Use the best techniques from political campaigns to plan and run successful library advocacy initiatives.

1. Advocacy Activism
CALM Panel
#ala2013
Using tips from the best political
campaigns to activate citizen support
for library funding
@everylibrary
Building voter support for libraries
John Chrastka
Executive Director
EveryLibrary

2. About EveryLibrary
Founded on the fact that libraries, as public
entities, cannot expend their own funds to do
electioneering.
Associations, as 501c3 organizations, cannot
engage in GOTV speech.
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

3. About EveryLibrary
Set up as a 501c4 Social Welfare Organization
chartered to support local library ballot
measures like bonds, referendum, levies, and
mills.
Includes support for legislation that impacts
the ability of libraries to function as districts.
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary@everylibrary

4. Voter Attitudes About Libraries
● Users vs. Non-Users
● Progressives vs. Conservatives
● Any Tax is a Bad Tax
● Nothing Impacts More than their Perception of
the Librarian or the Library as Institution
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

5. Voter Attitudes
Of all voters:
37% will Definitely vote yes
37% will Probably vote yes
26% will Probably or Definitely vote no or
may vote either way.
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

6. 1. A Reason to Vote
2. Mobilized
3. Personal Contact with Candidate or Issue
4. Culture/Tradition/Habit of Voting
5. Trust in Government (pro or con)
6. Decided to Vote
7. Weather/Access to Polls
What Activates Voters?
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

7. Voter Attitudes
Nothing Impacts Voter Attitude about Libraries More
than their Perception of the Librarian and the Library as
an Institution
Non-Users or Never-Users can be activated for your
institution.
Non
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

8. 1. An Identified Need
2. Personal Motivation
3. Experience of the Issue
4. Prior Success as an Advocate
5. Institutional Reputation
6. Made a Pledge
7. Ease of Access to Advocacy Tools
What Activates Advocates?
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

9. ADVOCATES:
1. An Identified Need
2. Personal Motivation
3. Experience of the Issue
4. Prior Success as an Advocate
5. Institutional Reputation
6. Made a Pledge
7. Ease of Access to Advocacy
Tools
Activate Their Influences
Building voter support for libraries
VOTERS:
1. A Reason to Vote
2. Mobilization
3. Personal Contact with Candidate
4. Culture/Tradition/Habit of Voting
5. Trust in Government (pro or con)
6. Decided to Vote
7. Weather/Access to Polls
@everylibrary

10. The Institution as:
● Educational Partner
● Economic Development Engine
● Social Leveler
● Connect with Changing Technology
● Legitimacy as Institution
● Trust in the Professional
Messaging That Works
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

11. The Institution as Incubator
● Businesses
● The Arts
● Community Identity
● The Institution as Local Leverage
● Budget
● Grants
● Tech
Messaging That Works
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

12. ● Demands for Services
● Entreaties from Patrons/Customers
● Appeals about Effectiveness
● Perceptions of Service Level
● Whining
What Doesn't Work
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

13. How Do We Activate Them for
Your Institution?
Run it like a Campaign
Ground Game
Endorsements
Coalition Building
Actively Ask
Fin
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

14. Know Your Allies
Educational Partners
Social Welfare and Religious Partners
Governmental Partners
Civic Partners
Business Partners
Politicians
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

15. The closest person to the stakeholder
The professional
The representative of the institution
Who Delivers the Message?
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

16. 1. Walking*
Phoning*
2. Events
Social and Web
3. Signs
Mailers
Ways that Campaigns Reach Voters
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

17. Techniques that Work
Get Out and Walk
1.
Embedded LAM
Volunteer Brigade
Mini LAMs
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

18. Nothing Impacts Voter Attitude about Libraries More
than their Perception of the Librarian and the Library
as an Institution

19. Walk Your Precinct
Community Assessment Survey
Strategic Planning
New Resident Visits
Library Card Sign Up
Str
Building voter support for libraries
@everylibrary

20. In Every Case...
Building voter support for libraries
● Walk your Precinct
● Actively Engage
● Answer Challenges with Legitimacy
@everylibrary

21. Thank You
www.everylibrary.org
@everylibrary
facebook.com/everylibrary
everylibrary.tumblr.com
Building voter support for libraries
John Chrastka
Executive Director
EveryLibrary
john.chrastka@everylibrary.org