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
Dec 14, 2015
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