Be Your Communitys Champion Community Partnerships for Libraries
Be Your Community’s Champion: Community Partnerships for Libraries Don W. Barlow Executive Director Westerville Public Library Ohio Library Conference September 29, 2016
The Library as the Center of the Community of the community "A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life raft and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination. " Caitlin Moran, ’Libraries: Cathedrals of Our Souls’
Value of public libraries to their communities • • • Public libraries play an important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed (95%) Public libraries are important because they promote literacy and a love of reading (95%) Public libraries improve the quality of life in a community (94%) Public libraries provide many services people would have a hard time finding elsewhere (81%) PUBLIC LIBRARIES BRAND IS UNMATCHED! Pew Research Centre (2013) ‘How Americans Value Public Libraries in Their Communities ’
Why Collaborate Collaborations enhance your library’s ability to serve the community and make library services more visible and valued. � Working collaboratively enables libraries to share and conserve resources, reach new audiences, and expand services and programs. � Collaborative behavior is the best way to connect library customers using new social technologies. �
Benefits of Collaboration � � � � Maximizes the power and influence of participating groups Avoids unnecessary duplication of effort or activity Shares talents and resources Provides superior quality services Develops and demonstrates public support for an issue, and Increases funding and grant opportunities Expands programming by reaching new audiences Assists with marketing library programs, services and increases awareness of the library Increases support for library bond issues and levies!
Benefits of Collaboration Increases staff job satisfaction and a better understanding of their roles in the community � Fosters cooperation among grassroots organizations and community members � Increases visibility not only to just those who are library customers but non-customers. � Taking part in community meetings, city council meetings, etc. allows the opportunity to voice the importance of libraries and form partnerships that might not have been formed otherwise � Accomplishing more than any single organization could �
Kinds/Degrees of Partnerships Communication Two or more groups/agencies share information about their services, trends and obligations. Cooperation Two or more groups/agencies with common interests share expertise and resources to achieve joint goals.
Coordination Two or more groups/agencies coordinate their resources and activities to reduce duplication, maximize their resources and achieve more effective results. Collaboration Two or more groups/agencies develop a shared vision and are equally responsible for all aspects of planning, program implementation and evaluation.
Ingredients for a Successful Partnership • • • Know yourself and your library Desire to work together Shared vision and common goals Institutional spirit of cooperation Accountability Commitment Board, Director, Staff Leadership Flexibility Shared decision makingkin
Today’s Challenges for libraries • The status of the economy – state revenue • Trends in publishing – pricing models Consumer and customer preferences Competitors (traditional and emerging) New and emerging technologies Relationships and partnerships including vendors Convenience Mobility Costs and budgets • •
Responses to these challenges Place and Space • Refurbishing facilities • Investment in digital infrastructure Collections and Content • Large scale digitization programs • Optimization content for multiple platforms and devices Community Engagement • Greater outreach and consultation • Reviewing the role and relevance of the library in society P– 11
Typical library responses these challenges Access Collaboration • Reduced opening hours but increased “digital and mobile access” • New service models • Increased collaboration and partnerships People and capabilities • ‘Digital library’ skills and capabilities • Increasing ‘service’ culture Sustainable finances • Reduced services/ new service models • Increased user-pays • Increased focus on foundations and additional fund raising P– 12
Opportunities over the next few years Customer wants & needs Opportunities for public libraries A drive to explore & develop creative interests Become vibrant creativity hubs, facilitating communal creative development & expression Opportunities to partner & share with others, both as individuals & as organizations Become co-working hubs, bringing people & organizations together to collaborate creatively, socially & professionally Lifelong mental engagement, stimulation & care Become the community’s brain gymnasium Continuous acquisition of new knowledge & skills to participate fully in a rapidly changing environment Provide community learning programs that support 21 st-century literacies Stable & trusted relationships with people & places of common interest Become the community marketplace – a meeting place for people to gather, share & learn
