Hello All, The recording for yesterday's session on managing library budget challenges through outreach, community engagement, and advocacy can be viewed here https://zoom.us/rec/share/5jR69ywP9tZh2CafqqW_OVVW_WszEubXLvROVG_TchORIC242WyLh0z3Enm6Z_ps.I15iGsABW48MlRw7<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2F5jR69ywP9tZh2CafqqW_OVVW_WszEubXLvROVG_TchORIC242WyLh0z3Enm6Z_ps.I15iGsABW48MlRw7&data=04%7C01%7CDeborah.Clark%40maine.gov%7C98277dabdad54d0e812208d8963feb98%7C413fa8ab207d4b629bcdea1a8f2f864e%7C0%7C0%7C637424548561593547%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=O92S5Ep6MxSGw2jAYK6%2FR60J%2BhF5oAbmacOwcvO6jMg%3D&reserved=0>

Our presenters, Amy and Abby, shared their experience and response to a serious budget cut. Learn how they:

  *   Built relationships with community influencers and partners
  *   Mobilized their supporters
  *   Got out their message and educated the public on the issue
  *   Consulted with advocacy experts to plan their response
  *   Used social media to feature library value stories from community members
  *   Built and presented their case for funding restoration to the city council
  *   Took a respectful collaborative approach with city officials to negotiate a happy ending for all the communities who depend on the library
I hope you will check it out.

Remember- the best way to avoid and address budget crises is to have in place a foundation of community engagement with your library's programming and services, strategic planning, and a habit of communicating the library's value and successes through stories and data. It has been recommended to focus library services around the five Es:

  *   Education (Pre-K through Adult Ed)
  *   Employment (job seeker skills)
  *   Entrepreneurship (business community support)
  *   Engagement (exploring new interests, civic forums, family activities)
  *   Empowerment (voting registration, connection to social services)
These are what your community members, trustees, and local officials care about most.

Also remember, MSL staff is here to support you as you work to improve library services and develop staff competencies. We want to know what types of training topics would be most useful to you. Please don't hesitate to contact us. Deb

Deborah A. Clark, MLIS
Library Management Specialist
Maine State Library
(207)233-2193
E-mail: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

"Great Libraries Build Strong Communities"