Building Community Partnerships: A Rural Library’s Guide
- 3. • Start with Why: Identifying Community Partners that Fit • Utilize The Do’s and Don’ts of Approaching a Potential Partner • Focus on Building Relationships with Community Partners • Know When to End a Partnership
- 4. First…tell us about some of your community partnerships
- 6. “Community partnerships enable to Haywood County Public Library to meet community needs by providing essential, educational, and entertaining programming and services. Partnerships allow the library and community partners to come together to meet common goals as we support our community.” Kathy Vossler, Director, Haywood County Public Library, Waynesville, NC
- 7. “Community partnership provide the structure for communities to create an environment for "wrap-around" services for all members of society. Without collaboration, needs remain unmet and conversely, also lead to duplication of services.” “I've seen this time and time again. Without communication between entities, time, energy, and limited resources are used to fulfill needs that perhaps could be met in other ways by other agencies. And...public libraries can’t wait for patrons to walk through the door. We need to meet people where they are, literally and figuratively. Partnerships is the vehicle to offer services to the hard to reach.” Kathy Zappitello, Executive Director, Conneaut Public Library, Conneaut, Ohio
- 8. “It is my personal opinion that a public library should be the agency to gather everyone to the table to help find ways to serve its citizens by exploring the most efficient ways possible. Bottom line, any other organization that a public library shares its patrons with, are the ones who make the best partners.” Kathy Zappitello, Executive Director, Conneaut Public Library, Conneaut, Ohio
- 9. Write Down Your Library’s “Why Statement” We engage (want to engage) with our community partners because…
- 10. What do today’s libraries do for our communities? It’s a simple question, but one that has more answers than ever before. The services libraries provide now revolve not just around stacks of books, but also around internet connection and cutting edge digital technologies that help people fulfill basic needs and pursue a wide range of interests. With so much happening in libraries, why do some people believe libraries are obsolete? The answer is the Reality-Perception Gap
- 11. Eliminating the Library Reality- Perception Gap What is the Reality-Perception Gap? On a scale from essential, to nice-to-have, to obsolete. The Perception of Far Too Many People: Libraries are either nice-to-have or obsolete. The Reality: Libraries are not only essential, but they are essential in numerous ways.
- 12. The E’s of Libraries & What’s Your E?
- 13. Which Community Partners Are a Good Fit For Your Library? Why?
- 14. Haywood Community Collaborators Haywood Community College – College & Career Readiness NC Works Haywood Agricultural Extension Office Senior Resource Center Mountain Projects Jackie Blevins, Caterer Sara Lewis, Nutrition Coach Rachel Austin, Relaxing Ewe Naturals Alzheimer’s Association Folkmoot USA Goodwill Industries North Canton Elementary School Meadowbrook Elementary School Hazelwood Elementary School Clyde Elementary School Shining Rock Classical Academy Haywood Christian Academy Waynesville Middle School St. Johns Early Learning Center First Methodist and First Baptist Preschools Pisgah High School Healthy Haywood Canton Area Historical Museum Small Business Center Canton Senior Center Silver Bluff Village Haywood Regional Medical Center Haywood 4H Haywood Vocational Opportunities Haywood County Master Gardeners Region A Partnership for Children The Daydreamz Project Dance Tonight Haywood Asheville Learning Center North Carolina Arboretum American Red Cross Chess Champions Bruce Goodwin and Leon Sellards Alliance of Therapy Dogs and Therapy Dogs International
- 15. Conneaut Public Library Partnerships All four buildings of our school system-regular meetings with Superintendent and principals Prison-medium security privately owned men’s correctional institution with 1800 inmates. Lots here...regular meetings with assistant wardens, education department and library Our local community counseling center-will be implementing a “peer navigation” program as part of sentencing concerning drug use Arts center-summer movie series and assisting each other with programming Human Resources Center- summer foods program and other activities County Leadership program YMCA All local museums Conneaut Foundation-so much to explain here concerning economic development Chamber of Commerce Civic clubs and organizations
- 16. Beaver, Utah Public Library Community Partnerships Correctional Facility Road Crew A group of inmates that provide work in the community accompanied by an officer. High School Art Students Individual students or end of year requests since curriculum has been completed. Sterling Scholars A Utah scholarship program that requires volunteering. Be the organization that needs help: computer classes, device Q&A, summer programming help Youth City Council Library teen groups Red Cross American Legion Auxiliary Sheriff's Department Recycling Center Betterment Club
- 17. The Do’s and Don’t’s of Approaching a Potential Partner
- 18. Your Research/Homework on the Potential Partner Train/Practice the Person/People Who Will Be Representing the Library Consider Who You Know and Who Knows You Approach With “How Can the Library Help You Achieve Your Mission / Goals Attitude
- 19. • Be Afraid to Hear “No” Often • Bring a “Lack” Attitude to the Partnership • Say “Yes” to a Partnership You’re Not Comfortable With • Settle for Less than “Equal” • Deviate from Your “Why” • Promise Something You Can’t Deliver
- 20. Add Your Do’s and Don’t’s
- 21. Focus on Building Relationships with Community Partners
- 22. “You are not in the library business. You are in the relationship business. You have chosen to do so through your library.” – Andrew Sanderbeck
- 23. Ask Relationship Building Questions How can the library help you achieve your goals and/or mission? How can we partner with you to better serve the needs of your clients/customers? What is the biggest challenge for your business this year?
- 24. Small and Rural Library Partnership Challenges
- 25. Have You Considered Heritage Organizations Local Historical Organizations Local Cultural Groups Service Organizations
- 27. What Did You Learn From
- 28. “I Feel Guilty Asking the Same People Over and Over”
- 29. What Can Your Library Offer a Potential Partner? Meeting Space
- 30. HCPL Maggie Valley Branch
- 31. No Meeting Space? What About… Spare Bulletin Board Space End of Shelves Display Space Cabinet Windows
- 32. Know When to End a Partnership
- 33. Know When to End a Partnership Expectations Energy Excitement Evolvement Excuses
- 35. Thank You For Attending This Program! Questions/Comments? Want Andrew to Speak for Your Organization? Contact Andrew Sanderbeck 727-409-2239 Andrew@peopleconnectinstitute.com