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Ecrl blueprint workshop
This document provides guidance on building a strong Friends group to support the local library. It begins with an overview of the different roles Friends can play, including advocacy, fundraising, public relations, recruiting volunteers, and planning events and special projects. It then gives 10 "commandments" for a successful Friends group, such as having support from the library director and staff, clear roles for all partners, and regular evaluation and evolution. The second part focuses on finding new Friends members and provides tips on developing a recruitment plan, targeting different demographic groups, using various marketing strategies including social media, and following up with potential members. It also shares examples from other libraries of innovative ways to engage younger adults. The overall message is that Friends groups need to
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Ecrl blueprint workshop
- 1. Drafting the Blueprint Building Friends EastCentral Regional Library December 5, 2013
- 2. Today Part 1. BuildingFriends • • • Minnesota Libraries Friends Role in Strong Libraries Ten Commandments Part 2. Finding New Friends • • • • Who Are the Friends The Recruits Get Ready to Recruit Ideas from other places
- 3.
- 4. All Libraries arethe same ALL LIBRARIES ARE DIFFERENT
- 5. "Libraries are society's workhorses,making available what is good and worthy and open to all who need information, reassurance or a kick in the imagination. A town without a library is irredeemably impoverished." Bill Peschel, Author
- 6. Common Library Features •Staff • Space • Organized Collections • Cooperation/collaboration with other libraries • Programming
- 7. Differences • The community •The governance structure • System membership • Size of staff, collections • Diversity • Available resources
- 8. Key similarity ALL LIBRARIESWANT TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE
- 9. What makes Minnesotalibraries work • Local support • State support for cooperation • System membership • Sharing resources • Willingness to work as a group to improve services • Strong Friends
- 10. What’s Ahead forMN Libraries • Demographic shifts – Many “seniors” – Many under 15s – Not so many in the middle range • Fewer Taxpayers, greater demand • Fewer to volunteer, more opportunities
- 11. Usage Changes • Demandsfor meeting spaces • Demands for wireless • Demand lessening for access to desktop computers • More programming • Technology changes mean patron training
- 12. Continued Demand • Resourcesof all types—print, electronic, new formats • More hours • Mobile access • Trained staff to teach info access • Programming
- 13. Libraries will need •To create adaptable tech-friendly spaces. • To build for the future. • Diverse & nimble staff that can quickly adapt to change. • More resources & increased efficiency to meet demands.
- 14. Friends Questions • Whatwill be the impact of more ebooks on book sales as fundraisers? • How will Friends keep up with library trends? • What are Friends’ contributions to libraries’ future?
- 15. FRIENDS ROLE INSTRONG LIBRARIES
- 16. Why Do WeNeed Friends? • • • • • • To help improve the library To have organized library supporters To promote connections to the community To raise money To maintain a source of library volunteers To meet a specific goal—building, remodel, special collections…
- 17. Advocacy Fundraising Public Relations Volunteers Event Planning& Special Project(s) WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF FRIENDS?
- 18. Advocacy Advocacy means communication,as an individual or group, with decision makers and others in support of or opposition to specific issues.
- 19. Value of Friendsas Advocates • You are not paid staff of the library. • You are strong customers/supporters of the library. • You see the public library from the user’s viewpoint. • You are active in the community, understand the power structure, & are connected to other local groups and civic organizations.
- 20. Friends’ Role asAdvocates • Library advocacy must be tied to the library’s mission, goals, & ongoing public relations program. • Successful advocacy combines lobbying activities with marketing & public relations skills to tell the library’s story.
- 21. How To Advocate •Work with the your director to implement the library’s advocacy plan. • Help identify supporters that can tell the library’s story. • Help develop a message that is short but powerful and can be easily remembered and identified with your library.
- 22. Where to Advocate •At every opportunity, talk to people about the library’s role in the community. • Approach decision-makers in person, by telephone, by fax, by letter, or by e-mail asking for his/her support for the library’s program in the community & throughout the library systems. • Attend local budget hearings to show support. • Attend MLA/MEMO Library Legislative Day.
