State Ecosystem Initiative
The State Ecosystem Task Force of the Committee on Library Advocacy (COLA) was created to help build strong coalitions between associations and library organizations at the state level, as well as stronger relationships with ALA.
A library ecosystem is the interconnected network of all types of libraries, library workers, volunteers, and associations that provide and facilitate library services for community members; families; K-20 learners; college and university communities; local, state and federal legislatures and government offices; businesses; nonprofits; and other organizations with specific information needs.
A patron of one library is the potential patron of any other library at a different time of life or location. No library exists independent of the library ecosystem. When we stand together in mutual support using common messaging themes that demonstrate this interconnectedness, every library is stronger.
After a process of information gathering, surveying, debating, drafting and revising, ALA's Ecosystem Task Force offers the ONE VOICE toolkit to help library organizations assess and extend the strength of their ecosystems, and to identify and pursue priorities for advocacy and legislation. While written for ecosystems at the state level, the framework applies to the library ecosystem at any level. The state ecosystem can include a wide range of library organizations, including friends groups and trustees, as well as vendors, literacy groups, and all types of libraries.
The toolkit is anchored by the Ecosystem Continuum, a rubric to help organizations examine the library environment with a focus on four strands that serve as pillars for a healthy ecosystem:
- leadership
- communication
- collaboration
- sustainability
A group can start where they see themselves in the rubric, wherever they think they can get the most traction and best work together to build new or strengthen existing structures.
Laying the groundwork for the Ecosystem Continuum is an Implementation Guide that will support organizations and individual ecosystem builders no matter where they fall along the path towards a thriving and unified library ecosystem that is more impactful than its individual parts. The guide contains links to resources that support a focus on ecosystem development, from an assessment checklist to templates for building a shared agenda to visualization tools for those organizations or individuals that seek an extra boost in securing buy-in to make ecosystem efforts a priority. Some of those tools are shared here.
- Self-Assessment for State Ecosystem Continuum
- Ecosystem Agenda Building: Information Gathering (Template)
- State & Local Year-Round Advocacy Checklist
- Recording Progress Towards a Library Ecosystem (Example) (Template)
- Annual Assessment of Progress Towards Ecosystem Sustainability
- Strong Library Ecosystem Recipe (visualization tool)
Questions? Visit the Library Ecosystem Toolkit FAQs or contact: ecosystem@ala.org.
Resources
Who Are the People In Your Ecosystem?
presented by ALA's State Ecosystem Task Force, October 29, 2020
ALA's Statewide Ecosystem Task Force has spent the last year working together to create a toolkit for state associations and their partners. The resources are intended to help build an internal set of relationships among all types of libraries and all their leadership/professional organizations for the purpose of strengthening advocacy to a variety of audiences. Hear from individuals who are doing the work within their states to strengthen their ecosystem and get a quick tour of the Task Force’s new toolkit.
State ecosystem work
ALA Ecosystem Initiative & Toolkit for TASLA
presented to the Texas Association of School Library Administrators, May 2021
Building a Strong Michigan Library Ecosystem
presented during Michigan Library Advocacy Day, April 2021
Share Your Story
South Carolina Library Association, SC Association of School Librarians, and Friends of SC Libraries, Spring 2021
One Voice for Washington Libraries
Alki, the Washington Library Association Journal, March 2021 [p. 23]
Strengthening Our TLA Library Ecosystem
Texas Library Journal, Winter 2020
Building a Michigan Library Ecosystem
presented to Michigan Library Association by Ecosystem Task Force member Steven K. Bowers, November 18, 2020
ALA divisions spread the ecosystem word
From Silos to Ecosystems
College and Research Libraries News, June 2021
Moving Forward to Build a Strong Library Ecosystem
AASL's Knowledge Quest, December 29, 2020
Join the ecosystem conversation
The state ecosystem conversation continues. Join us on ALA Connect.
ALA extends appreciation to State Ecosystem Task Force members:
Dorcas Hand-task force chair
Jen Alvino-state chapters representative
Steven Bowers-state chapters representative
Jeremy Johannesen-COLA chair
Kelly Miller-AASL representative
Rachel Minkin-ACRL chapters representative
Lisa Mulvenna-PLA representative
Beth Munk-PLA representative
Craig Seasholes-AASL representative
Rocco Staino-United for Libraries representative
The ecosystem initiative continues through the COLA ecosystem subcommittee. The group's charge includes examining ALA's practices and policies to ensure alignment with and support for ecosystem best practices, as well as convening ongoing conversations and programming that support and connect state efforts.
To view the archive of ecosystem initiative work prior to publication of the ONE VOICE toolkit, please visit: ala.org/advocacy/state-ecosystem-initiative-archive.
For additional information contact:
Megan Murray Cusick
Assistant Director, State Advocacy
mcusick@ala.org
