Citizens-Save-Libraries Power Guide

United for Libraries, along with the Neal-Schuman Foundation, believe strongly that advocacy can and does work.  We’ve seen evidence of it from coast to coast in all types of libraries at the local and the state levels. Developing an advocacy campaign, as you will soon see, is not rocket science but it does take dedication, hard work, a core group of people who are passionate about the cause and the support of many, many people in your community.  This guide will take the mystery out of advocacy, provide you with an organized step-by-step approach, and allow you to develop a set of strategies that will motivate your community to pressure funders to support the library or in the case of a referendum or a bond issue – to vote “yes.”

Success Stories

Check out these success stories from the first round of Neal-Schuman Citizens-Save-Libraries grants!

• Clarkston (Mich.) Independence District Library passes millage with help from United for Libraries
• Gilmanton (N.H.) Year-Round Library receives town funding with help from United for Libraries
• Salem-South Lyon (Mich.) District Library passes millage increase with help from United for Libraries

The Power Guide

Download the free Power Guide for Successful Advocacy (PDF, 660 kb), your step-by-step guide to developing an advocacy campaign. As you go through the Power Guide, come back to this page to see examples of talking points, flyers, petitions, and more.

Videos

• "Libraries Matter": - by the ALA Washington Office (1:15-2:30 minute videos)
• "Vote Yes for the Mount Vernon (N.Y.) Public Library's Budget" - Mount Vernon (N.Y.) Taxpayers for a Stronger Library (3 minutes)
• "Don't Be Scared!" - Mount Vernon (N.Y.) Taxpayers for a Stronger Library - (2 minutes)

Talking Points

• It's Time to Thrive (PDF, 39.5 kb)
• Take 5 Minutes to Speak Out for Libraries (PDF, 138 kb)
• Cecil County Public Library ROI Handout (PDF, 265 kb)

Postcards

• Schuylerville Public Library Postcard (PDF, 57 kb)
• Schuylerville Public Library Foldover Postcard (PDF, 93 kb)
• Wood Library Postcard (PDF, 903 kb)
• Wood Library Foldover Postcard (PDF, 47 kb)

Petitions

• Schuylerville Taxpayer Petition (PDF, 11kb)

Information Sheets

• Baker Free Library Fact Sheet (PDF, 92 kb)
• Expand Our Library Fact Sheet (PDF, 61 kb)
• Henderson Library Tax Initiative Fact Sheet (PDF, 365 kb)
• Schuylerville Fact Sheet (PDF, 53 kb)
• Wood Library Q&A (PDF, 77 kb)

Flyers

• Henderson Libraries 1 (PDF, 121 kb)
• Henderson Libraries 2 (PDF, 876 kb)
• Henderson Libraries 3 (PDF, 519 kb)

Brochures

• Baltimore County Public Library tri-fold (PDF, 988 kb)
• Henderson Library half-fold (PDF, 1.66 mb)
• Wood Library tri-fold (PDF, 2.38 mb)

Bookmarks

• Expand Our Library 2.75" by 8.5" bookmark (PDF, 43 kb)

Additional Resources

Positioning Your Library As An Essential Service: Marketing, PR and Advocacy

This presentation (PDF, 3.3 MB), from Communication Services, was given to the New York Library Association in 2010. The PowerPoint handouts (PDF, 3.3 MB) contain excellent information and tips on positioning your library through marketing, public relations, and advocacy.