- 23. Saving the LibraryBudget Cambridge Friends’ successful advocacy program • Part 1—Short-term fundraising • Part 2—Grassroots PR
- 24. Advocacy is yearround, not just at budget time or in a crisis. WORDS TO REMEMBER
- 25. Fundraising The process ofsoliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources by requesting donations from individuals businesses, charitable organizations or government agencies.
- 26. Friends’ Role • Fundraiseto support library’s mission & vision. • Tell the story of why the money is needed. • Friends may be able to apply for funds libraries cannot. • Decide how to spend money after conferring with Director & Board.
- 27. Goals of Friends’Fundraising • • • • • • Capital campaigns for building, remodeling Supplement library’s budget Collection development Programming Equipment Special projects
- 28. Ways to Fundraise Membershipdues Memorials Special events Grants from foundations, government agencies, other sources • Corporate sponsorship • • • •
- 29. Donors don’t giveto institutions. They invest in ideas and people in whom they believe. Successful fundraising speaks to an identified need in the community. WORDS TO REMEMBER
- 30. Public Relations Increase publicawareness of the library and its services.
- 31. Friends’ Role inPR • Tell the library’s story to family, neighbors, others. • Partner with the library at various events, such as displays or with conjunction with other organizations. • Keep library & Friends in public eye with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or other social media. • Represent library at other groups you belong to.
- 32. How to Representthe Library • Know what’s going on at the Library. • Keep Friends social media up-to-date. • Have a library success story or two to tell. • Promote library programming.
- 33. Friends who tellthe library’s story keep people thinking about the library in positive ways. WORDS TO REMEMBER
- 34. Volunteers A person whofreely offers to take part in an enterprise or to undertake a task without seeking any rewards.
- 35. Friends’ Role • Volunteerin the organization as officer or board member. • Volunteer at library events. • Volunteer at community events as library representative. • Recruit other volunteers of all ages for Friends & library.
- 36. Recruitment & Retention •Clearly define volunteers’ roles. • Be clear about what volunteers can & cannot do. • Keep volunteers informed & active. • Provide feedback.
- 37. Volunteer Success • Havespecific event in mind, let them know exactly how they can help, how much time their task will take. • Plan well in advance. • Thank your volunteers in the library’s newsletter and at your Friends meeting.
- 38. Volunteers don't getpaid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless. Make sure yours know they are appreciated. WORDS TO REMEMBER
- 39. Event Planning &Special Projects Event planning is the process of creating a festival, ceremony, competition, party, or other special event. Event planning includes identifying all the elements of the event, creating a budget, & implementing the plan to meet its goals.
- 40. Friends’ Role • Determinegoals of event in keeping with the Library’s goals & mission. • Create the “Plan”. • Find collaborators. • Day-of work battle plan • Follow-up.
- 41. Types of Events •Book Sale • Literary Festival • Author Readings • Auctions—Silent or otherwise • Legacy Programming
- 42. Successful Events • Planevents well ahead of time. • Be ambitious , but realistic about what volunteers can handle. • Use relationships with other groups to find volunteers & attendees.
- 43. The first stepto planning an event is determining its purpose. WORDS TO REMEMBER
- 44. The Ten Commandments forbuilding a successful Friends Group
- 45. 1. Library Support •Library Director must be in favor of a Friends group. • Library staff must be willing to work with Friends. • The Board or other governing body must recognize the Friends.
- 46. 2. Understand thePartners’ Roles • Each partner must understand its role – Director/Staff – Board – Friends • Be sure new members & staff understand the roles. • Evaluate roles as things move forward.
- 47. 3. Stay Organized •A committed core group is needed to start things & keep them going. • Have mission/vision statements, by-laws, meeting schedule, committees, officers. • Have plan for officer succession, committee management, & other pieces. • Hold regular Board meetings to keep business on track.
- 48. 4. Manage Resources •Friends must have resources to support its activities. • The Library must agree on which of its resources the Friends can use. • Friends have separate accounting & finances should be audited regularly.
- 49. 5. Communicate • Friendsmust communicate their plans & activities to Director & Board. • Library must keep Friends informed of its plans, too. • Both keep the community informed via social media, newsletters, web, flyers…
- 50. 6. Manage TimeCommitment • Time matters: Everyone must understand the time commitment involved. • Plan & hold effective meetings. • It takes time to be a success.
