2017 NHLA Fall Conference and Business Meeting Nov. 3

Engaging Your Community

9:00 Coffee and Registration

9:30 Jeremy Johannesen:Everyday Advocacy

There are those who call into question the value and purpose of libraries in modern society; and yet the access and equity that libraries deliver has never been more essential. It is incumbent upon all members of the library community to be prepared to serve as active and engaged advocates.

Everyone – director, librarian, clerk, trustee or patron has a role to play in fearlessly advocating for libraries. Learn how to craft your message, build your base and win the support of your community. Effective coalition building and collaboration techniques can cement the position of your library as the cornerstone of your community.

Having served a Deputy Director of the New York Library Association (NYLA) from 2005 – 2008, Johannesen departed to lead the NYS Alliance for Arts Education. Jeremy returned to NYLA in 2012, assuming the role of Executive Director. Johannesen holds his BS in Arts Education from the College of Saint Rose, and is recognized as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) by the American Society of Association Executives. When not working for libraries, Jeremy volunteers for them; serving as the President of his hometown Friends of Bethlehem Public Library.

10:15 Awards and Recognitions

11:00 Erica Freudenberger: Community Engagement

In a complex and disruptive environment, libraries have an opportunity to strengthen the social fabric in a digital age, creating connections, collaborations, and helping communities shape the world – or at least their corner of it – as they would like it to be. We can empower our communities by working with them to identify and multiply resources through strategic collaborations; develop inclusive plans that encourage citizens to become active agents in our democracy; and adapt local, sustainable strategies allowing them to innovate and thrive, so that libraries may as well.

Erica Freudenberger is a promiscuous collaborator who spends way too much time thinking about how libraries can empower the communities they serve. Currently the Outreach & Engagement Consultant at the Southern Adirondack Library System, she formerly led the Red Hook Public Library, which was a finalist for the Best Small Library Award given by Library Journal and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and garnered a five-star library rating from 2013-2016. In 2015, Red Hook Public Library was invited to take part in the pilot program, Re-envisioning Public Libraries with the Aspen Institute; and in 2014 was one of ten libraries nationwide chosen to be a part of the American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative. Erica was named a Mover & Shaker by Library Journal in 2016.

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Workshop with Erica Freudenberger

Erica will guide a hands-on workshop using ALA community engagement tools.

2:00 Business Meeting: Marilyn Borgendale, NHLA President

2:45 Laura Horwood-Benton: Social Media Best Practices

Presenter Laura Horwood-Benton will present some best practices & principles of social media for libraries, with ample opportunity provided for discussion. Bring your own lessons and questions for a lively sharing session. Topics covered will include:

How many and which social media platforms should we use?
How robust should our social media policies be?
Which staff members are able to post?
What are some useful tools and tricks to make posting easier?
Which populations are we trying to reach?
How do you generate content?
How do you advertise using Facebook/Instagram/Twitter?
Who’s doing it well?
What isn’t working?

Laura Horwood-Benton is the Programming & Community Relations Librarian at Portsmouth Public Library, where she manages social media, marketing, graphic design, programming, and outreach.

3:30 Raffle with Cookies and Coffee for the Road

More details

Hooksett Public Library, 31 Mt. St. Mary’s Way, Hooksett NH 03106

Carpooling is strongly encouraged. Everyone who arrives in a car with two or more people will be entered in the carpool raffle which will be drawn at the business meeting.

Members $30. Non-members $40. Register by October 20, 2017. Please refer to the NHLA Cancellation Policy.

Questions to Sylvie Brikiatis, NHLA Vice President, sbrikiatis@nesmithlibrary.org, 603.432.7154