- 8-minute video about how to be an effective advocate for the library. Advice begins 2:15 minutes into the video.
- Marketing and Public Relations: How they work together by the State Library and the Kansas Library Trustees Association
- Library Advocate's Handbook, 2008 has quick advice on telling the library story, speaking successfully, handling tough questions, dealing with bad news, dealing with legislators, tips for effective letters, effective visits, the best time to talk and more
- Building relationships with your city council
Showing posts with label city council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label city council. Show all posts
Public relations
Responsibility: Establish, support and participate in a planned public relations program
Building relationships with your city council
Responsibility: Report regularly to the governing officials and the general public
Building good rapport with the city council really helps when the library needs big equipment, new carpeting, or extra funding to start a new project. Good rapport with the city also encourages them not to pass charter ordinances limiting the library's mill levy. Yet merely talking to the city council only when asking for money may not establish enough rapport. You need to show the city council that you are serving the community all year round. Here are two ways to build rapport with the city council.
Building good rapport with the city council really helps when the library needs big equipment, new carpeting, or extra funding to start a new project. Good rapport with the city also encourages them not to pass charter ordinances limiting the library's mill levy. Yet merely talking to the city council only when asking for money may not establish enough rapport. You need to show the city council that you are serving the community all year round. Here are two ways to build rapport with the city council.
- Keep them informed about what is happening at the library.
- Invite them to all library events to make them aware of everything the library does. Another option is to make a middle of the year report, e.g., talk about recent storytimes or programs or new services.
- Feed them.
- Many library boards invite the city council to an annual lunch or dinner. During the meal, library staff talk about the library. One library showed a slide show of kids enjoying summer library program, library staff walking in an annual parade, etc. Another library addresses city problems, e.g., how the library offers a safe place for kids to hangout after school, etc. These events show city council that tax money is providing valuable services to the community.
- Ask for small favors.
- Benjamin Franklin claimed, "He that has once done you a Kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged." This is called the Ben Franklin Effect. Franklin used this tactic to win a rival to his side. So if the city council is adversarial, ask them for a small favor that will cost them almost nothing. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Franklin_effect>
- Ask city council members to pose for a picture to use in a READ poster. Post these posters in the library or, better yet, in local shop windows. CKLS staff can help your library make READ posters.
- At a meeting, hand each member a picture book. Ask them to come to the library during story time and read that book to the kids.
- Ask them to do a kid’s program explaining how city government works.
Budget reports to city council
Responsibility: Report regularly to the governing officials and the general public
Every year, library boards should present the library budget to the city council (or, for township libraries, the township commissioners). Iowa Library Services provides a number of documents for presenting the city budget. <http://tinyurl.com/bl465ck>
Calef Memorial Library Annual Report
Oh what a year in library land!
More news than you could possibly stand
To read about in boring dry prose
So in poetry, that's how this all goes!
If you want a book (or a movie, at that)
Head to our website to see where it's at
All our stuff's listed there with the greatest of care
No more will lost books have us pulling our hair.
New passes are here for your family to take
A fun-filled trip at a really great rate:
Free visits to museums, farms, or state parks,
And so much more - oh, what a lark!
We have new databases for whatever you ask
So when Google isn't quite up to the task
Of teaching you French or fixing your truck
Take a look at our site, we'll get you unstuck!
E-books are expensive, we know that it's true
That's why the library has them for you:
To save you money while feeding your habit
So download like smart patrons from Calais to Cabot.
Stories are on Monday, Tuesday's AA,
Tech Help happens every Saturday,
Book clubs and all new special events -
The calendar's online, in case you forget.
If you have old cell phones, recycle them here
To earn us some money and give us a cheer
We'll take inkjet cartridges, recycle them right,
It's green fundraising - what a delight!
You gave us approval, we thank you - hooray!
This library WILL be accessible someday.
Grants may yet come -- they would be a boon --
So we're waiting to ask for bids until June.
Stop by the library to see that we've more
Than just books hiding within our door.
There's something for everyone, I promise it's true.
Come see what the library might have for you!
Every year, library boards should present the library budget to the city council (or, for township libraries, the township commissioners). Iowa Library Services provides a number of documents for presenting the city budget. <http://tinyurl.com/bl465ck>
- These examples encourage PowerPoint presentations to the city council. I recommend using the outline and script to guide the content of the presentation.
- Outline for the Budget Presentation provides fill in the blank sentences about what to say. The outline covers topics such as mission, some use statistics, brief descriptions of staff and collection, where the library’s money comes from, expenditures, how this helps the community.
- Sample Script for a PowerPoint Budget Presentation is another version of what to say.
Calef Memorial Library Annual Report
Oh what a year in library land!
More news than you could possibly stand
To read about in boring dry prose
So in poetry, that's how this all goes!
If you want a book (or a movie, at that)
Head to our website to see where it's at
All our stuff's listed there with the greatest of care
No more will lost books have us pulling our hair.
New passes are here for your family to take
A fun-filled trip at a really great rate:
Free visits to museums, farms, or state parks,
And so much more - oh, what a lark!
We have new databases for whatever you ask
So when Google isn't quite up to the task
Of teaching you French or fixing your truck
Take a look at our site, we'll get you unstuck!
E-books are expensive, we know that it's true
That's why the library has them for you:
To save you money while feeding your habit
So download like smart patrons from Calais to Cabot.
Stories are on Monday, Tuesday's AA,
Tech Help happens every Saturday,
Book clubs and all new special events -
The calendar's online, in case you forget.
If you have old cell phones, recycle them here
To earn us some money and give us a cheer
We'll take inkjet cartridges, recycle them right,
It's green fundraising - what a delight!
You gave us approval, we thank you - hooray!
This library WILL be accessible someday.
Grants may yet come -- they would be a boon --
So we're waiting to ask for bids until June.
Stop by the library to see that we've more
Than just books hiding within our door.
There's something for everyone, I promise it's true.
Come see what the library might have for you!
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