Innovation Through Collaboration
The library's collections, programs, and services can be enhanced and extended through innovative collaborations with the community. Advocating for the library's sustainability and partnering with other organizations can further engage the community and offer exciting new service possibilities.
In a time of tremendous access to online information, some key government stakeholders may not be as aware of the library's significant community value and therefore unsure of the return on their investment in libraries. Fortunately, the library has many potential stakeholders who are not only aware of the library's enormous contributions to the community but are also passionate about sharing this information through advocacy efforts.
Outcome 13
Government and funding officials understand the unique value of the library due to the advocacy efforts of Library staff, trustees, Friends, and community members.
Essential
| Number | Indicator |
|---|---|
| 13.1 | The library develops and sustains a core group of advocates, including staff and Board members, Friends of the Library, volunteers, and other community members. |
| 13.2 | The library cultivates relationships with elected and appointed officials who have fiscal and policy influence over the library. |
| 13.3 | The library invites elected officials and community leaders to library events and programs. |
| 13.4 | The library provides information about issues affecting the library as well as key messages for advocates. |
Enhanced
| Number | Indicator |
|---|---|
| 13.5 | The library provides resources and encouragement to staff and supporters to ensure they can be successful advocates. |
| 13.6 | Library staff and supporters/advocates attend events, hearings, and programs where matters that affect the community is discussed. |
Exemplary
| Number | Indicator |
|---|---|
| 13.7 | The library designates an advocacy coordinator responsible for managing, tracking, and communicating library advocacy efforts. |
| 13.8 | Training in advocacy skills for the benefit of the library is offered to library advocates. |
| 13.9 | The library designs and disseminates issue-oriented and mission-driven information and materials. |
Helpful Resources
- The Small but Powerful Guide to Building Support for Your Rural Library Toolkit created by the Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services.
- The Library Story: A Strategic Storytelling Toolkit for Public Libraries Toolkit designed to help libraries use storytelling to more effectively communicate with your community. Includes activities, templates and tips to spark storytelling ideas.
- Advocacy in Action: Local Library Awareness Campaigns OCLC WebJunction platform to help libraries plan and execute successful library awareness campaigns in your local community.
- State Library of North Carolina Advocacy The State Library of North Carolina offers a wide variety of advocacy resources to market the power of libraries.
The library can leverage community partnerships to cost-effectively expand and enhance both library and non-library offerings. While the number of partnerships matters, the quality of library partnerships is of greater importance. In identifying potential partner organizations, libraries might consider the types of partnerships defined by the Statistical Report of North Carolina Public Libraries:
- Communicative partnership: Library and partners communicate information about each other's programs, services, and/or resources by distributing promotional materials, giving referrals, setting up displays, making presentations, etc.
- Cooperative partnership: Library and partners provide mutual assistance in working toward a common goal by sponsoring activities, donating incentives, recruiting volunteers, etc.
- Collaborative partnership: Library and partners work together by sharing staff, resources, and/or costs
Outcome 14
Strong partnerships between libraries and other community organizations extend innovative services and benefits to the community.
Essential
| Number | Indicator |
|---|---|
| 14.1 | The library initiates partnerships and collaboration with community organizations that align with the library's mission and goals. |
| 14.2 | The library seeks out and builds partnerships with organizations serving underrepresented library populations, including those speaking other languages and people with disabilities. |
| 14.3 | The library shares information about partners' services at the library and provides links to community organizations on its website/social media. |
Enhanced
| Number | Indicator |
|---|---|
| 14.4 | The library establishes cooperative agreements with partners to develop shared programming and services. |
| 14.5 | The library pursues partnerships to expand non-traditional services at library locations (e.g., food or clothing distribution). |
| 14.6 | The library and its partners share information about each other's programs and services at their locations and through their websites/social media. |
| 14.7 | The library hosts community partners' meetings, including support groups for populations with disabilities and their caregivers. |
Exemplary
| Number | Indicator |
|---|---|
| 14.8 | The library works with local businesses or organizations in rural, underrepresented, or immigrant communities to offer access to library collections and services. |
| 14.9 | The library offers space for quarterly or monthly "office hours" for local agencies to serve patrons (e.g., free legal clinic, social worker) |
Helpful Resources
- Directory of North Carolina Senior Centers Senior centers offer a variety of information related to health, housing, employment, and social services for the state's senior citizens.
- North Carolina Area Agencies on Aging NC Councils on Aging offer advocacy, planning, program and resource development, information brokerage, and other services to help North Carolina's older adults.
- ARC of North Carolina The ARC is an organization for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families.
- Food Research & Action Center: State Anti-Hunger Organizations State directory of anti-hunger organizations, including North Caroling agencies.
- Feeding the Carolinas An organization dedicated to ensuring equitable access to healthy food across North and South Carolina.
- North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NC DMVA) The NC DMVA Governor's Working Group seeks to strengthen opportunities for job creation, workforce enrichment, health and wellness, and other services and benefits for veterans.
- Rural Opportunity Institute Organization to support building trauma-informed and resilient communities to end generational cycles of trauma and poverty in North Carolina.
- Legal Aid of North Carolina Statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.
- North Carolina Conservation Network Statewide network of over 60 environmental, community, and environmental justice organizations focused on protecting North Carolina’s environment and public health.