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Coral Sheldon-Hess coral@sheldon-hess sheldon-hess/coral @web_librarian

+. Librarians Build Communities Advocacy through volunteerism. Coral Sheldon-Hess coral@sheldon-hess.org http://sheldon-hess.org/coral @web_librarian. +. 2. Agenda. Why do we need LBC? What is LBC? History Upcoming projects How do you implement your own LBC?. +. 3.

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Coral Sheldon-Hess coral@sheldon-hess sheldon-hess/coral @web_librarian

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  1. + Librarians Build Communities Advocacy through volunteerism Coral Sheldon-Hesscoral@sheldon-hess.orghttp://sheldon-hess.org/coral@web_librarian

  2. + 2 Agenda • Why do we need LBC? • What is LBC? • History • Upcoming projects • How do you implement your own LBC?

  3. + 3 Library funding is on the decrease Source: ala.org

  4. + 4 Librarians have a PR problem Source: mashable.com

  5. + 5 “So you get to read books all day?”

  6. + 6 “Jobs for Loners” “Jobs for Loners,” CNBC.com, Daniel Bukszpan, posted May 7, 2012. Slide 2. http://www.cnbc.com/id/47341964/Jobs_for_Loners?slide=2

  7. + 7 Library advocacy

  8. + 8 Librarian advocacy? ( )

  9. + 9 But does the message get out? (This is an echo chamber.) Source: news.cnet.com

  10. + 10 We need community engagement Sources: constantcontact.com, bgparkdistrict.org

  11. + 11 Skills-based volunteering Sources: volunteerfairfax.org, handsonblog.org, onegooddeedchicago.wordpress.com

  12. + 12 Agenda • Why do we need LBC? • What is LBC? • History • Upcoming projects • How do you implement your own LBC?

  13. + 13 What is Librarians Build Communities? • A program run at the regional, state, and local level • One day of volunteering • Librarians* use library skills (research, teaching, technology, organization, preservation, etc.) to help local non-profits • Press releases are sent to local news outlets * In the same sense as our patrons use the word; any library workers.

  14. + 14 Where did this idea come from? • Started in 2006, in New Orleans, as “Libraries Build Communities” (sort of) • 2007 - Washington, DC • 2008 - Anaheim, CA • 2009 - Chicago, IL • 2010 - Washington, DC • Work was done in libraries, primarily, with a few other non-profits participating.

  15. + 15 In 2011… • ALA’s Chapter Relations Office tasked a group of Emerging Leaders* with developing LBC into a program that could be run at the ALA Chapter (state) level. • They returned it to its original name. (Librarians, not Libraries) • They made progress, but there was still work left to do. *If you would like to know more about the EL program, ask during Q&A!

  16. + 16 In 2012 • A second group of ELs tackled the program. • Emphasized advocacy • Scoped LBC back down to one day (for now) • Scoped up to be run regionally, at the state level, or at the local level. • (We commissioned a new logo, too.) Logo by Eric Conrad Source: ALA Flickr stream

  17. + 17 Also in 2012 • We created a new website at librariansbuildcommunities.org: • A primer for running your own LBC day • Templates and graphics • Information about the program • A blog for celebrating successful volunteering projects • Our final report is available under . This presentation will be there, too.

  18. + 18 The LBC website • Most important feature is the LBC Primer • Based largely on the Snapshot Day website (Marci Merola let us interview her) • Built in WordPress • Will hopefully find a home on the ALA website in…

  19. + 19 2013! • A new class of ELs will take on LBC. • They are tasked with finding LBC a home within ALA. • We hope they can expand the program beyond one day. This will be their mentor, Ingrid Abrams.

  20. + 20 Upcoming LBC projects • LaCrosse, WI – 10/12 • Seattle, WA – 01/13? • Valdez, AK – 03/13 • Boise, ID – 08/13? Source: newspaper.li/united-states-map

  21. + 21 Boise? Isn’t that the next PNLA conference location? • Yes. • Gina Persichini (of ICfL; also a mentor to my EL group) and I are hoping to pull together a committee. • Get in touch with one of us if you’d like to help! • (Or if you know the best way to pitch this to the PNLA Board.) Source: skywatch-media.com

  22. + 22 Alaskan Librarians Build Communities • We have a wiki - http://aklbc.pbworks.com • Our committee (currently) consists of four people. • Contact me to join! • We’re planning to hold our LBC day immediately before our annual conference in Valdez, next March.