- 51. 7. Nurture Relationships •A good relationship should be established between the Friends Board & the Library Board. • Work to develop relationships with other community organizations. • Work with other Friends groups in the region.
- 52. 8. Focus onthe Friends’ Volunteers • Have job descriptions for all jobs big & small. • Write policies. • Be welcoming to everyone & value people’s ideas. • Show appreciation informally & formally.
- 53. 9. Be Willingto Learn & Share • Attend trainings for Friends. • Be active in larger Friends community. • Share what you have learned. • Apply for the Evy Nordley award!
- 54. 10. Evaluate &Evolve • Evaluate success of events. • Evaluate the Friends organization. • Evolve & change as needed for continued growth.
- 55. 11. Stay InformedAbout Libraries • OCLC Research Reports – http://www.oclc.org/en-US/reports.html • From Awareness to Funding: A study of library support in America – http://www.oclc.org/en-US/reports/funding.html • Libraries in the U.S.: A Snapshot of Priorities & Perspectives – http://www.oclc.org/content/dam/oclc/reports/us-libraries/214758usb-A-Snapshot-of-Priorities-andPerspectives.pdf • Perceptions of Libraries, 2010: Context and Community • http://www.oclc.org/en-US/reports/2010perceptions.html
- 56. Pew Internet &American Life Project: Libraries – Younger Americans’ Reading & Library Habithttp://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/10/23/younger-americans-reading-and-library-habits/ – Library Services in the Digital Age http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/library-services/ – The rise of e-reading – http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/04/04/the-rise-of-e-reading/ – More – http://libraries.pewinternet.org/
- 57. MetroBriefs • Aimed atTwin Cities library staff • News & information about all types of libraries • MN, National, & International • Every other Monday via e-mail
- 58. Marks of Success •Great support from your Library Board & staff • Willing volunteers • Attendance at events • A feeling of accomplishment • Recognition in the community
- 59. The most successfulgroups are those where everyone feels their contribution is important to the group’s success. WORDS TO REMEMBER
- 60.
- 61. Part 2. Finding NewFriends
- 62. Who are theFriends Now?
- 63. Silent Generation born between1925-1945 • Range of lifestyles from fully engaged to deep retirement. • Values: loyalty, self-sacrifice, faith in institutions & institutions. • Engagement is motivated by – Tradition – Loyalty to key issue or group – Joint work ethic
- 64. Boomers born between 1946-1962 •Fully engaged. Carrying most of the social, economic, & political responsibility. • Values: entitlement, skepticism about authority/institutions, youthfulness. • Engagement is motivated by – Sense of making a difference – Change the world – Be part of the action
- 65.
- 66. Generation X born between1963-1980 • Early-mid-career, family responsibilities, beginning to take leadership roles • Values: independence, self-reliance, informality, fun. Little loyalty to institutions or organizations • Engagement motivated by – Want to be valued by the organization for independent thinking & individual contribution – Maintain work/life balance
- 67. Gen Y orMillennials born between 1981-2002 • Just starting out. “Emerging adults” starting jobs. Politically active. • Values: Work/life balance, confidence, social commitment, “connected”, networking/collaboration, tolerant • Motivation – Make a difference with their peers – Recognition for new ideas & expertise – Opportunities for civic engagement & collaboration
- 68. Even Younger Teens/Tweens Generation Zor Net Generation • • • • • • Hyper-connected 24/7 approach to life Global Likely to have diverse friends Realistic about the future Not “joiners”
- 69. Take a Look WHATELSE IS GOING ON?
- 70.
- 71. At the Library • • • • • Samefor the Library? More users? Fewer? Who are the users? New services? New staff?
- 72. Your Town • Growingin population? People moving away? • Demographic changes? New Americans? Lots of kids? Lots of seniors? • Industry shifts? • More service organizations?
- 73. GET READY TORECRUIT
- 74. Hard Questions • Whydo you want new people to join? • Why would new people want to join your Friends? • If new people did join, would they actually be/feel welcome?
