ALAs Advocacy Toolkit

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ALAs Advocacy Toolkit

• Making the Case for Libraries in Tough Economic
  Times

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Setting the Stage

• ALAs strategic plan advocacy is goal 1
• Association-wide advocacy efforts
• Advocacy and the ALA Washington Office
• Office for Library Advocacy
• Committee on Library Advocacy

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Goal 1 ALA and its members are the leading
advocates for libraries and the library
profession.

• Increase support for research and evaluation to
  provide evidence of the value and impact of
  libraries.
• Increase public awareness of the value and impact
  of libraries of all types, librarians and library
  staff.
• Mobilize, support and sustain grassroots advocacy
  for libraries and library funding at local, state
  and federal levels.
• Increase collaboration to secure legislation
  favorable to libraries.
• Increase public awareness of the importance of
  intellectual freedom, privacy and the role of
  libraries in a democracy.

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Association-wide Advocacy Efforts

• _at_ your library, The Campaign for Americas
  Libraries (2000)
• Advocacy Institute ALA Annual, July 10, 2009
• Advocacy University Online toolkits
• Library tools and campaigns with ACRL, AASL, PLA,
  IRC, ALSC
• I Love Libraries Web site

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Advocacy and theALA Washington Office

• Mission
• Informs government of the needs of library
  communities
• Provides library supporters up-to-date
  information
• Builds coalitions

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Advocacy and theALA Washington Office

• Means
• National Library Legislative Day (May 11 12)
• (Google National Library Legislative Day)
• District Dispatch with online updates and hot
  issues
• www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/
• Tool
• Legislative Action Center, the email service
  that allows advocates to send customized messages
  to Congressional members and state legislators
• (Google ALA Legislative Action Center)

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ALA Office for Library Advocacy

• Supports the efforts of advocates
  association-wide
• Integrates their efforts
• Works to cultivate future advocates

• Examples
• Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit
• Add It Up Make the Difference in Youth
  Development and Education Toolkit

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Committee on Library Advocacy

• Develops resources, networks and training
  materials
• Integrates advocacy efforts into ALAs overall
  planning, priorities and policies
• Cultivates future leaders in advocacy
• Has an Advocacy Coordinating Group for the
  exchange of information and ideas
• Has an Advocacy Training Subcommittee

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Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit

• Online so that it can be easily updated
• www.ala.org/tougheconomytoolkit
• Produced by ALAs Advocacy University
• Brings together advocacy information from across
  the association
• Has links to media coverage, a press center, etc.
• Allows you to pick and choose what would be
  useful for your situation and needs

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Toolkit What It Gives You

• Facts and strategies to use in speaking out
  effectively for libraries
• Information on how to work with decision-makers
  and the media
• Talking points on the economic value of libraries
  (with examples of the returns on investment)
• A link for sharing successful advocacy stories

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Toolkits Structure

• Making the case
• Outreach strategies to generate support
• How to talk to the media to get their support and
  good coverage
• Tips for engaging decision-makers and legislators
• How to stage and publicize a rally

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Making the Case

• The toolkit includes a message worksheet to help
  you
• Clarify your goal and specifically what you want
  to have happen
• Define the key message that will be repeated over
  and over (your sound bite)
• Identify your audience and why this would be
  important to them
• Outline your supporting points and
  examples/stories/facts to back them up

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Making the Case

• There is advice on
• Delivering the message (communication strategies)
• Designating effective spokespeople
• Dealing with opposition and controversy
• Answering tough questions
• Telling your story

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Outreach Strategies to Generate Support

• The toolkit includes a speakers checklist to
  help you
• Prepare for a presentation
• Deal with anxiety
• Deliver the presentation effectively
• Look the part

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Talking to the Media

• The toolkit includes
• Tips for successfully interacting with and
  managing the media
• Media strategies what they are and when to use
  them
• Tips for staying in control of the message and
  answering hard questions

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Engaging Decision-Makers and Legislators

• The toolkit includes
• Tips for successfully reaching out to
  decision-makers
• Showing the value of your library
• Framing the message for this target audience
• Techniques for effectively communicating with
  legislators
• A know your legislator checklist

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Staging and Publicizing a Rally

• The toolkit includes
• Planning for rallies from conceptualization to
  logistics
• Examples of how to publicize a rally
• Sample rally messages
• A rally event checklist