PowerPoint Presentation
BIG IDEASSmall Libraries, KaLynn Ravel, MLIS600, Oct 2013
Small Libraries, Big Ideas. In todays economic climate with
budgets being slashed, small libraries are in jeopardy. The
directors, staff and supporters of these institutions must be
creative and diligent in their pursuit of support in the form of
funding. 1ADVOCATINGfor small Public Libraries American Library
Association.(2009). Dempsey,B. (2012, Apr).
Advocating for small public libraries is more important than
ever. The American Library Association has a division called United
for Libraries. The members are Library Trustees, advocates, Friends
of Libraries, committee members and various foundations. The
mission is to support anyone who agrees that libraries are valuable
to their community. Meanwhile in many small towns across America
there are small committees fighting for their local libraries. Many
referenda have come to the forefront and the 2011 calculations show
that voters strongly support keeping library doors open. 2AMERICAN
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
COALITION BUILDINGADVOCACY EVENTS
RESEARCHINTERPRETATION & APPLICATIONPROMOTE VALUEAmerican
Library Association.(2011). OUR AUTHORSOUR ADVOCATES PUBLIC SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
In addition to the American Library Associations , United for
Libraries division they provide a multitude of resources for
librarians today. The Campaign for Americas Libraries is designed
to help increase public awareness. They have suggestions for
Advocacy Events, Coalition Building and ways to promote value. They
also publish their research findings, interpretations and ideas for
application. 3Americans go to school, public and academic libraries
three times more often than they go to the movies.
American Library Association Office for Research and Statistics.
(2012)
One way of gaining support is by getting the attention of the
public. Americans go to school, public and academic libraries three
times more often than they go to the movies. 4There are more public
libraries than McDonalds in the U.S.
American Library Association Office for Research and Statistics.
(2012)Photo of McDonalds (nd). Map Image (nd).
There are more public libraries than McDonalds in the U.S.5
Americans spend nearly three times as much on candy as they do
on public libraries.
American Library Association Office for Research and Statistics.
(2012)
Americans spend nearly three times as much on candy as they do
on public libraries.
Although these anecdotes grab our attention, they dont get to
the heart of the matter. 6Critiquing Advocacy Research
FindingsCritically Examine the Statistics
Use the research findings more effectively
Present the data in a simple, clear way
Interpretability is of greatest importance
Improve the Quality of Library Advocacy
(Lyons, 2009)
Ray Lyons directly criticizes the American Library Associations
use of irrelevant facts. He believes they muddle the message of the
campaign for support. He goes on to say that we as professionals
need to critically examine the statistics, use the research
findings more effectively, present the data in a simple clear way,
and remember that interpretability is of greatest importance to
improve the quality of Library Advocacy. 7
CASE IN POINTJAMESTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARYSAVE ME!!!
Photo of Jamestown Public Library . (2013). Cyrus, J. (2013, Sep
30)
Lets take a look at an example of a small library struggling to
stay open. Jamestown Public Library, Jamestown North Carolina.The
director Jamie Cyrus and her team work with the Old Jamestown
School Association and the Friends of the Library group to keep
This small independent library open. The do not receive funding
from the state, only the county and the town. 8
Built in 1915.
First Accredited rural High School in North Carolina
Vacant 7 years
Jamestown Public LibraryJamestown Public School1985 Alumni
advocate to save the building.
1986 Ownership transfers Fundraising & Renovation
1988 Jamestown Library opens
Jamestown Public Library (2013)Photo of Jamestown Public Library
. (2013).
The building started out in 1915 as the first accredited rural
high school in North Carolina. After many years the building was
deemed not practical for use as a school. It sat vacant for 7
years. In 1985 there were rumors that the building would be
demolished. A group of alumni started a strong campaign to save the
building. Three years later their vision came to fruition as the
building was dedicated as the Jamestown Public Library. What
started out as the Save the Old School Committee became the Old
Jamestown School Association. The newly founded association pledged
to preserve the building to be used as a library and a place of
education, both cultural and historical.9Build Public
WillFriedenwald-Fishman,E. & Dellinger, LKL. (2006, Feb).
Before we jump into the challenges of the Jamestown Public
Library, lets look at the main goal of advocating. The main goal is
to Build Public Will. Erice Friednwald-Fishman and Laura K. Lee
Dellinger have suggested a 5 phase process to build public will. In
their article they list the 5 phases to be: Frame the problem,
Build Awareness, Share Information, Create Personal Conviction and
to Evaluate & reinforce. 10Jamestown Public LibraryProposed
Guilford County budget slashes librarys fundsagain.Overman, O.
