Program
Libraries are fighting for support and dollars in every community across the country. Asking for support when the ballot is printed is too late. How do you create a community of advocates before a ballot initiative or budget request is on the agenda? Learn how one library has developed an advocacy plan to build a community of library champions who are ready to be activated when needed. Through strategic communications planning, utilizing the Libraries Transform campaign, and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders, the Cedar Rapids Public Library will show you how to take on advocacy one step at a time.
The Cedar Rapids Public Library learned a hard lesson after losing a ballot initiative in 2016 and being forced to reduce hours and services. Since that time, the Library has taken a strategic approach to advocacy, meeting regularly with a committee of people to prioritize communications and to assign work. Through this process, the Library was able to restore partial funding after two years through the City Council—avoiding another ballot initiative that may not have passed.
Learn from their mistakes and hear how the Library has transformed a loss into a victory by making advocacy the focus all year long, every year.
Speakers: Amber Mussman, Community Relations Manager, Cedar
Rapids Public Library; Dara Schmidt, Director, Cedar Rapids Public
Library; Jeff Pomeranz
ALA Unit/Subunit: UNITED
Meeting Type: Program
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
Open/Closed: Open
Amber McNamara
Community Relations Manager
Cedar Rapids Public Library
Dara Schmidt
Director
Cedar Rapids Public Library