Turning the Page: Building Your Library Community Greta Southard Executive Director Public Library Association/ALA

Today’s Goals Overview of the project… What we did… How we did it… Results…

Overview of the project…

What we did…

How we did it…

Results…

Turning the Page Project Overview Two day professional development conference funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the Opportunity Online hardware grantees Project goals: Designed to build skills, confidence, and enthusiasm to initiate and implement a successful advocacy effort Inform and fuel immediate and ongoing efforts to increase library funding Participants create an advocacy plan they can implement to meet their Opportunity Online match

Two day professional development conference funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the Opportunity Online hardware grantees

Project goals:

Designed to build skills, confidence, and enthusiasm to initiate and implement a successful advocacy effort

Inform and fuel immediate and ongoing efforts to increase library funding

Participants create an advocacy plan they can implement to meet their Opportunity Online match

Opportunity Online hardware grants Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation OOHG Goal: Ensure libraries serving high need populations regularly upgrade their computers Motivate local governments to commit local funding for free computer services in their libraries 32 states participating, over 3 years, each year has two phases Grantees participating in the program have 3 requirements Demonstrate commitment to provide escalating matching funds Participate in two annual research projects 1) inventory hardware and 2) evaluate their technology services and use (ALA-FSU Internet and Public Funding Survey) Participate in Turning the Page conference

Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

OOHG Goal:

Ensure libraries serving high need populations regularly upgrade their computers

Motivate local governments to commit local funding for free computer services in their libraries

32 states participating, over 3 years, each year has two phases

Grantees participating in the program have 3 requirements

Demonstrate commitment to provide escalating matching funds

Participate in two annual research projects 1) inventory hardware and 2) evaluate their technology services and use (ALA-FSU Internet and Public Funding Survey)

Participate in Turning the Page conference

What we did… Our Project Team Project manager Curriculum team: Instructional design expert Communications and marketing firm Online educational development firm Evaluation firm Design and marketing firm assisting with web development Instructional delivery team

Project manager

Curriculum team:

Instructional design expert

Communications and marketing firm

Online educational development firm

Evaluation firm

Design and marketing firm assisting with web development

Instructional delivery team

Theory of Change

How we did it… Turning the Page Agenda Day 1 Room A Room B Room C Room D Room E Room F 7:30 - 10:15 a.m. Breakfast - Session 1 - Keynote Speaker 10:15-10:30 Coffee break Session 2 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Getting Started Getting Started Getting Started Getting Started Getting Started Getting Started 11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Lunch and Straight from the Source: How Funding Decisions are Made Session 3 1:30 - 2:45 p.m. Your Unique Role Follow Me Show Me The Money Creating Your Library Story Building Relationships Public Perceptions of Libraries 2:45-3:00pm Afternoon Snack Break Session 4 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. Public Perceptions of Libraries Creating Your Library Story It’s All About You Follow Me Your Unique Role Show Me The Money 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Q & A 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Dinner with Author Day 2 Room A Room B Room C Room D Room E Room F 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast Session 5 8:45-10:00 a.m. Show Me The Money Make It Memorable Building Relationships Public Perceptions of Libraries Public Perceptions of Libraries Your Unique Role 10:00 -10:15 am Coffee break Session 6 10:15-11:30 a.m. It’s All About You Make It Memorable It’s All About You Make It Memorable Follow Me Public Perceptions of Libraries 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch and Program: Funding Success Stories Session 7 12:45 - 2:00 p.m. Show Me The Money Staying on Track Staying on Track Creating Your Library Story Staying on Track Building Relationships Session 8 2:15 - 3:00 p.m. What's Next? What's Next? What's Next? What's Next? What's Next? What's Next? 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Closing

Work Session Topics Your Unique Role Building Relationships Creating Your Library Story Public Perceptions of Libraries Follow Me Show Me the Money Staying on Track Make it Memorable It’s All About You

Your Unique Role

Building Relationships

Creating Your Library Story

Public Perceptions of Libraries

Follow Me

Show Me the Money

Staying on Track

Make it Memorable

It’s All About You

Our Instructional Team Continuing education professionals Each has a background rich in communications and advocacy Participated in a rigorous train the trainer for TTP Core group of six participate in all TTP conferences

Continuing education professionals

Each has a background rich in communications and advocacy

Participated in a rigorous train the trainer for TTP

Core group of six participate in all TTP conferences

Additionally Kevin Carroll, the “Katalyst” “ Home Rooms” Sharing success stories, peer to peer learning Q & A Session focused on the specifics of the grant “ Learning Lounge” Dinner with a local author Conversation with a funding panel

Kevin Carroll, the “Katalyst”

“ Home Rooms”

Sharing success stories, peer to peer learning

Q & A Session focused on the specifics of the grant

“ Learning Lounge”

Dinner with a local author

Conversation with a funding panel

Advocacy Work Plan

Libraries Prosper with Passion, Purpose and Persuasion!