- 75. Why • New ideasfor programming • Need specific skills • Revitalize a dormant group • Aging out of current membership • Need more volunteers • Changes in library &/or town
- 76. Why the Friends? •Support an organization they use • Support an organization they believe in • Fun events • Easy to understand what is needed
- 77. Are they welcome? •Only long-time members with fixed ideas? • Up-to-date ideas visible to potential members? • Programming that appeals to younger community members?
- 78. You may needto revitalize how you operate and how your members think in order to get young adults involved. WORDS TO REMEMBER
- 79. Develop a Plan •Who is on the Recruitment Committee? – Experienced members? – Younger members? – Community members? – Library staff?
- 80. What do wewant? • How many new members? • Any specific skills or abilities we need? • Financial support? • Event volunteers?
- 81. Target Groups • YoungProfessionals • Young Parents • Newcomers to town • Singles • Non-users • Who else?
- 82. Know what youare selling • Civic engagement • Fun events/service opportunities • Leadership opportunities • Group participation • What else?
- 83. Finding Recruits • Beginwith the obvious—your own relatives & neighbors • Talk to staff • College/University • Other service groups • HS with service requirement
- 84. Develop Marketing Strategies • • • • • • • Wordof mouth Library publications Local media Web sites Social Media Other groups Schools
- 85. Be Findable Online •Facebook • Your web site • Twitter • On library’s web site • Pinterest • On town web site • Tumblr
- 86. Recruit at Events •Book sale • Book clubs • Programs • Social gatherings • Go where they go
- 87. Follow-up • Collect emailaddresses • Collect cell phone numbers for text messages • Be patient--May take time for people to join
- 88. Focus on WhatWorks • Flexibility in the plan • Go where they go • Sell to them—what do they want • Keep track and report back • Live & learn & adjust
- 89. Examples from ALA2013 • We Are the Champions: 20s-30s Library Advocacy • Late Nights at the Library • Genre-X
- 90.
- 91. Programming for “Hipsters” •Started with book club • Exercise with catchy titles-Zombie Aerobics • Raw Foods • Herbal Mixology • Speed dating for booklovers
- 92. Alt+Library Friends Grew fromconnections made at programs • • • • Focus on fundraising & advocacy 5 board members Meetings at coffee shop Alt+Friends ask friends to join
- 93. Social Media toConnect • Meetup to promote/publicize events – http://bit.ly/16pY0qb • Web site/Blog – http://altlibrary.com • Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AltLibraryFriends • Twitter – https://twitter.com/altlib_friends
- 94. Fundraising • No booksales • Craft event every month • Business partnerships
- 95. Advocacy • 20-30s careabout politics • City Council appearance • Participate in the “Big Friends” political education committee • Get their “action alerts”
- 96. Why it works •Enthusiastic staff that are same age as audience • Imaginative programming where audience is • Major support from library administration & Board • Support from big Friends • Planning & thoughtful execution
- 97. Oak Park PublicLibrary • Genre-X • Late Nights at the Library
- 98. Genre-X http://genre-x.com/ genre X isa twenties and thirties book discussion group facilitated by the Oak Park Public Library. The group meets every fourth Tuesday at 8:00 pm at Molly Malone's (Upstairs) on Madison in Forest Park.
- 99.
