NHLA conference highlights
When discussing how great the recent conference in Bretton Woods was at the Seacoast Co-op meeting this morning, I remembered that I had promised to post the collective wisdom gathered at the program on libraries and community relations. Hope that you find these ideas as worthwhile as I do!
How to create and sustain positive Library and Community Relations
- Need to educate town government:
- newsletter for town department
- making pertinent statistics available on a regular basis
- showing a cost/benefit ratio for services
- Use Event-Keeper and link it to town departments
- Put library information on light bills, water bills, town notices
- Do you have equipment another department could use, e.g. a typewriter?
- Give complimentary copies of books to stakeholders, target audience
- Create a community contacts book, with web contacts when available
- Have a brochure of services for newcomers
- See if you can help realtors create a “Welcome” kit for newcomers
What to do if there are less-than-perfect relationships with town departments
- Show appreciation
- Ask advice
- Invite them to your library or to co-sponsor events
- Ask them to judge a contest
- Attend/participate in department meetings and communicate library happenings
- Be a librarian OUTSIDE of the library
- Join a service organization
- Serve on a town committee
- Teach people how to use databases that will help them in their work, e.g. “LearningExpress”
- Purchase locally when possible
- Ask to be a speaker for your library at various organizations
- Host a non-profit showcase
- Hold a candidates’ night
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Haskell
