{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"ALSC Blog","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog","author_name":"ALSC Advocacy and Legislation Committee","author_url":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/author\/alsc-advocacy-and-legislation-committee\/","title":"Taking the First Steps: A Discussion","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"odGAi3FSbx\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2012\/11\/taking-the-first-steps-a-discussion\/\">Taking the First Steps: A Discussion<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2012\/11\/taking-the-first-steps-a-discussion\/embed\/#?secret=odGAi3FSbx\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Taking the First Steps: A Discussion&#8221; &#8212; ALSC Blog\" data-secret=\"odGAi3FSbx\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n","description":"The ALSC Leadership Meeting at the ALA Conference in Anaheim focused on Advocacy and how to identify and fulfill our promise to our community. The successful library builds a cadre of advocates who will work on its behalf. The successful library demonstrates that it has an integral role in creating the community\u2019s successful future. Keynote speaker David Lankes challenged us to engage in conversation and wrestle with the following questions to guide us in creating meaningful library services for our communities. (1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How can we effectively identify specific community needs in terms of developing youth services and supporting literacy? Communication was the major discussion point. Formal information-seeking mechanisms such as focus groups and surveys were mentioned.\u00a0 We talked about our classic constituencies and collaborators as school personnel, parents, students, HeadStarts and preschools.\u00a0 We also discussed the need to remember to look at alternatives within our communities such as private schools,..."}