The document provides guidance for library advocates to meet with local Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to discuss library funding priorities and secure their support. It outlines the goals of obtaining sustainable funding and supporting three priority recommendations in the OLA and FOPL pre-budget submission. Library advocates are encouraged to emphasize the importance of libraries and build relationships with MPPs to gain champions. A three-step guide is provided on preparing, conducting, and following up after the meetings.

1. Engaging Your MPP:
Bringing Library Day to Your Riding
January 16, 2018
Private and Confidential

2. 1. Introductions
2. Overview: MPP Meeting Campaign, Winter 2018
• Goals
• Your Role
• Key Messages
• OLA & FOPL’s Pre-Budget Submission &
Recommendations
3. Bringing Library Day to Your Riding: 3-Step Guide
Agenda

3. • Educate MPPs and staff about the importance of libraries for education,
poverty reduction and community economic development
• Inform MPPs and staff about the need for new funding for libraries in
Ontario, and seek support and input
• This is OLA & FOPL’s main Ontario “Budget Ask” – three priority
recommendations!
• Secure commitment from MPPs to follow-up with key Ministers on priority
recommendations
Goals

4. Your Role: Broadening Our Campaign
• Meet with your local MPP to:
Emphasize the importance of libraries and librarians
Build support for a modern approach to library funding in
Ontario
Provide local context on OLA & FOPL’s Budget recommendations
and how it will help their community
• Building relationships = more supporters and champions

5. • Obtain sustainable, predictable, and flexible funding for libraries
across the Province – including a $42 million/year increase in new
funding.
• Three funding priorities:
 Mandate schools to properly spend their allocated library
funding for school libraries and teacher-librarians (equivalent
to approx. $100m/year)
 $17m/year additional base funding ($33m  $50m) for public
libraries
 $25m/year for Ontario’s Digital Library – shared resources for
all Ontario libraries
Budget Recommendations

6. • Public and school libraries are Ontario’s farthest-reaching, most cost-effective
resource for empowering positive change in education, poverty reduction and
economic development.
• Ontario’s current funding approach is threatening the long-term sustainability of
libraries across Ontario.
• Ontario’s support for libraries must reflect the need for a modern, innovative
library system that is responsive to diverse and evolving communities.
• Modern, sustainable funding will ensure that all Ontarians will benefit from
equitable, world-class resources in their local community – including tens of
thousands of Ontario students and First Nations communities, that lack access to
libraries and library services.
Key Messages

7. Step 1: Preparing for a Meeting
• Review the budget submission and the MPP meeting campaign toolkit
• Review relevant biographical information and recent media coverage - explore how your
MPP could become a champion
• Stories strengthen your message, highlight the “Portraits”
• Review the meeting worksheet
• Ensure that you have the appropriate leave-behind material:
 Your contact information
 The OLA/FOPL briefing materials prepared for Library Day 2017
Meeting Your MPP

8. Step 2: Conducting a Meeting
• Stick to the Priority Recommendations and Key Messages
• Use local/personal examples in combination with Key Messages
• Be passionate and respectful, not argumentative and confrontational
• Be concise – you may only have 15 or 20 minutes total – leave time for questions
• Say “I don’t know” if you’re asked a question that you can’t answer
• Take notes about any issues, questions or follow ups required
• Leave behind a copy of the OLA & FOPL Library Day briefing material and your contact
information
• Thank them and indicate you will be following up
Meeting Your MPP

9. Step 2: One More Thing!
• Don’t forget to ask your MPP to raise the priority
recommendations with the key Ministers
Meeting Your MPP

10. Step 3: Following up After the Meeting
• Send a thank you letter, with follow up information you promised
(provided in Meeting Campaign toolkit)
• You may be asked in the future to follow up by email and phone with the
Meeting Target to seek additional support or to request further
information
• Complete the Meeting Worksheet (included in this package and shown on
on next slide) to let us know how your meeting went
Meeting an MPP

11. Meeting Details
Name of Meeting Target: Jane Doe
Riding: Anytown-Everytown
Party: PC
Supporting staff in attendance: John Smith, Constituency Manager
Meeting Attendees from
OLA / FOPL
• Sarah Wong (CEO, Everytown Public Library)
Meeting Tone
(Positive/Negative;
Supportive/Not Supportive)
Positive, seemed very supportive. Was particularly interested in the OLA/FOPL funding proposal and
how libraries help students.
Summary of Meeting
Discussion
Discussed key messages and specifics of Budget Ask, especially the school libraries component. Was
particularly interested in understanding existing funding pressures for school libraries and staff.
Questions from Meeting
Target / Staff
What documentation can you provide to further support your Budget ask?
Where are the shortfalls most acute?
How many constituents visited Anytown-Everytown libraries last year?
Commitments made by
Meeting Target / Staff
Indicated support for the principle of OLA & FOPL’s budget ask, committed to raise the issue in a letter
to the Ministers
Any Follow-up Required by
OLA / FOPL?
Send electronic copy of Budget Submission to MPP Doe’s office
Meeting Worksheet

12. Discussion and Questions