Transcript Building Leadership Skills: Community Engagement Instructor: Valerie J. Gross [email protected] An Infopeople Workshop Spring 2007 Workshop Overview 1.

Building Leadership
Skills: Community
Engagement
Instructor:
Valerie J. Gross
[email protected]
An Infopeople Workshop
Spring 2007
Workshop Overview
1. Aligning library services with
community priorities and values
2. Making yourself and your library
visible
3. Identifying and communicating with
communities and stakeholders
4. Pragmatic Partnering
Who is our community?
All cultures
All means
All backgrounds
All passions
All lifestyles
Babies
Pre-K
K-12
Schools
Adults
Older Adults
Parents
Homeschools
Businesses/Non-profits
Work Force
Organizations (e.g.,
Chamber of Commerce)
Government departments
(e.g., Economic
Development Authority,
Housing, Office on Aging)
Elected Officials
Community Leaders
Donors
Volunteers
Friends
Media
What is Engagement?
When we are relevant to everyone and to
everything
When each segment of our community
views us as:
 vital, critical
 vital = indispensable
and indispensable = funding
How Does Customer Service Relate
to Community Engagement?
The stepping stone to engaging the
community
Everyone on staff involved – everyone a
leader
First impressions
“I’d walk over nails to get to your library…”
Priorities and Values
A Collective List
Health
Environment (Green)
Science/Math
Civility
Genealogy
Safety (online, gangs)
Technology
Literacy
Computer Literacy
Financial Literacy
Travel
Intellectual Freedom
Cultural Diversity
Intergenerational
Cultural Center
Community Center
Education
Economic
Advancement
Quality of Life ***
Education
The activities of educating or instructing
or teaching
Information about a subject matter
Knowledge acquired by learning
Activities that impart knowledge
The process of acquiring knowledge
An enlightening experience
Our UMBRELLA: Education
Under the Education Umbrella
You! (ALL staff, plus
volunteers, Board,
Friends)
Collection (print,
electronic)
Children’s classes
and events
Teen classes and
events
Adult classes,
seminars and events
Cultural Center
Community Center
Signature initiatives
You might prefer three umbrellas
Education
Economic Advancement
Quality of Life
What Can We Crow About?
Innovation
Thinking Outside the Box
Signature Programs
Partnerships
Let’s share some examples!
Be a Shameless
Self-promoter!
Suggested Phrases
We are a pillar of education.
We are a cornerstone in the education
process.
We are partners in education.
What are other words that
“work”?
Which do you value more?
Which do you support more?

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a used car
a certified pre-owned vehicle
drilling for oil
exploring for energy
What Does “Storytime” Mean?
To someone who works in a library?
To someone who does not use the
library?
It’s a Self-fulfilling Prophecy
We become what we say we are.
Let’s speak BIG!
 “We are a world-class library.”
 “We are a pillar of education.”
 “Our staff is second to none.”
 “We are relentless about providing
exceptional customer service.”
The Elevator Speech
Who are we?
What do we do?
Why does it matter?
The Ten Rules of Effective Language
Simplicity: use small words
Brevity: use short sentences
Credibility is as important as Philosophy
Consistency matters
Offer Something New
Sound and Texture matter
Speak Aspirationally
Visualize
Ask a Question
Provide Context and explain Relevance
Getting Involved: Broader Benefits
Heightened visibility for the library
Building the library’s reputation for
excellence
Helping to create the indispensable
library
Part of the community engagement
process
Representing the Library
Be informed
Be ready with modified elevator
speeches for questions such as
 Tell me what you do?
 Is the Internet replacing the library?
 Is the book on its way to extinction?
 Aren’t you in direct competition with
bookstores?
Libraries Mean Business
We save you money.
We save you time.
We serve you directly.
We serve you indirectly.
We serve you through giving and
visibility opportunities!
Why Partner?
Capitalize on
strengths and
expertise
Gain visibility
Leverage funding
(enhances credibility
with government and
taxpayers)
Establish new or
expand existing
programs
Attract more outside
funding
Get new customers
Double the
marketing
Attract other partners
First Two Questions
What’s in it for us?
What’s in it for them?
The Five Factors
1. Supplement—as opposed to replace—
the programs of other organizations
2. Advance vision and mission
3. Outline administrative authority (funding
sources, obligations and expectations)
4. Benefit the organizations equitably
5. Evaluation
Short-term Partnerships
Handshake agreements
Less commitment
Recommend at least e-mail confirmation
of details
Typically one-shot collaborations
Long-term Partnerships
Formal agreements work best
Incorporate the five factors
High degree of commitment
Long-term Partnerships
Take Time
Seed idea – initial vision
Connect with key players – assess interest
Discuss with key library staff (who will lead?)
Inform Board
Involve staff (more ideas/gain support)
Determine costs / needs
Seed idea begins to grow
Set forth a plan / determine launch date
Engage the Community
Celebration to launch
Signing ceremony/press conference
Invite elected officials and community
leaders
Remarks: Library board president,
partnership representatives, mayor/county
executive, governor (request
proclamations!)
Why might we decline a
partnership opportunity?
Draw an audience?
Accomplish what we expect?
Funded?
Commitment?
Imbalance?
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the “What’s in it for us?” and
“What’s in it for them?” factors
Recommended Reading
The Thriving Library: Successful
Strategies for Challenging Times, by
Marylaine Block (2007).
Words that Work: It’s Not What
You Say, It’s What People Hear, by Dr.
Frank Luntz (2007).
I love e-mail
Valerie J. Gross
[email protected]
410.313.7750