One way of advocating successfully is to become familiar with key decision-makers or influencers. If you have a close connection, it is easier to share your arguments. But how to build this connection up when you first come across them. A good way to build familiarity is to avoid awkward questions about who they are […]
Read moreYour advocacy is stronger when you can show the support of others. Being able to point to other sites or sources that talk about your work helps build credibility. It sends the message that it’s normal for people to think that your library is important! But how to make this happen? Sometimes it’s a case […]
Read moreSometimes in advocacy, it’s not what you say, but how you say it. Even the best arguments and the strongest evidence still need to be presented well in order to have an impact. Sometimes this is a question of the vocabulary you use. Sometimes it’s about your tone, or how fast you are speaking. So […]
Read moreAdvocacy doesn’t always work first time around. Your targeting, your messaging or your tools may not immediately be effective. This is normal. But it’s not a reason to give up. In fact, this is really useful experience that you can use to improve things. So for our 34th 10-Minute Library Advocate exercise, stop and think. […]
Read moreAdvocacy shouldn’t just be about talking. For people who have lots of meetings, it may even be difficult to remember what happened in one particular conversation. So you need a way of giving the person you are talking to a way of remembering you, and your message. You need both to make your meeting different, […]
Read moreYou don’t need to advocate alone! One of the key strengths of the library field is that there are institutions and professionals in cities, towns and villages around the world. And in them, there are people doing advocacy, each with their own strengths and questions. This means lots of potential to discuss what you’re doing […]
Read moreAdvocacy needs to leave a trace. If you want to be able to build a relationship, it’s important to show what you have already done, and achieved. Having evidence that you’ve met a politician or other target makes it easier to follow up. And it’s great to have when talking about your advocacy to your […]
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