The document discusses the concept of advocacy in relation to libraries, emphasizing the importance of engaging with the community and creating a positive image of libraries. It defines frontline advocacy as involving all stakeholders, including staff and patrons, in promoting the value and resources that libraries provide. Additionally, it offers strategies and tools for effectively communicating the library's role and impact within the community.

1. Frontline Avocados Royce Kitts

2. Frontline Advocacy Royce Kitts

3. Sadly you can’t pick a Howard up at Wal-Mart. You will need to make your own.

4. What is advocacy?

5. “ Advocacy is about getting support from those who are in a position to help you and your library.”

6. “ Advocacy is the act of pleading for or supporting a change in an existing system which will produce results that are permanent and will benefit future users of the system.”

7. Advocacy is taking advantage of interactions to talk about what the library means to the community.

8. Advocacy: see marketing.

9. What is frontline advocacy? Frontline advocacy is about being involved in your community and creating an indelible image of the library and its role in supporting the community.

10. What is frontline advocacy? Involving people who interact with the library in advocacy.

11. Who are the frontline advocates? Staff Patrons Friends Trustees Elected Officials And everyone else who spreads the word

12. What can library staff do? be enthusiastic meet with key community members stay informed keep supporters informed recruit advocates

13. Staff Make sure they are happy at work Make sure they understand what is at stake Talk to them about what being a library advocate means

14. Patrons, Friends, & Trustees

15. Elected Officials Decision makers may support the library in spirit, but may not realize all of the potential benefits a well-supported library would have for the community and its people.

16. Why do libraries matter? promote literacy and education in our community bring technology and vital resources to our community are important for the growth and development of our children and community empower community members

17. Advocacy tools: annual reports business cards fact sheets press releases be able to summarize the library’s importance to the community as briefly as possible. (but be able to talk longer if need be)

18. Social media as marketing tool Be where the people who can be potential supporters can find you. Be where the people who don’t support you are as well. Be everywhere!

19. Tell the “Library Story” Statistics Stories Keep it simple, brief and personal. Have a beginning, middle and end. Have a good “punch line.”

20. Tips for telling the “Library Story” Deliver with passion Tailor message to audience Be community focused Be personable Relate stories that speak to the work you do that helps the community Handouts Always be ready to be ‘on’

21. Advocacy Ideas Take part in projects that highlight the libraries place in the community Partner with community groups Attend city council meetings Communicate with local officials and legislators Participate in library legislative days Recruit others to spread the word Start a friends group Talk to libraries in your areas about how they advocate for their library

22. Frontline Advocacy Get out there Do what you love Spread the word