Turning the Page online Each work session is available in a robust online module Advocacy Work Plan can be completed and tracked online Work is done asynchronously and the training can be completed in 4 to 5 hours The complete curriculum will take 10 hours Available to all libraries participating in the Opportunity Online hardware grants

Each work session is available in a robust online module

Advocacy Work Plan can be completed and tracked online

Work is done asynchronously and the training can be completed in 4 to 5 hours

The complete curriculum will take 10 hours

Available to all libraries participating in the Opportunity Online hardware grants

Virtual Learning Lounge Social Networking Site embedded in PLAspace.org as a Community of Practice Currently available to grantees only Recreates conference home rooms Libraries track and edit work plans, establish forums, ask questions, share ideas & share success stories Continued interaction with facilitators and speakers

Social Networking Site embedded in PLAspace.org as a Community of Practice

Currently available to grantees only

Recreates conference home rooms

Libraries track and edit work plans, establish forums, ask questions, share ideas & share success stories

Continued interaction with facilitators and speakers

Who Participated… Round 1 702 Librarians 339 Trustees 348 Supporters 1389 Total Participants

702 Librarians

339 Trustees

348 Supporters

1389 Total Participants

Round 2 293 Librarians 165 Trustees 233 Library Staff 88 Supporters 779 Total Participants

293 Librarians

165 Trustees

233 Library Staff

88 Supporters

779 Total Participants

Results…. Rounds 1&2 PLA held 14 Turning the Page conferences in 2008 for the 20 states participating in Rounds 1&2 of the Opportunity Online hardware grants 1900 grantees attended the conferences, an additional 300 have completed Turning the Page online A total of over 2100 people have participated in the training

PLA held 14 Turning the Page conferences in 2008 for the 20 states participating in Rounds 1&2 of the Opportunity Online hardware grants

1900 grantees attended the conferences, an additional 300 have completed Turning the Page online

A total of over 2100 people have participated in the training

Evaluation…what we’ve learned At the start of the conference, 50.5% did not feel prepared to implement an advocacy project for their library As a result of the conference, 98.5% reported being excited about doing advocacy work in support of their library 99.5% believed they can influence their community to support their library 98.6% were more confident in their abilities to advocate on behalf of their library

At the start of the conference, 50.5% did not feel prepared to implement an advocacy project for their library

As a result of the conference, 98.5% reported being excited about doing advocacy work in support of their library

99.5% believed they can influence their community to support their library

98.6% were more confident in their abilities to advocate on behalf of their library

Six months after the training… Many libraries are facing the prospect of budget cuts in coming years However, libraries are on schedule for raising the matching funds 98.4% reported that they had met the match for Phase I 53.7% had already met the match for Phase II, well ahead of the September 30, 2009 deadline. Teams work Respondents representing libraries with a project team measured themselves higher on all measures of skills and confidence for engaging in advocacy work

Many libraries are facing the prospect of budget cuts in coming years

However, libraries are on schedule for raising the matching funds

98.4% reported that they had met the match for Phase I

53.7% had already met the match for Phase II, well ahead of the September 30, 2009 deadline.

Teams work

Respondents representing libraries with a project team measured themselves higher on all measures of skills and confidence for engaging in advocacy work

Six months after the training… Partnerships Almost 40% reported that their libraries formed at least one new partnership, most commonly with local businesses Messages Focused on local demand for technology and tailored to target audiences were seen as the most effective at raising public support for sustainable funding for technology

Partnerships

Almost 40% reported that their libraries formed at least one new partnership, most commonly with local businesses

Messages

Focused on local demand for technology and tailored to target audiences were seen as the most effective at raising public support for sustainable funding for technology

Turning the Page Timeline Round 3 (final round) will take place fall 2009 Final event will be at PLA Conference in March of 2010 in Portland Oregon Free for PLA members PLA’s grant with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation concludes in 2010

Round 3 (final round) will take place fall 2009

Final event will be at PLA Conference in March of 2010 in Portland Oregon

Free for PLA members

PLA’s grant with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation concludes in 2010