  23. + 23 Wisconsin and Seattle? • Wisconsin got the jump on all of us! (One of the 2011 ELs, Easter DiGiangi, was from WI. She was also our other mentor, this year.) • WI librarian-volunteers will be helping the LaCrosse Friends of the Public Library with selection/deselection of gifts. • Jaime Hammond has offered to run LBC for the next ALA Midwinter conference, in Seattle. (Want to be on her committee? Email her at jhammond@nvcc.commnet.edu!)

  24. + 24 Agenda • Why do we need LBC? • What is LBC? • History • Upcoming projects • How do you implement your own LBC?

  25. + 25 How to host a murder mystery LBC day • Pitch it to your association’s board • Put together a committee • Choose a day (immediately before or after a conference is an easy one) • Create a website for easy reference • Find librarian volunteers • Find community organizations to partner with • Publicize your successful volunteer day Source: voices.yahoo.com

  26. + 26 Pitching it to your board • Both Alaska’s and Wisconsin’s boards were very receptive; yours probably will be, too • You can see the documents submitted to each board under the LBC Primer’s Templates & Graphics section.

  27. + 27 A word of (hard-earned) advice • Whenever pitching this program, whether to your board or to a potential volunteer, list the benefits first • “Know your audience” – what problems will LBC solve, what good will it do for the people you’re talking to? Source: exhilarateevents.com

  28. + 28 Your committee (theoretically) • A chair, or co-chairs • Someone from the host city • Someone from your library association • Someone from each type of library – public, academic, school, special • (Not actually 7 people; these roles hopefully overlap!)

  29. + 29 Alaska’s committee • Public, Academic, School, and Special are all represented! • But nobody local to Valdez. • Chair/Liaison to National LBC • Volunteer Recruiter • PR Czar • Logistics Czar

  30. + 30 Choosing a day • At the state or regional level, no-brainer: pre- or post-conference! • Doing a local version of LBC? (You should!) • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - http://mlkday.gov/ • National Volunteer Week (same in Canada and US, usually the third week of April) • Anniversary of the founding of your library association • Local volunteer day Source: winona.edu

  31. + 31 Creating a website • You guys, this is so easy. • I promise. • Step 1: Get an account with PBWorks • It’s free • Their interface is WYSIWYG • Step 2: Go steal Alaska’s! • (Just like everyone doing Snapshot Day stole NJLA’s website, including Alaska.) • Step 3: Customize for your particular setup. If nobody will make you a logo, go get Lily from the LBC website!

  32. + 32 Get librarian volunteers • Ask on mailing lists • Ask your colleagues, individually • Remind everyone that this is advocacy • Remind everyone that they’re helping organizations that need them. • Remind everyone that it’s only a few hours. • If all else fails…

  33. + 33 Appeal to their self-interest! • Volunteering is good for you! • Networking • Resume/CV • Learning new skills • Leadership experience • “Practice on someone else’s stuff.” • Sense of accomplishment • Pro-volunteering discussion points are available on the LBC website

  34. + 34 Find community organizations • Your local committee member may have ideas • United Way is known for keeping lists of local non-profit organizations • The Rotary, the AARP, and the Lions Club may also have ideas or projects for you • There’s a sample letter at the LBC website.

  35. + 35 Take pictures, get quotes, and publicize! • There’s a form on the LBC website for submitting blog posts and photos to the LBC blog. • Sample Press Releases are available in the Templates & Graphics section, as well!

  36. + 36 Other things to consider • “Logistics” - Depending on location, this may be optional. • Getting volunteers to and from the volunteer location. • T-shirts, or no? • Feeding the volunteers, or no? • Remembering to send thank-you notes after the event. Source: wikipedia.org

  37. + 37 And that’s really it! • Now you know how to run LBC yourself!

  38. + 38 Thank you! Questions? Comments? Website tour? LibrariansBuildCommunities.org @librariansbuild Coral Sheldon-Hesscoral@sheldon-hess.orghttp://sheldon-hess.org/coral@web_librarian

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