building strong library associations | regional convenings day 2 session 6 how will i get support...

Building Strong Library Associations | Regional Convenings

DAY 2 Session 6 How will I get support for my proposal?

External relationships


At the end of this session participants should be able to:• Understand the importance of relationships

and their management in obtaining support for their association’s proposal

• Identify potential partners and collaborators for their association’s proposal

Outcomes for participants


• Relationship building – or networking – also central to gaining support from external partners/collaborators

• Good communication central to relationship building

• Trust is central

External relationships


• Loyalty• Trust • Respect • Effective communication• Willingness to learn and adapt• Ability to see things from another’s point of

view.

Review the elements of a successful relationship from Session 5


Collaborators• External organisations, bodies or

individuals who might have an interest in supporting your proposal but with whom you do not have or need a formal agreement.

Collaborator or strategic partnership?


Strategic partnership or alliance• A formal agreement between an association

and another agency (another association, a government agency for instance). These partners would agree to work together to achieve the outcomes of the proposal.

• Agreement documented and reviewed regularly.

Collaborator or strategic partnership?


• Pooling resources to address an issue• Enables action that might not be possible

alone• More ideas and expertise lead to better

strategies• Increased credibility if in a partnership • Improved learning when done in

collaboration• Open up new opportunities not otherwise

possible

Benefits of a partnership/alliance


• The purpose of the alliance is clear and agreed

• The value and benefits to partners is clear • The Board is supportive and involved• The purpose is central to the mission and

goals of the association and its partner – to their strategic goals. Commitment will wane if this is not the case

Features of a successful partnership /1


• Communication between partners is carefully managed and monitored

• Mechanisms are in place to deal with changes in circumstances - partnership must be adaptable

• Regular review of outcomes, benefits and issues

Features of a successful partnership/2


• Other library &information sector associations

• Library & information sector community• CONSAL – Congress of South-East Asian

Libraries -

• EBLIDA – European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations

• SCECSAL – Standing Conference of Eastern, Central, Southern African Library and Information Associations

• AfLIA – African Library and Information Association

Identifying partners – who might you approach?


• Educational institutions (from primary schools to universities) and the IT sector

• ICOM, ICA, ICOMOS: Museums, libraries, archives, monuments

• Civil society organisations in related sectors such as ICTD (ICT for Development, and TechHubs)

• Standards organisations • UNESCO national commission in your

country

Other bodies that might be useful partners


Who are potential collaborators in your country?

( Think broadly for this exercise – not just in relation to your proposal.)

Brainstorm activity 10 mins


• Work in association pairs, on your development proposal.

• Identify potential partners or collaborators for your proposal.

• For each potential collaborator/partner, list what you have in common in relation to the proposal and identify strategies for initiating and sustaining the relationship.

• How will you communicate with them and who will lead the communication?

Activity 20 mins

building strong library associations | regional convenings day 2 session 6 how will i get support...

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