Don’t Let Democracy Get You Down: How to Advocate for Your Library’s Future (and Have Some FUN Doing

It!)

A Presentation for the New Jersey Libraries

Presenter: Stephanie Vance

Topics: Creating a Grassroots Campaign

What Do You Want? Who Can Give it To You? How Should You Ask Them? Who’s Going To Deliver the Message? How Are You Going to Deliver the Message? How Long Will it Take?

But Before We Get Started, Let’s Have Some Fun!

Venues: Where are Policy Decisions Made?

Federal– Congress– Agencies– Supreme Court– President

State– Legislature– State Agencies– Courts– Governor– Initiatives (state-wide)

Local– City council– County Commission– Regional Planning

Commission– Agencies– Citizen Initiative

Venues: Local Venues Specific to Library Policy and Funding Decisions

City Council County Commission Local / Regional Planning Public Schools / School District School Board Parks and Recreation Commission Others?

True or False: Do you need to go to DC to make a difference?

Where to Start: What do You Want?

Define the Goal– Repair / replace

facilities– More computers– More staff (for more

hours) Expressing that Goal

– Specific and measurable What’s YOUR Goal?

Who Can Give That To You?

• How can you achieve your goal?

• Who makes the decisions?• Is there more than one

avenue?

What You Need to Know About the “Who”

Once you’ve figured out the chain of command, you’ll know who your audience is. Now you need to figure out:

•What (or who) influences them?•How did they get into office?•What jurisdiction do they serve?•What are their personal interests?•Personal relationship to libraries

How? Try Google!

What Will You Say to Them? The Magic Formula

Hello, my name is [] and I’m from [] (establishes relevancy)

I am here to talk to you about [policy / relationship ask]

Knowing of your interest in [info about your audience] we think you’ll be interested as well

This is important to me because [personal story] That’s why I really hope you’ll [ask] I’d like to follow-up by [follow-up ideas] Can I get contact information for all the appropriate

people in your office?

Who Will Ask?Building Networks and Coalitions

Who is best to deliver your message?– Based on knowledge of audience and message– Do you need to “tweak” the message based on who is

delivering? Types of partners (individual and coalitions) Getting Started

– Identifying – Approaching – Activating

Brainstorm about potential partners!

How Will You Deliver the Message?

Meetings Phone Calls Written Communications Hearings Media Site Visits

Focus on Three Techniques

Media, Site Visits and Town Hall Meetings

Media Events: Process

What’s the hook?– Connections to outside events / already

newsworthy items What’s the venue?

– Print?, TV?, Radio?, Internet? Develop the message

– Hint: personal and thoughtful works here as well

Who will deliver the message best?– When to use public officials

Following up

Message Delivery: Media Options

Press releases Press conferences LTEs / Op Eds Editorial Boards Columns Events Local radio / TV

Site Visits / District Meetings: Benefits

Home style vs. DC style Makes the issue “real” Shows the impact on the district Often easier to get their attention Easier for you to arrange

Site Visits / District Meetings: Process

Decide who to invite– Don’t Forget Staff– Potential Pitfalls

Decide what to show them: You’ll be surprised at what interested them

The invitation process Who should attend on your end (“real”

people) Logistics, logistics, logistics Recording the event

Participating in Town Hall Meetings: Why?

Raises your profile Increases your credibility If you engage an elected

official, requires them to take a public stance

Participating in Hearings: How?

When Are They? Understanding the Venue Understanding the

Audience Develop Your Message Practice, practice, practice Following Up

Now It’s Your Turn

The Five Minute Action Plan

Based on everything we’ve discussed, what three things will you do in the next six months to advocate for libraries in New Jersey?

Contact Information

Stephanie Vance

Advocacy Associates

1640 19th St., NW

Second Floor

Washington, DC 20009

(202) 234-1353

www.advocacyassociates.com

info@advocacyassociates.com