwide PAC for Libraries

● Set up as a c4 rather than a c3

● 33 Campaigns to date 25 wins

● $64.4 million in stable tax funding

● Pro Bono Approach

● Negotiation and Lobbying Support for funding

● Over 50 trainings

● #votelibraries 2016

● The Political Librarian

● everylibrary.org - professional facingvotelibraries.org - public facingaction.everylibrary.org - petitions and events

You Did It!Now What?

Building on your momentum

What Your Voters Believe

“From Awareness to Funding” says…

National Voter Attitudes


37% will Definitely vote yes for the library

37% will Probably vote yes for the library

26% will Probably or Definitely vote no or may vote either way.

Library Use Does Not Matter

A voter’s willingness to support increased library funding is not driven, or limited, by library use.

- OCLC "From Awareness to Funding" p. 7-2


Library as Transformative Force

[T]he library is not perceived as just a provider of practical answers and information; the most committed supporters hold the belief that the library is a transformational force.



Attitude - Not Demographics

The factors that determine residents’ willingness to increase their taxes to support their local library are their perceptions and attitudes about the library and the librarian.



They recognize the value of a ‘passionate librarian’ as a true advocate for lifelong learning.



Attitude - Not Demographics

What Activates Voters A Reason to Vote Mobilized Personal Contact with

Candidate or Issue* Culture/Tradition/Habit

of Voting* Trust in Government Decided to Vote Weather/Access to Polls


What Activates Voters for The Library?

The Librarian is the Candidate

The Library is the Incumbent

Library = Librarians + Community


Were You an Accidental Candidate?

You have political capital

Now What?Building on your political capital


What is Your Next Big Opportunity?

Fundraising and DonorsLocal, State and National Coalitions

Town/City/County Budgets

State Legislation and Federal Funding

Funders and Grantmakers

1. An Identified Need 2. Personal Motivation3. Experience of the Issue*4. Prior Success as an

Advocate*5. Institutional Reputation6. Made a Pledge7. Ease of Access to

Advocacy Tools

What Activates Advocates?


ADVOCATES:

1. An Identified Need

2. Personal Motivation

3. Experience of the Issue*

4. Prior Success as Advocate*

5. Institutional Reputation

6. Made a Pledge

7. Ease of Access to Tools

Activate in Either Context


VOTERS:

1. A Reason to Vote

2. Mobilization

3. Personal Contact with Candidate*

4. Culture/Tradition/Habit of Voting*

5. Trust in Government (pro or con)

6. Decided to Vote

7. Weather/Access to Polls

Voters and Funders and Donors and Constituents

The attitudes and behaviors are the same

Probable and Super Supporters

• They are involved in their communities

• They recognize the library’s importance to the community and to a

child’s education

• They are not always heavy users of the library, but believe the library

is a noble place, important and relevant to the community

- OCLC "From Awareness to Funding" p7-4


Probable and Super Supporters

• They recognize the value of a ‘passionate librarian’ as a true

advocate for lifelong learning

• They see the library as a vital community resource like public schools,

fire and police, and are willing to increase their taxes to support the

library.

- OCLC "From Awareness to Funding" p7-4


FundraisingWhat do donors want?

How are they different from voters?

What do donors want?1. Leverage for their

donation

2. New reasons to give to the library

3. Proof - every person on the committee gives

4. Challenge / Match


#everylibrary

Voters and Donors are Basically the Same

[T]he library is not perceived as just a provider of practical answers and information; the most committed supporters hold the belief that the library is a transformational force.



Coalition PartnersBuilding the a coalition for the library

Bringing the library to existing coalitions

Extending Your Influence

What systems already exist in your community or statewide that align with libraries? Where are your natural partnerships? Who are you regularly frustrated with?

State and Local Systems:

Boards and Commissions

Coalitions of Common Cause

Coalitions of Common Concern

What Coalitions are Right for You?

Economic Development

Early Literacy and Early Childhood

Grade Level Reading

Housing and Food Security

Immigration

Safety and Violence

Grants and CapacityBuilding partnerships Being invited to apply

Someone Else’s BudgetTown/City/County Partners

State Legislation and AppropriationsFederal Funding

Making a New Ask

1. Where does revenue come from?

2. What are the priorities of my elected officials?

3. What is “regular order” for the lawmaking or rulemaking

body?

4. How can I make this easy for them?

Making a “New Ask” Easier

We have developed language for an ordinance/bill that would address X or Y or Z….

Would you like to see it?


Now What?Really, what is the next big thing

for you and your library?

What are your assets?


Civic Attitudes Beyond Voters

● 94% of Parents say libraries are important for their children. 79% say “very important”. 2

● 58% of Americans have a library card. 3

● 62% of card holders have visited the library in the last year at least once.4

2. Pew, May 2013

3 and 4. Harris Interactive | ALA, January 2011

#everylibrary

‘Day After’ the Campaign Assets

A. Current Allies and Endorsers

B. Current Situational Awareness

C. Actionable Voter and Card Holder Data

D. Fundraising for the Campaign

E. Volunteers on the Campaign

F. Opposition to the Campaign

G. Messaging about the Campaign


Run Your Next Big Thing Like a Campaign

Be the Candidate


How Candidates “Surface”● Write the book● Tell their story● Be seen as an expert● Start an Exploratory Team● Get endorsed● Launch their Campaign

What is Your Book?

Strategic Plan

Management Plan

Service/Programs/Collections Plan

Fundraising Goals

Financials and Fiduciary


What Do Candidates Know?

● Your ‘vision for the community’ is the key story to tell

● You will either have more money than people, or more

people than money

● Elections are won through coalitions

● Endorsements drive legitimacy

● Proxies are needed to speak for the candidate


Build Infrastructure Before You Need It

1. Start talking about your plans2. Introduce staff to the public3. Drink more coffee (meetings)4. Ask people to join you5. Spend money to get Likes6. Sign folks up for emailing lists7. Continually educate your stakeholders

Like - Support - ID

I Like what you’re doing --->

I Support what you are doing --->

I Want to identify us with what you are doing.


#everylibrary

To Library Users:● “As you know...”● Personal Value Proposition● Value for Other● Activation as a Voter

To Non-Users:● “As you can imagine...”● Value to/for “Other”● Satisfaction as a Voter

Remember – Use Does Not Matter


John ChrastkaEveryLibrary

action.everylibrary.org

facebook/everylibrary@everylibrary

[email protected]


Thank You

"the measure passed! what's next?" 2016 long island library conf

Leadership & Management