Library Advocacy Basics: Creating Lifelong Civic Engagement

Advocacy on behalf of libraries and the communities they serve is a community-building exercise that, at its best, produces magnificent results for all involved. It is also a basic element of the work done all all levels of library staff. The challenge for beginners as well as for seasoned advocates is to work collaboratively and engagingly with partners and potential partners, step by step, in ways that produce sustainable results through positive civic engagement.

This highly-interactive session starts with a simple premise: effective advocates begin by listening to members of the communities they serve need rather than starting by talking about what their libraries need; they then look for areas of common interest and focus on efforts that produce wins for everyone involved. Participants will look at how successful advocates collaborate with community members to identify needs; how to develop realistic and attainable goals; how to build strong, sustainable, diverse/inclusive coalitions capable of bringing those goals to fruition; how to incorporate effective storytelling into their efforts; how to cultivate positive relationships with key partners including legislators and their legislative aides; and how to access advocacy resources available through ALA and other library associations.