A staff survey conducted by administration at my library two years ago pointed to a general feeling of discontent amongst staff. Working with people can have so many ups and downs. But this seemed bigger and, to my administration’s credit, they acted on these results. They determined that a good course of action might be to form a committee of staff which they dubbed the Staff Advisory Committee. I was asked to Chair this new venture. I can say that it’s been a wild two years, but, looking back, I’m recognizing all the wonderful things that we accomplished and the great advocacy that we did on behalf of our wonderful library staff.
Category: Blogger Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee
Reflecting on 2 Years of Staff Advisory
A staff survey conducted by administration at my library two years ago pointed to a general feeling of discontent amongst staff. Working with people can have so many ups and downs. But this seemed bigger and, to my administration’s credit, they acted on these results. The administration formed a Staff Advisory committee, which I was tasked with chairing. I can say that it’s been a crazy two years, but, looking back, I’m recognizing all the wonderful things that we accomplished and the great advocacy that we did on behalf of our wonderful library staff. The library systerm consists of 5 full-service branches, 1 mobile services department that operates our Bookmobile, and an administrative building. We had a mixed response: some staff members were excited, some cynical, some curious, and others skeptical that anything would actually be accomplished by this proposed solution. However, from amongst our 7 locations, we were able…
Opportunities, Not Obstacles
Read about how tailoring programming can create strong advocacy among the homeschooling community.
Advocating for Diversity Through Art Programs
Makerspaces are increasingly popular additions to public library branches, and many youth services departments are adding hands-on art and craft sessions to their calendars. Any arts education in a free and accessible space like a public library is beneficial for children. Studies show that early childhood exposure to art education programs leads to a stronger appreciation towards art later in life, as well as an increased interest in cultural institutions like libraries and museums (Kisida et al., 2018). However, there is an opportunity to do even more than inspire creativity and art appreciation through maker programs. Art programs can be a venue in which to introduce children to diverse cultures and identities by using real artists as inspiration. For many children, public libraries may be their first opportunity to engage with the arts. It is crucial to make sure they feel welcome and included by exposing them to artists who…
Advocacy through Partnerships with Sports Organizations
It may be the dog days of summer where you live, but here in South Florida we are celebrating the ultimate cool cats and hockey champions, The Florida Panthers! Partnerships with sports teams and their non-profit foundations can be an impactful way to advocate for your library’s vision and mission and participate with a culture of enthusiasts. The Florida Panthers Foundation was established to benefit the South Florida community by focusing on several priority areas, including supporting health and education initiatives for children. Through this relationship, which has been built over multiple years, we’ve been able to create free family literacy bonding experiences and reach many new library card holders. Several years ago, a Panthers Summer Reading Tour was started to build excitement and give residents a chance to learn more about hockey. Fans can connect with special guest readers (like players and broadcasters) at storytimes, meet the mascots, participate…
Everyday Advocacy: journey through our new webpage
Let’s all admit it, few of us spend much time really delving into organization web pages unless we need to use them for work or are specifically seeking out information. We don’t tend to scroll them for fun. Let’s change that! I invite you all to take just a moment and look through our newly updated “Everyday Advocacy” page on the American Library Service to Children (ALSC) website. The ALSC Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee has worked to update it over the past months, and it’s looking pretty great. The page can be found on the ALSC website under the “Initiatives” tab or at this handy dandy link https://www.ala.org/alsc/initiatives/everyday-advocacy. In its most basic form it provides great information about what advocacy is and how to advocate for yourself, your programs, your library, and librarianship as a whole. Information that is great for us all. You should start with the “Be…
Partnerships Make the (Library) World Go ‘Round
A school library builds on partnerships with public libraries, independent bookstores, and non-profits. Learn how to form your own partnerships for collaboration and synergy.
When it Comes to Advocacy, Language Matters
The ALSC Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee is updating the ALSC “Everyday Advocacy” webpage. The page includes resources on how ALSC members can advocate for themselves and for children on the importance of library services for our youngest patrons. A new addition will be information on working with legislators.