Forging Intergalactic Alliances:
Creating Library/Community Collaborations
With a Focus on STEM Education
Why Form Partnerships
Helps people access needed services and resources
Enhance information sharing, referral and collaboration
Provide information so the public can make informed decisions
Helps bring people into the library
Basic Steps for Creating Partnerships
Determine your needs
Determine community needs
Identify and approach community partners
Set goals, plan activities
Seek feedback, measure your success
Step One: Library Needs
Do you need activities for teens/children/seniors?
Increasing service to a particular academic discipline?
Once you identify your needs you can brainstorm groups to collaborate with
Determine Community Needs
Watch for trends in your community: teen pregnancy, certain academic areas not as successful, sudden popularity of a craft or hobby, unemployment...
Use trendwatching websites, census data, Pew Research results, ...
Find Partners
Which partners can help you meet your needs?
Whose needs can you meet?
Seek feedback
Once you identify your target audience you can figure out who to collaborate with
Set Goals and Plan Activities
Make sure to collaborate and get feedback from your partners
Creating networks leads to action
Make sure to get community buy-in through press releases, radio ads, exhibits, education--get the word out
Seek Feedback and Measure Success
Collect data throughout the process
Ask participants, partners, even your library team
Evaluate all activities and events and measure them against your goals
Adjust your programs and outreach if needed
Examples of Successful Library Partnerships
Career Based Education Program
Food Pantry Collaboration
Art Exhibits and Art Council Shows
Health Screenings
Local Historical Societies
Museum/Library Partnerships
Summer Reading Program crafts and activities
Lego programs
STEM Science Programs
Guest Lectures and Presentations
Other ExamplesReading and Literacy classes held at libraries (ABLE)
Resume and job workshops held by Job and Family Services
Homework tutoring and peer tutoring by National Honor Society
Economic Development information partnerships between college libraries and Business and Industry groups
Technology mentoring programs
Train the trainer programs between academic, public, and school libraries
Regional library networking groups
Shared catalogs between area libraries of all levels
More ExamplesFood and Reads with Friends: a Meals on Wheels and reading service for homebound
Rotating collections: seniors, jails, halfway houses, crisis centers...
Community Information Databases (like grant-writing,
economic assistance, job information, GED information, food banks...
Oral History Projects
Community space and meeting rooms for a wide variety of groups and organizations (scouts, 4-H, birding groups, card clubs, mommy groups, honors organizations, business organizations...
Community Fairs and Expos
Concrete Simple IdeasCreate bookmarks and brochures
Storytimes and special programs on topics of community concern
Classes/computer training on a community issue
Add resources on the library website to address community needs
Educate library employees and community workers on resources available at the library on important issues
Exhibit at local community fairs and expos
Join Community groups (Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Association...
Develop special or new collections
STEM Resources• Find local groups already providing STEM
education:
• Boy/Girl Scouts
• Local Colleges and Universities—check out their STEM departments for contacts
• Find out what the schools are already doing and host their teams/groups
• Agree to train/mentor a school group or club
• Local museums, science centers, hobby clubs, and enthusiasts all can provide education
Popular Stem Activities• Egg Drop
• Toothpicks/spaghetti/popsicle stick bridges and structures
• Cardboard boats
• Paper race cars (air/ rubber band/gravity powered)
• Balloon rockets and cars
• Model rockets
Websites for STEM Ideas• SAE A World in Motion Curriculum:
http://www.awim.org/curriculum/
• PBS STEM Education: http://www.pbs.org/teachers/stem/
• First Robotics Challenge: http://www.usfirst.org/
• Technology Student Association: http://www.tsaweb.org/
• Odyssey of the Mind: http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/
• NASA (For Educators and Students): http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/about/index.html
ResourcesLibrary of Congress website: http://www.loc.gov/index.html
OPLIN Community Tool Box: http://www.oplin.org/community-toolbox
Community Tool Box: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/default.aspx
How Librarians and Libraries Help: A Guide to Identifying User-Centered Outcomes by Durrance, Fisher and Bouch Hinton, 2004
Realizing the Potential of Cultural Services by F. Coalter, 2001
The Library’s Contribution to Your Community: A Resource Manual for Libraries, Southern Ontario Library Services, 2007
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