Advocacy for Tribal Libraries

Sandy LittletreeOctober 22, 2008

2008 National Institute for Tribal LibrariesTulsa, Oklahoma

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What is Advocacy?

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Why is this important to tribal libraries?

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Who are library advocates?

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How do you do it?

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How do you do it?

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What is Advocacy?

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Advocacy = Public Relations + Lobbying

+ (Marketing and Publicity)+ (Professionalism)

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Public relations

the everyday advocacy of working to provide the best library services and taking everyday

opportunities to tell people about the library

Lobbying

advocacy directed at decision-makers and politicians.

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Getting the support you need from people who are in a position to help

you and the library.

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Getting decision makers, potential partners, and community members on

the side of the library…

through the messages you send on an ongoing basis.

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Why is this important to tribal libraries?

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Reasons why tribal libraries matter

Tribal libraries…1. Serve a vital role in revitalizing and preserving tribal

culture, history, and language

2. Promote literacy for our community

3. Bring technology to our people

4. Are important for the growth and development of our children

5. Empower tribal members

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6. Bring reading material and news to tribal members

7. Promote intergenerational activities

8. Strengthen cultural identity

9. Serve as research centers for Tribal and non-tribal members

10. Belong to the people.

Reasons why tribal libraries matter

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Tribal libraries are special places.

Why is this important to tribal libraries?

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Our role: to educate our communities about why tribal

libraries and librarians are essential in an

information society.

Why is this important to tribal libraries?

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The possibilities of positive growth are

endless.

Why is this important to tribal libraries?

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Decision makers may support the library in

spirit, but may not realize all of the potential

benefits a well-supported library would have for the

community and its people.

Now is the time to speak up for your library!

Why is this important to tribal libraries?

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Who are tribal library advocates?

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Who are tribal library advocates?

• Tribal and community leaders

• Library users

• Librarians and library staff

• Potential advocates

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Potential advocates?Many people would be glad to speak out for the tribal

library if asked. •had good experiences in using libraries in the past

•have family members who benefit from the library,

•or who just believe that tribal libraries are important.

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How do you do it?

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Four ways to win support

1. Use every opportunity to tell people what’s going on in the library.

2. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for support.

3. Don’t do this alone.

4. Be generous. Giving is just as important as receiving

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Basic Tools

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Annual Report

A basic tool for telling your library’s story, it should be

brief, attractive and reinforce the library’s key

message. Make sure it gets into the hands of tribal government officials, funders and other key

stakeholders.

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Business Card

Don’t forget the obvious. Be sure to include the library’s URL and hours.

Give it out as often as you can.

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Fact Sheet

A good way to present key points quickly. Keep narrative to a minimum.

•Use bullets to highlight key facts/statistics.• Shorter is better—no more than two pages. •Use with tribal officials, community groups, reporters or anyone who wants information—fast.

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News Releases & Public Service Announcements

Start with the most important information

and end with the least.

Be sure to cover the 5Ws (Who, What,

When, Where, Why)—and H (How).

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Have a Web Presence

• Website• Blog• Social Networking Sites• Encourage comments and reviews• Online Calendar of Events• Create a Wikipedia entry for the library• Make sure you’re listed on other relevant

websites

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Get Recognized

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Honor Generations

It’s a good day to read

Native Pride

The heartbeat of your tribal community is

Tribal news

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Telling Your Library’s Story

• Share compelling, real stories• Open strong and end strong• Focus on the needs of your audience• Paint a positive picture• Get on the agenda as often as you can• Use statistics—people relate to numbers

Your Goal: Make it easy for decision makers to understand

and support the library

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Steps to Getting Started

1. Identify what you want2. Gather statistics 3. Build your team 4. Make an action plan 5. Identify strategies6. Have a memorable message 7. Target your audiences 8. Encourage everyday advocacy

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How do you do it?

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How do you do it?

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How do you do it?1. How do you make your library visible?2. How have you used the media (radio, newspapers,

newsletters, etc) or other basic tools to your advantage?

3. How do you reach out to the community?4. Any advice on speaking successfully (especially to

tribal officials)?5. How have you gotten others in the community to

speak for the library?6. How have you made the library the heart of your

community?

Start now! Don’t wait for a crisis.

Ahéhee‘ Thank You!

Sandy LittletreeSandy_Littletree@ncsu.edu

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Image Credits• Slide 9: You have new Picture Mail!, uploaded MayMay 23, 2006 by The Shifted Librarian ,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shifted/152082945/ • Slide 10 MIT Forum Hosted at UM, uploaded by alexdecarvalho : http://www.flickr.com/photos/adc/414753294/• Slide 11: Faithful Support for the Masses, uploaded April 27, 2005 by Pulpolux !!! ;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulpolux/11185712/• Slide 12: Lazy Sign, uploaded on October 11, 2007 by josephp; http://www.flickr.com/photos/sumsinnow/1541640811/• Slide 16-19: Photo taken at Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian Library, Suitland, Maryland by Sandra

Littletree• Slide 21: “Elder Reading” from Sinte Gleska University, Mission, South Dakota. Permission to use given by Rachel Lindvall • Slide 22: Novus Ordo Seclorum, uploaded on November 23, 2004 by Dawn Endico ;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/candiedwomanire/1651866/in/set-42477/ • Slide 25: toolbox – open, uploaded on March 7, 2008 by salsaboy, http://www.flickr.com/photos/salsaboy/2316715896/ • Slide 26: David Hayes – Editorial Report, uploaded on June 20, 2007 by openDemocracy,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/opendemocracy/575778823/• Slide 27: Business card – back, uploaded on March 23, 2009 by Stuart Frisby,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36-degrees/510914804/ • Slide 28: Drupal Modules as of 11/09/07, uploaded on November 13, 2007 by kentbye ,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kentbye/2007464793/• Slide 29: A stack of newspapers, uploaded on November 21, 2007 by DRB62 ,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drb62/2054107736/• Slide 30: How to get out of McDonalds, uploaded on July 4, 2005 by maebmij,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maebmij/23472646/ • Slide 36: Panic button, uploaded April 6, 2007 by star5112, http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnjoh/448665548/