- 100. After Hours atthe Library • Fundraising events • Aimed at adults, not families (usually) • All ages, but focus on young adults • Ticketed events
- 101. Programs • Learning aboutsomething • Learning how to do something • Opportunities to meet people share an experience • Opportunities to do something
- 102. Why It Works •Membership development tool • Perks for members • Changes perceptions of libraries • Aimed at young adults • Staff
- 103. If they areyounger than you & they join, they will do it with enthusiasm and commitment. But They won’t do it the way you would or as “it has always been done.” Get used to it. WORDS TO REMEMBER
- 104. Resources • Library Friends: BuildingRelationships, Making Connections. Dr. Charles Hanson, Kettering University Library.. ALA 2013. http://ala13.ala.org/files/ala13/HansonPresentation%206-28-2013.pdf • A Little Help from our Friends. Presentation by Dorothy Macnaughton, President, Friends of Canadian Libraries. • Minnesota Library Futures Initiative http://mnlfi2025.org • Perceptions of Libraries, 2010. OCLC. – http://www.oclc.org/content/dam/oclc/reports/2010perceptions/2010perceptions_all.pdf • All OCLC Reports http://www.oclc.org/en-US/reports.html • Pew Internet & American Life Project: Libraries http://libraries.pewinternet.org/ • MetroBriefs http://conta.cc/Tm4tYw • We Are the Champions: 20s-30s Library Advocacy – http://altlibrary.com/altlibrary-friends/ – https://www.facebook.com/AltLibraryFriends – https://twitter.com/altlib_friends – http://www.meetup.com/altlibrary/ • Late nights at the library – http://genre-x.com – http://oppl.org/sites/default/files/ALA2013_Late%20Nights.pdf
- 105. Ann Walker Smalley •Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/annws • Twitter @annws • Pinterest http://pinterest.com/annws/boards/ • Email annsmalley@mac.com • 612.805.7930 At Work Metronet ann@metronet.lib.mn.us 651.646.0475 Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike CC BY-NC-SA
Editor's Notes
- #6 Even though we all know what a library isTrue regardless of size of library, its city or county
- #10 TREMENDOUSVALUE IN SYSTEM MEMBERSHIP—really allows local library to be the window on the world of information, well beyond one one library, regardless of size, to meet the needs of all library users
- #11 And by extension, for you
- #19 ----- Meeting Notes (12/4/13 13:26) -----Lobbying by a paid professional on behalf of a group or cause. We have a paid lobbyist whose contract is paid by MLA, MEMO, regional pub lib and multitype directors
- #22 “Elevator speech”
- #24 They tackled the first goal with gusto. Fundraising efforts ranged widely. Tactics included a letter campaign, petitions in the media, and donation jars in prominent places within the library. In total, they raised well over $5,000, enough to restore the summer hours – with some left over to put towards badly needed new furniture, to boot!They also spearheaded a grassroots public relation campaign, of sorts, to get the larger community (by and large fans of the library, even if not formally ‘Friends’) to voice their displeasure with the new status quo. Prominent among other efforts, they produced an informational flyer and mailed it to over 250 area households and businesses. In it, they made clear what the expenditures reduction meant for the library. The Friends encouraged recipients to forward on the information widely – and the community’s response surpassed nearly all expectations.
- #27 It is all about the story—people want to know what the money will be used for—will it grow the collection of early literacy books. Will it expand offerings to seniors through technology help/brain development activities. Will it furnish a teen area of the library. Going into the “general fund” just isn’t as appealing to people. Even thought they get that libraries need operating funds, they want ot see their money have a visible impact.
- #28 Other reasons?
- #29 More ideas this afternoon!Grants really matter with telling the story
- #30 Cambridge Friends are an excellent example—they knew what they needed, knew people believed in the library, and asked for money
- #32 Friends can have their own social media presence to keep members and potential members informed about activities.
- #35 Difference between Friends volunteers and those who volunteer in the library. May be different depending on the library.
- #36 Find volunteers for the library as needed—greeters, shelf-readers, B
- #37 Depending on the library and union rules, not all jobs can be done by volunteers. Volunteers can supplement not replace paid staff. Sustaining a library and its services with volunteers is extremely difficult.
- #41 Gaol—fundraising, programming, PROnly 3 little words but a big undertaking—dates, times, locations, volunteer job listing, finding volunteers, security as needed, refreshments, parking, and on and on
- #42 Book sales are number 1 with a bullet when it comes to Friends’ eventsRemember you can add on to other organizations events--
- #46 You can’t succeed without library support and interest.
- #47 Director/staff responsible for running the library, making day-to-day decisions, implementing Board-adopted policiesBoard has budget responsibility policy-making, staffing planningFriends are a separate, complementary organization to the Library. Not policy making, not running the library
- #49 MALF can help with startup grants. Will other local groups offer $$ and support.Can the Friends photocopy, fax, use meeting rooms, have priority for scheduling?Create a budget for its activities\DO THE PAPERWORK
- #50 Establish a reporting schedulePost meeting minutes for library staff and publicNO one likes to be surprised
- #51 Don’t waste people’s time—have an agenda, stick to it, but still let members be heardmeetings so members can discuss events they want to undertake and where they can brainstorm ideas and agree by consensus
- #53 And have some small jobs—not everyone can stay all day, or devote hours to an event. But maybe they can put stamps on postcards or manage email rsvps. Or distribute flyersyou need to be careful not to lose people who are willing to help in limited waysDevelop a recruitment plan.
