WebJunction

(Originally posted in Day One Getting a Seat at the Table by Janieh)
Janieh: One of the tangible rewards for collaboration is the visible increases in usage statistics. Every visit to a PTO, jobseeker group, computer user club, etc. that I make equates to greater use of our collection and the databases we provide. We track our usage statistics very carefully and every effort at community outreach has rewarded us with higher statistics at the end of that month or quarter. Usage statistics can be crucial when it comes to budget time, making an appeal for additional staff members or mounting a capital campaign.

(Originally posted in Day One Getting a Seat at the Table by Clpldirector)
Clpldirector: Perhaps the greatest value we find in forming community partnerships is the whole idea of being visible not to just those who are our library patrons but also to those who while they see libraries as an important asset within the community they do not visit the library at all or are seldom seen within the doors. These people also become our library supporters particularly when they know what is going on in the library. I find that this is important as well from the funding aspect even if people seldom visit the library as long as they know what is happening and see that the library provides a valuable service to the community it is surprising how willing they are to provide funding. Taking part in community meetings, Chamber of Commerce meetings, etc allows us to voice the importance of libraries and form partnerships that might not have been formed otherwise.

This is great! I think we're getting to the heart of it all. I believe that libraries become better members of the community if they make sure their role is not limited to what the library does, or as Joey Rodger once said about her city's library, that we understand "we're in the Chicago business, not just the library business".

If we are able to serve as conduits and matchmakers for individuals and organizations in our community to work together, we will truly become the hub of connections that affect every aspect of the "business" of keeping people healthy, happy, educated, and involved.

I've always felt that being involved in the community where you work in the library helps
you to get to know your job better. The community's needs are discussed in the various
organizations and activities the are presented and that tells or can guide the library into
directing their five-year plans. It lets us see the position that community is wanting to
go and lets us focus on ways to have the library do programing, plan events, possible
fund-raisers all geared toward the direction that the community wants to grow.
It even gives us ideas on what books might be useful to grow towards that end and what
internet resources/ data bases might gives us the clues to how to help achieve those ends.

Some of the ways that we try to stay visible is by attending the open house at the local elementary school and again in the spring to promote the summer reading program, marching in the Town parade (with costumes and candy), and visiting the senior citizen apartments every other week with book deliveries.