Advocacy 101

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Advocacy 101 “Access to knowledge is the superb, the supreme act of truly great civilizations. Of all the institutions that purport to do this, free libraries stand virtually alone in accomplishing this.” Toni Morrison, American author

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Advocacy training for library staff

Transcript of Advocacy 101

Page 1: Advocacy 101

Advocacy 101“Access to knowledge is the superb, the supreme act of truly great civilizations.

Of all the institutions that purport to do this, free librariesstand virtually alone in accomplishing this.”

Toni Morrison, American author

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What will we do today?

• Learn what “advocacy” is.• How can staff help advocate?• What should staff say?• Who should they say it to?• Where can staff advocate?

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What is advocacy?

“The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause; active support.”

The American Heritage College Dictionary, 4th ed., 2007

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Just imagine…

Kitty W. Barnes, Chair   

Lynn Mull Lail, Vice-Chair

Dan A. Hunsucker

Glenn E. Barger

Barbara G. Beatty

Catawba County Board of Commissioners

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So what is the result of that vote?

What’s missing in Catawba Countyand who misses it?

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How can staff help?

You are the “face” of the library in the community!

Remind them what the library does for the quality of life in Catawba County.

ADVOCATE!

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What should you say?

1. In Catawba County, library service only costs you $19.24 per year.

• This is the per capita amount spent on public libraries from your taxes and is about the cost of one book. Most of the library’s revenue comes from property and sales tax revenue.

2. Public libraries are not just collections of materials, but are also a neutral community space where people can:

1. Meet2. Read3. Learn4. Explore5. ______ (You fill in the blank!)

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What should you say?

3. Many people in our community apply for jobs or file for unemployment checks online because they cannot afford a computer or to pay for Internet access at home.• Our libraries have 96 computers for citizens to use. Where would

they find a computer to use if the library did not have free Internet access?

4. No one else in our community offers FREE computer classes to help people learn how to use technology!• Citizens used the library’s computers 119,480 times last fiscal

year, saving them $1,433,760. (According to the Massachusetts Library Association “Library Value Calculator” © 2004.)

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What should you say?

5. Citizens checked out 411,760 books last fiscal year. This saved citizens $5,147,000.• (According to the Massachusetts Library Association “Library

Value Calculator” © 2004.)

6. Your library contributes to the educational growth of adults and children by providing resources to help complete homework assignments.• (Books, NC Live, and free after-school

homework assistance for youth helpwith school assignments.)

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What should you say?

7. The annual summer reading event is designed to keep youth reading all summer so they do not lose their skills.

• Scientifically-based research shows that “On average, children from low-income families lose nearly three months of grade-level equivalency during the summer months each year, compared to an average of one month lost by middle-income children.” Anne McGill-Franzen and Richard Allington. “Bridging the Summer Reading Gap” Instructor, May/June, 2003.

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What should you say?

8. Seniors with failing eye-sight or other visually impaired citizens can save a lot of money by using the library’s large print or audiobooks.• LP books cost around $30 each and audios can cost upwards of

$50 to $60 each.

9. People who want to research their family histories come from North Carolina and other states to solve their mysteries in the Rhodes Room.

• The Rhodes Room has resources for North Carolina and 19 other states to help people research family and local history. People come from other states and even other countries to research.

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What should you say?

10. The public library brings tremendous economic and cultural value to Catawba County. We must convince our local government that libraries improve the quality of life for everyone! Please support library service in Catawba County!

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Who should you say this to?

• Anyone!

• But especially to influencers

• Anyone who has the power to impact public policy issues in Catawba County.

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Where should you advocate?

1. In the library… with the customers you serve every day!

2. At the grocery store.3. Wherever you exercise.4. At church.5. In your neighborhood.6. Anywhere you meet people that you

can share the message with…

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Keep our libraries funded and strong!