Chelsea District Librarywww.chelsea.lib.mi.us

Rachael Dreyer - Adult Services Librarian

Sara Wedell - Head of Adult Services

Chelsea, Michigan

Chelsea District Library

Dollar Amount of Partnership Value

• In 2010, Library partnerships have helped to bring over $60,000 in grant funding to the community

Why partner with your library?• Libraries are integral partners within a

community• Already established as the destination for

information• Traffic represents diverse parts of the

population• Libraries are welcoming community spaces• Library can be neutral ground in a community

A hub of activity

• 20,000+ visitors• 46 events/month• 14,000+ attendees• 9 events with partners

Location is Key

• Our Library is an anchor of Chelsea’s downtown

• Our green space and Main St. location make us a natural partner.

Location-dependent events

Partnerships strengthen partners and community

Antique Gardens

Image courtesy www.oldhousegardens.com

Boosting local organizations• Chelsea Area Historical Society – hibernation

to active partner

• Transition Town Chelsea – expand their reach, host more in-depth programs

Photo courtesy of Mike Muha

• Added exposure for a business or organization looking to expand its reach

• Mutual advertising - event promotion from each partner to their individual audiences

Partnerships as mutually beneficial public relations

You + Library = Community Gain

• SCORE and MI-SBTDC– Skill-building, business start-up counseling,

entrepreneur workshops

• Chamber – business counseling– We help to develop business skills—they can

promote new businesses and gain new membership

• Results in economic gain for community

Partnerships can be as big or small as you want them to be

• One simple collaboration as a partner can create a balanced relationship

• Partnerships don’t need to be life-long• Can also be stand-alone events• Can take the form of event series or regular

sponsorship• Partnerships may evolve and even dissolve

once the project is complete

Chelsea Center for the Arts

• Artist-in-Residence connects CCA, CDL and schools

• Midwest Lit Walk connects CCA, CDL, downtown businesses, restaurants

• Grant supported

Purple Rose Theatre Company

• “Greenhousing” process tests out new material for script development

• Using each other’s strengths

• Grant supported

Chelsea Senior Center

• One Room School House documentary project

• Grant funded• Annual class reunions• Continued partnership

through regular programming/volunteer sharing

Library Pergola Project

Summer Reading Prizes

Mission Marketplace

Partner with YOUR Library

• Step 1: Connect.• Step 2: Brainstorm.• Step 3: Communicate.• Step 4: DO SOMETHING.• Step 5: Repeat.