Building Leadership Skills: Community Engagement

Building Leadership Skills: Community Engagement Instructor: Valerie J. Gross grossv@HCLibrary.org An Infopeople Workshop Spring 2007

Workshop Overview • Aligning library services with community priorities and values • Making yourself and your library visible • Identifying and communicating with communities and stakeholders • Pragmatic Partnering

All cultures All means All backgrounds All passions All lifestyles Babies Pre-K K-12 Schools Adults Older Adults Parents Homeschools Businesses/Non-profits Work Force Organizations (e.g., Chamber of Commerce) Government departments (e.g., Economic Development Authority, Housing, Office on Aging) Elected Officials Community Leaders Donors Volunteers Friends Media Who is our community?

What is Engagement? • When we are relevant to everyone and to everything • When each segment of our community views us as: • vital, critical • vital = indispensable and indispensable = funding

How Does Customer Service Relate to Community Engagement? • The stepping stone to engaging the community • Everyone on staff involved – everyone a leader • First impressions • “I’d walk over nails to get to your library…”

Health Environment (Green) Science/Math Civility Genealogy Safety (online, gangs) Technology Literacy Computer Literacy Financial Literacy Travel Intellectual Freedom Cultural Diversity Intergenerational Cultural Center Community Center Education Economic Advancement Quality of Life *** Priorities and ValuesA Collective List

Education • The activities of educating or instructing or teaching • Information about a subject matter • Knowledge acquired by learning • Activities that impart knowledge • The process of acquiring knowledge • An enlightening experience

Our UMBRELLA: Education

You! (ALL staff, plus volunteers, Board, Friends) Collection (print, electronic) Children’s classes and events Teen classes and events Adult classes, seminars and events Cultural Center Community Center Signature initiatives Under the Education Umbrella

You might prefer three umbrellas • Education • Economic Advancement • Quality of Life

What Can We Crow About? • Innovation • Thinking Outside the Box • Signature Programs • Partnerships Let’s share some examples!

Be a Shameless Self-promoter!

Suggested Phrases • We are a pillar of education. • We are a cornerstone in the education process. • We are partners in education.

What are other words that “work”? • Which do you value more? • Which do you support more? • a used car • a certified pre-owned vehicle • drilling for oil • exploring for energy

What Does “Storytime” Mean? • To someone who works in a library? • To someone who does not use the library?

It’s a Self-fulfilling Prophecy • We become what we say we are. • Let’s speak BIG! • “We are a world-class library.” • “We are a pillar of education.” • “Our staff is second to none.” • “We are relentless about providing exceptional customer service.”

The Elevator Speech • Who are we? • What do we do? • Why does it matter?

The Ten Rules of Effective Language • Simplicity: use small words • Brevity: use short sentences • Credibility is as important as Philosophy • Consistency matters • Offer Something New • Sound and Texturematter • SpeakAspirationally • Visualize • Ask aQuestion • Provide Context and explainRelevance

Getting Involved: Broader Benefits • Heightened visibility for the library • Building the library’s reputation for excellence • Helping to create the indispensable library • Part of the community engagement process

Representing the Library • Be informed • Be ready with modified elevator speeches for questions such as • Tell me what you do? • Is the Internet replacing the library? • Is the book on its way to extinction? • Aren’t you in direct competition with bookstores?

Libraries Mean Business • We save you money. • We save you time. • We serve you directly. • We serve you indirectly. • We serve you through giving and visibility opportunities!

Capitalize on strengths and expertise Gain visibility Leverage funding (enhances credibility with government and taxpayers) Establish new or expand existing programs Attract more outside funding Get new customers Double the marketing Attract other partners Why Partner?

First Two Questions • What’s in it for us? • What’s in it for them?

The Five Factors • Supplement—as opposed to replace—the programs of other organizations • Advance vision and mission • Outline administrative authority (funding sources, obligations and expectations) • Benefit the organizations equitably • Evaluation

Short-term Partnerships • Handshake agreements • Less commitment • Recommend at least e-mail confirmation of details • Typically one-shot collaborations

Long-term Partnerships • Formal agreements work best • Incorporate the five factors • High degree of commitment

Long-term Partnerships Take Time • Seed idea – initial vision • Connect with key players – assess interest • Discuss with key library staff (who will lead?) • Inform Board • Involve staff (more ideas/gain support) • Determine costs / needs • Seed idea begins to grow • Set forth a plan / determine launch date

Engage the Community • Celebration to launch • Signing ceremony/press conference • Invite elected officials and community leaders • Remarks: Library board president, partnership representatives, mayor/county executive, governor (request proclamations!)

Why might we decline a partnership opportunity? • Draw an audience? • Accomplish what we expect? • Funded? • Commitment? • Imbalance? • the “What’s in it for us?” and • “What’s in it for them?” factors

Recommended Reading The Thriving Library: Successful Strategies for Challenging Times, by Marylaine Block (2007). Words that Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear, by Dr. Frank Luntz (2007).

I love e-mail Valerie J. Gross grossv@HCLibrary.org 410.313.7750

Building Leadership Skills: Community Engagement