(2013, May 28),FRAME THE PROBLEMWe advocate for support year round.
Cyrus,J. Director Jamestown Library (2013, Sep. 30).
Friedenwald-Fishman,E. & Dellinger, LKL. (2006, Feb).
Jamestown News. (2013). Photo
When framing the problem it looks simple at first. The library
needs the public to communicate their desire for the library to
stay open to the county commissioners. Friedenwald-Fishman &
Dellinger suggest that we take a closer look. What would the impact
be if the funding is removed? Identify the audience and define the
problem through the values of the community. 11Jamestown Public
LibraryBUILD AWARENESSMARKETING OF PROGRAMS, COLLECTIONS, SERVICES,
ACTIVITIESDeeper involvement with the audience creates credibility,
perspective and trust.Connect through the values of the community.
Friedenwald-Fishman,E. & Dellinger, LKL. (2006, Feb).
We need to connect people through their values. We need them to
internalize the concept of supporting the library. We can build
awareness through deeper involvement with the audience. By doing so
we create credibility, perspective and trust. Jamie Cyrus, the
director of the Jamestown Public Library, encourages her employees
to talk with the clients, build relationships and stay connected.
Marketing through the local paper, flyers and signs catch the
attention of the public. 12HUB of Activity
The goal is to demonstrate that the library is vital to the
community.
Cyrus, J. (2013, Sep 30)
The goal is to demonstrate that the library is vital to the
community. Jamestown Public Library has some unique activities and
many standard programs that the public has come to expect from a
library. To list a few unique areas: Some supporters make gift
baskets to be purchased as a fundraiser. They can rent out rooms
for meetings or parties.13JAMESTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARYOLD JAMESTOWN SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONCyrus, J.
(2013, Sep 30)Dennis,N.B. Photo (2013)Dennis,N.B. Photo
(2013)Brooks,C.(2013)Jamestown News.(2013).
Through the support of the Old Jamestown School Association and
Friends of the Library they have an annual barbeque and fish fry.
The second floor contains a museum with collectibles and archives
from the old school. This library is fortunate to be on town
property, so many community events are held there. All of these
combine to make the library an integral part of the community.
14Jamestown Public LibrarySHAREINFORMATIONJAMIE CYRUS AND HER TEAM
USED MEDIA, GRASSROOT EFFORTS &JPLS ADVOCATE GROUPS.JPLs
efforts resulted in 15 supporters at County Commissioners
meeting.THEY ARE ASKINGWHAT CAN I DO?INFORM THEMof the
SOLUTION.Friedenwald-Fishman,E. & Dellinger, LKL. (2006, Feb).
Cyrus, J. (2013, Sep 30)
Now that the public is aware of the value of the library and the
problem has been defined they are asking: What can I do? This
question needs to be answered before they even contemplate the
question. Suggestions need to be made through various means. Jamie
Cyrus and her team used media outlets, grassroots efforts and their
advocate groups to get the message to the public. The efforts
resulted in 15 supporters attending the County Commissioners
Meeting. 15Jamestown Public LibraryCREATEPERSONAL CONVICTIONCall to
action. Time for your audience to use their circle of influence.JPL
had five representatives stand up and address the commissioners at
the public meeting. Critical stage of personal commitment based on
what they value.
Friedenwald-Fishman,E. & Dellinger, LKL. (2006, Feb). Cyrus,
J. (2013, Sep 30)
The next phase is to create personal conviction. This is a call
to action where you ask the supporters to use their circle of
influence. Personal commitment from the supporters is critical.
Five of the people who attended the county commissioners public
meeting addressed the commissioners directly. Jamie Cyrus
coordinated the talks so that all concerns and validations of the
library were presented. 16JAMESTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARYEVALUATE &
REINFORCELibrary Funding Restored by County Commissioners.
(Jamestown News ,2013, June 25)SECURING THE BUDGET FOR 2013/14
WAS A WIN FOR JPL!!NEW IDEASWHAT CAN WE DO BETTER NEXT YEAR?KEEP
THE AUDIENCE EDGAGEDCOLLABORATIONFriedenwald-Fishman,E. &
Dellinger, LKL. (2006, Feb). Berry, J.N. III. (2012, June 25)
Securing the funds from the county was a HUGE win for Jamestown
Public Library. There is no reprieve, they must evaluate and
reinforce their efforts. They continue to advocate year round,
pursue grants, be open to new ideas, and keep the audience engaged.