- #54 Attend Friends Day at MLAConnect with other Friends in your region
- #55 An often overlooked step, esp in groups with longtime leadership that hasn’t changed much. Static organizations do not attract new members.
- #56 OCLC is a worldwide library cooperative, owned, governed and sustained by members since 1967. Our public purpose is a statement of commitment to each other—that we will work together to improve access to the information held in libraries around the globe and find ways to reduce costs for libraries through collaboration.
- #58 Shameless self-promotion
- #60 And where everyone’s contribution is the reason for the success
- #62 Building on strong Friends groups is way to find new FriendsThat’s why I wanted to talk about the foundation of friends—getting and keeping the house in order is the first step to finding new friends
- #63 Keep in mind Individuals are not groupsOBVIOUSLY GENERALIZATIONS—not everyone will have the same values/motivations in a group, but generally will hold true
- #64 Snapshot of who and what motivates us
- #68 Silent generation & boomers went through school with the rule “do your own work”This generation grew up with group work & collaboration and gaming—which looks for guides to success, not leaders or “experts”
- #69 Leave it up to you to decide if you want to recruit from this group. Often its own Junior Friends group (baaad name) with its own purpose to advise on teen services, assist with summer reading, etc. Fergus Falls has Library Ninjas
- #71 What’s going on with your Friends?
- #73 All of these will have an impact on who and how you recruit.
- #75 No one can answer these questions for you—it is step one for recruitment, though, to really understand these pieces
- #76 Knowing why you want new members gives you a place to start planningOther reasons?
- #77 Lots of competition among service groups—Lions, Scouts, 4-H, Rotary, and so on—for this demographic. What makes you more appealing than those groups?
- #80 Be thoughtful about recruitingIt won’t just happen
- #81 Set recruitment goals based on what the Friends need. Not that you would turn away those that don’t match, but be thoughtful and directed in recruiting
- #82 Remember—every other service group, scout troop, church is recruiting from these same groups. What do you have to offer
- #83 Keep in mind what motivates the various target groups—as Boomers, we may Tailor your marketing to the groups you want to reach
- #84 Once you have recruited some younger members, ask them to serve on the recruitment committee or offer ideas on where to recruit
- #85 Communicate how they want to hear your message
- #86 Young adults use the Internet for all things. They will research your group before considering joining. Friends need up-to-date social media presence not only for current members, but potential members. Pinterest—set up a board for community to pin ideas of a new library or new services
- #87 Maybe library has book groups for specific interests. Be sure your programs have broad appeal. Are there social gatherings/meetings at the library. Where do your target groups go—coffee shops, playgrounds, modern version of the “idlers’ club” in town.
- #90 From bigger towns, but can be scaled to almost any community. The key is—what niche can the library fill for various groups and how to get them involved. These are all aimed at the elusive “emerging adult” who aren’t necessarily joiners, but do want to be part of a community of like-minded people for fun and learning.
- #92 Lots more programs with catchy/provocative titles Trash Book Club, Broke-Ass Holidays
- #95 Tried online sales, but need rare/unusal books
- #96 Doing all the same stuff Friends do, but with the tone and twists that appeals to their target audience
- #97 USE THEIR PERSONAL NETWORKS TO GROW FRIENDSHigh trust level from library and board. Doesn’t have to be staff—find enthusiastic community members to do it as FriendsThere is a whole lot more to Alt+Library—re-inventing the PL in some ways for their generation
- #98 Friends programming ideas. Not a separate Friends group, but work with Friends on events/fundraising
- #99 Get the target group thinking OPPL
- #102 Divide their programming into these 4 categories—would work for just about everythingDo something—book sale, field trip, community work
- #103 Library has a liquor license! Big on socializing, food, drinkMembership development tool
- #104 We need to accept this and make it OK in the Friends culture to let it be different.