Whose Job Is It Anyway?  Library Advocacy

from the Frontlines

Maureen AmbrosinoYouth Services Consultant

and “Raging Library Activist” Central Massachusetts Regional Library System

My Journey as an AdvocateSchool Library Journal, January 2008 :

Metamorphosis: Or How I Went from Quiet Bystander to Raging Library Activist

“Active support of a cause or course of action.”

What is Advocacy?

Legislative◦ Library Administrators◦ Trustees◦ Friends◦ Grassroots

Frontline◦ Librarians and library support staff

Types of Advocacy

Frontline library advocacy:

Library staff-initiated action to:

◦ Articulate the value of their respective libraries and their value to their communities.

◦ Connectors- Improve the quality of resources

and services in their library environment.

Frontline Advocacy (cont.)

We all must advocate for the value of our libraries.

All of us must also be able to articulate our value as library employees.

Involving Frontline Library Staff in Advocacy

Frontline Staff

UsersGrassroots

Connection

Library Advocacy

Frontline Workers

Grassroots

AdminsTrusteesFriends

Positioning the library within the city/county, college/university, or school/school district.

Focus on legislators/elected officials/decision-makers.

Library Administration

Should everyone be involved in frontline advocacy?

Identifying Frontline Staff to Deliver the

Library Message

Level I• Based on title/

responsibilities

Level II• Other librarians

& Library Staff FRONTLINE ADVOCACY

Building an advocacy team:

◦Determine the extent of frontline staff involvement.

◦Involve librarians and library staff in brainstorming.

Identifying Frontline Staff (cont.)

◦Match the message with the venues and delivery methods.

◦Provide scripts and/or “cheat sheets.”

◦Work with staff for input on process and delivery.

◦Staff members deliver the message.

◦Meet to assess outcomes.

Empowering Frontline Staff as Advocates

52 Ways and 23 Thingshttp://www.cmrls.org/pdf_documents/advocacy52.pdf (20 pages)

http://www.cmrls.org/pdf_documents/advocacy23.pdf (3 pages)

Levels of AdvocacyI. Library Advocacy

Administrator

Trustees/Friends

Grassroots

II. Library Advocacy

Librarians

Library Support Staff

Volunteers

Library Advocacy?

It’s Everybody’s Job!

Every Voice Makes a Difference.

Anyone who thinks they’re too small to be effective… has never been in bed with a mosquito.

www.camilaalire.com

www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/

advocacyuniversity/

More to come…….

Thank You!