This document discusses community partnerships for public libraries. It provides examples of partnerships from the Haywood County Public Library, Conneaut Public Library, and Beaver Public Library. The document outlines best practices for building partnerships, including starting by identifying why the library wants to partner, researching potential partners, and focusing on building relationships. It also notes challenges small and rural libraries may face and provides tips on knowing when to end a partnership. The overall message is that community partnerships are important for libraries to better serve their communities and meet community needs.

1. With Andrew Sanderbeck

3. • Start with Why: Identifying Community
Partners that Fit
• Utilize The Do’s and Don’ts of Approaching a
Potential Partner
• Focus on Building Relationships with
Community Partners
• Know When to End a Partnership

4. First…tell us about some of your
community partnerships

5. Start with Why

6. “Community partnerships enable to Haywood County
Public Library to meet community needs by providing
essential, educational, and entertaining programming
and services. Partnerships allow the library and
community partners to come together to meet common
goals as we support our community.”
Kathy Vossler, Director, Haywood County Public Library,
Waynesville, NC

7. “Community partnership provide the structure for
communities to create an environment for "wrap-around"
services for all members of society. Without collaboration,
needs remain unmet and conversely, also lead to duplication
of services.”
“I've seen this time and time again. Without communication
between entities, time, energy, and limited resources are used
to fulfill needs that perhaps could be met in other ways by
other agencies. And...public libraries can’t wait for patrons to
walk through the door. We need to meet people where they
are, literally and figuratively. Partnerships is the vehicle to
offer services to the hard to reach.”
Kathy Zappitello, Executive Director, Conneaut
Public Library, Conneaut, Ohio

8. “It is my personal opinion that a public library should be the
agency to gather everyone to the table to help find ways to
serve its citizens by exploring the most efficient ways
possible. Bottom line, any other organization that a public
library shares its patrons with, are the ones who make the
best partners.”
Kathy Zappitello, Executive Director, Conneaut
Public Library, Conneaut, Ohio

9. Write Down Your Library’s
“Why Statement”
We engage (want to engage) with our community
partners because…

10. What do today’s libraries do for our communities? It’s a simple question, but one
that has more answers than ever before. The services libraries provide now revolve
not just around stacks of books, but also around internet connection and cutting edge
digital technologies that help people fulfill basic needs and pursue a wide range of
interests.
With so much happening in libraries, why do some people believe libraries are obsolete?
The answer is the Reality-Perception Gap

11. Eliminating the Library Reality-
Perception Gap
What is the Reality-Perception Gap?
On a scale from essential, to nice-to-have, to obsolete.
The Perception of Far Too Many People: Libraries are either nice-to-have or obsolete.
The Reality: Libraries are not only essential, but they are essential in numerous ways.

12. The E’s of Libraries & What’s Your E?

13. Which Community Partners Are a Good
Fit For Your Library? Why?

14. Haywood Community Collaborators
 Haywood Community College
– College & Career Readiness
 NC Works
 Haywood Agricultural
Extension Office
 Senior Resource Center
 Mountain Projects
 Jackie Blevins, Caterer
 Sara Lewis, Nutrition Coach
 Rachel Austin, Relaxing Ewe
Naturals
 Alzheimer’s Association
 Folkmoot USA
 Goodwill Industries
 North Canton Elementary
School
 Meadowbrook Elementary
School
 Hazelwood Elementary School
 Clyde Elementary School
 Shining Rock Classical
Academy
 Haywood Christian Academy
 Waynesville Middle School
 St. Johns Early Learning Center
 First Methodist and First
Baptist Preschools
 Pisgah High School
 Healthy Haywood
 Canton Area Historical
Museum
 Small Business Center
 Canton Senior Center
 Silver Bluff Village
 Haywood Regional Medical
Center
 Haywood 4H
 Haywood Vocational
Opportunities
 Haywood County Master
Gardeners
 Region A Partnership for
Children
 The Daydreamz Project
 Dance Tonight Haywood
 Asheville Learning Center
 North Carolina Arboretum
 American Red Cross
 Chess Champions Bruce
Goodwin and Leon Sellards
 Alliance of Therapy Dogs and
Therapy Dogs International

15. Conneaut Public Library Partnerships
 All four buildings of our school
system-regular meetings with
Superintendent and principals
 Prison-medium security privately
owned men’s correctional
institution with 1800 inmates.
Lots here...regular meetings with
assistant wardens, education
department and library
 Our local community counseling
center-will be implementing a
“peer navigation” program as part
of sentencing concerning drug
use
 Arts center-summer movie series
and assisting each other with
programming
 Human Resources Center-
summer foods program and other
activities
 County Leadership program
 YMCA
 All local museums
 Conneaut Foundation-so much to
explain here concerning economic
development
 Chamber of Commerce
 Civic clubs and organizations

16. Beaver, Utah Public Library
Community Partnerships
 Correctional Facility Road Crew
 A group of inmates that provide
work in the community
accompanied by an officer.
 High School Art Students
 Individual students or end of
year requests since curriculum has
been completed.
 Sterling Scholars
 A Utah scholarship program
that requires volunteering. Be the
organization that needs help:
computer classes, device Q&A,
summer programming help
 Youth City Council
 Library teen groups
 Red Cross
 American Legion Auxiliary
 Sheriff's Department
 Recycling Center
 Betterment Club

17. The Do’s and Don’t’s of Approaching a
Potential Partner

18.  Your Research/Homework on the Potential
Partner
 Train/Practice the Person/People Who Will Be
Representing the Library
 Consider Who You Know and Who Knows You
 Approach With “How Can the Library Help You
Achieve Your Mission / Goals Attitude

19. • Be Afraid to Hear “No” Often
• Bring a “Lack” Attitude to the Partnership
• Say “Yes” to a Partnership You’re Not
Comfortable With
• Settle for Less than “Equal”
• Deviate from Your “Why”
• Promise Something You Can’t Deliver

20. Add Your Do’s and Don’t’s

21. Focus on Building Relationships with
Community Partners

22. “You are not in the library business. You are in the
relationship business. You have chosen to do so through
your library.” – Andrew Sanderbeck

23. Ask Relationship Building Questions
 How can the library help you achieve your goals and/or
mission?
 How can we partner with you to better serve the needs
of your clients/customers?
 What is the biggest challenge for your business this
year?

24. Small and Rural Library
Partnership Challenges

25. Have You Considered
 Heritage Organizations
 Local Historical Organizations
 Local Cultural Groups
 Service Organizations

26. “We’ve Asked Before”

27. What Did You Learn From

28. “I Feel Guilty Asking the Same
People Over and Over”

29. What Can Your Library Offer a
Potential Partner?
Meeting Space

30. HCPL Maggie Valley Branch

31. No Meeting Space? What About…
Spare Bulletin Board Space
End of Shelves
Display Space
Cabinet
Windows

32. Know When to End a Partnership

33. Know When to End a Partnership
Expectations
Energy
Excitement
Evolvement
Excuses

34. Questions? One Thing!

35. Thank You For Attending This Program!
Questions/Comments? Want Andrew
to Speak for Your Organization?
Contact Andrew Sanderbeck
727-409-2239
Andrew@peopleconnectinstitute.com