Develop your vision and strategy � Developed a new vision and strategy to respond to the challenges and opportunities facing us � Use a variety of inputs to develop this vision and strategy, including community feedback � Not good enough just to look at other libraries, need to also look at best practices in the cultural sector, retail, digital media as our benchmarks
Evolution of the Westerville’s vision … TO FROM … We will have ready access to a comprehensive collection of Westerville Public Library material and Enable community to worldwide information learning, connection, and resources to enrich their creativity cultural, educational, Enable access & research social and economic lives Maintain cultural heritage P– 15 A place where all Customers can Discover, Learn, Create and Connect A cultural and heritage hub for residents A leader in the discovery of information, enabling the generation of new knowledge and ideas
Digital strategy – shift in thinking From To Viewing Interacting Transactional service interactions Ongoing relationship –based interactions Passive consumption Active contribution & ownership Displaying the content Telling the story Collection-driven content Customer – driven events 100% perfect - slow to market 70% right - faster to market Guardians & providers Enablers Quiet and considered Dynamic & energetic
What Westerville youth wants • more books for children, music materials, local historical content, Apps • a bank of i. Pads • sports activities • robotics and science activities • competitions and plays • Game Nights • children’s spaces
What Westerville adults want • • Drive-up windows Hands-On/Practical Programs Mobile access Convenience Google access to our digital content’ Maker spaces One card all libraries/all collections
List Here the Westerville Public Library Experience! � � � � Partnership Meetings Library. Link Search. Ohio/Ohio. Link City Data Center Maker Space – STEAM Center/Otterbein University Senior Center Programs and Activities Joint Parking Facilities Practicum Students and Interns (Kent State and Otterbein University) Librarians and others must join Civic Clubs/Rotary, etc. Leadership Westerville Community Leadership Programs Westerville Civic Symphony Westerville Police Academy Developed Initial web sites for Chamber, City, School District and 23 local businesses in 1994.
Quarterly Partnership Meetings � � � Westerville Public Library Westerville City School District City of Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Otterbein University W. A. R. M.
Outreach Services � � � � Library. Link Martin Luther King Breakfast Nursing Homes/Assisted Living Day Care Centers Independent Senior Living Apartments Home Schoolers Little Libraries Meet Local Author Series School Visits Trivia Night at the Local Tavern Imagination Library Senior Center Programs Tunes and Tales Book Clubs at the Wine Bistro
Westerville City School District Library. Link � Author Visits � Homework Help Center � Imagination Library � Story Hours/Library Card Signup � 25 Classroom Visits Per Month � Little Libraries � YMCA After School Program (Mc. Vey Elementary School) � Developed School District’s web site (1994) �
City of Westerville � � � � � Parking Development City Data Center Developed 3 Uptown Phone Apps Little Libraries Senior Center (Deliveries/Programs and Activities) Provide ESOL Classes in partnership with the Columbus Literacy Council Westerville Police Academy Off Duty Officers Developed City’s Initial Web Site (1994) Westerville Parks and Recreation Department � � Activities and Story/Hours at Summer Day Camps Family concert nights Arts in Public Spaces Program Market Day (Wednesdays)
Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Directory of Businesses and Organization � Leadership Westerville � Web Conference Facilities � Meeting Rooms and Equipment � Serve on the Board of Directors � Music and Arts Festival � Civic Organizations (Employee memberships) � Fourth of July parade � Fourth Friday’s (Uptown District) � We Mean Business Initiative �
Otterbein University � Practicum Students � � � Otterbein University Kent State University School of Library and Information Science Maker Space and STEAM Center Westerville Civic Symphony at Otterbein Tunes and Tales
W. A. R. M. and Civic Organizations � Caring and Sharing (Food/Mittens/Clothes) � Eyeglasses, printer cartridges, re-cycling) Librarians/staff as members of Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Run for life (5 K) Pelotonia Breast Cancer Awareness Walk � �
Get Out of the Library and participate � � � � � All librarians and administrative staff should participate Rotary Kiwanis Lions Club Establish School Librarian/Public Librarian regular meetings Establish Partnership meetings Participate in all community events Regular meetings with neighboring libraries Programs in the community � � Trivia nights Read between the Wines Tunes and Tales, Etc. , etc.
Westerville Public Library
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