Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit

It's no surprise to us that libraries are busier than ever in the struggling economy these days, but how do you advocate for additional support to handle the upsurge in traffic through our doors? The American Library Association may be able to help. Check out their Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit. It includes Talking Points, Talking to the Media, Staging a Rally, and more. From the Making the Case page:

Although it may seem daunting to have to compete with services like the fire or police department, the library is just as valuable an asset to a community. In tough economic times, the library is at the same time more highly used and more likely to suffer from budget cuts and lack of support.  Making the case for libraries – having a clear, consistent message and delivering it to the right people -- is critical at this time.

This page includes links to help you define your message, target your audiences, designate spokespeople, and much, much more. Advocacy takes time, but it is time well spent.

> contributed by Beth