The success of the Jamestown Public Library is congratulated.
Libraries nation wide must remain vigilant, keep up with the
information needs of their community, use strategic methods to
build public will, and unite for support from the public. Library
Information professions must collaborate across the board.
17SourcesAmerican Library Association. (2009). United for
Libraries: An Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends
and Foundations. Retrieved from URL- www.ala.org/united/about
American Library Association.(2011). American Libraries: The
State of Americas Libraries. The Magazine of the American Library
Association (Special Edition). Retrieved from URL- www.ala.org
American Library Association Office for Research and Statistics.
(2012). Quotable Facts About Americas Libraries 2012. Retrieved
from Publishers home page.
URL-http://www.ala.org/offices/sites/ala.org.offices/files/content/QuotableFacts.2012_0.pdf
Berry, J.N. III.(2012, Feb).Transformed by team. Library
Journal. pp 20-23. Retrieved from Publishers homepage.
URL-http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/01/managing-libraries/best-small-library-in-america-2012-the-independence-public-library-ks/
18SourcesCyrus, J. (2013, Sep 30). Director of Jamestown Public
Library. Personal interview.Dempsey,B. (2012, Apr). Library
Referenda 2011: Voters Keep the Doors Open. Library Journal.
Retrieved from Publishers homepage. URL-
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/04/funding/voters-keep-the-doors-open-library-referenda-2011/Friedenwald-Fishman,E.
& Dellinger, LKL. (2006, Feb). Library Journal. (03630277,
2/1/2006, Vol. 131, Issue 2). Building Public Will: A Five Phase
Strategy goes Beyond Marketing to Foster Ongoing Community Support
for Libraries. Retrieved at Publishers homepage URL-
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2006/02/ljarchives/building-public-will/Jamestown
Public Library (2013): Accomplishments of Old Jamestown School
Association. Retrieved from URL -
http://jamestownpubliclibrary.com/documents/OJSJtrifoldremake2013.pdf
Lyons, R.(2009). Critiquing Advocacy Research Findings: An
Illustration from the OCLC Quarterly. 28:3. Retreived from doi:
10.1080/0161684090289232519SourcesMontgomery, C. (2013, Aug, 8).
Blog Small Libraries, Big Ideas: How Fragile is the Small Library?.
Retrieved from URL http://olcsmalllibraries.wordpress.com/Overman,
O. (2013,May 28). Proposed Guilford County Budget Slashes Librarys
Fundsagain. Jamestown News. Retrieved from Publishers homepage URL
-http://www.jamestownnews.com/news/top_stories/article_94ac3cde-c7bb-11e2-9d1e-001a4bcf887a.htmlOverman,
O. (2013, June 25). Library Funding Restored by County
Commissioners. Jamestown News. Retrieved from Publishers homepage
URL
-http://www.jamestownnews.com/news/top_stories/article_283cdce8-ddc8-11e2-9837-0019bb2963f4.html
20Image SourcesPhoto of Jamestown Public Library . (2013).
Retrieved from URL -
http://jamestownpubliclibrary.com/newhistory.htm
Photo of McDonalds (nd). Retrieved from URL -
http://atmysoiree.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html
Map Image (nd). Retrieved from URL - Us Map Blank Color -
www.proteckmachinery.com
Dennis, N.B. (2013) Jamestown News. Jamestown Library Barbeque
Fundraiser. Retrieved from URL -
http://www.jamestownnews.com/news/lifestyles/article_ccfa3574-2aca-11e3-948a-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=image&photo=1
Jamestown News (2013).Photo of Jamie Cyrus, Director of
Jamestown Public Library. (nd). Retrieved from URL
-http://www.jamestownnews.com/news/top_stories/article_94ac3cde-c7bb-11e2-9d1e-001a4bcf887a.html
Jamestown News (2013).Image representing 25 year Anniversary of
Jamestown library. (nd). Retrieved from URL
-http://www.jamestownnews.com/news/top_stories/article_8ee5c924-7ab2-11e2-824f-001a4bcf887a.html
Brooks, C. (2013). Jamestown News. Photo of Jamestown Library
Fish Fry. Retrieved from URL -
http://www.jamestownnews.com/news/local/article_9432ef14-cd29-11e2-ad63-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=image
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