Tag Archives: #EveryLibrarianAnAdvocate

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #26: Join the Debate!

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #26: Join the Debate!

Advocacy is about engaging people.

This is easier when talking with people who are already interested in a subject, and discussing it, either in person or online.

Maybe there’s a big meeting, a consultation, or lots of talk online following a big news story.

This can be an opportunity to make people think about how libraries help!

So for our 26th 10-Minute Library Exercise, join the debate!

If you’ve only got a little time, do a social media post – see our 18th 10-Minute Library Advocate exercise for more! Make the link between the subject of the discussion.

If you have more, write a blog explaining the library angle, respond to a consultation, or even go to a public event.

This week in particular, you can join the discussion around the SDGs, using the hashtags #SDGs, #HLPF and #Lib4Dev!

Good luck!

 

See the introduction and previous posts in our 10-Minute Library Advocate series and join the discussion in social media using the #EveryLibrarianAnAdvocate hashtag!

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #25: Be Passionate About Your Job

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #25: Be Passionate About Your Job

Successful advocacy is not just about talking – it’s also about doing.

Great speeches, presentations or social media posts can of course help guarantee support for your work.

But unless this is backed up by committed people, then the messages will not work forever.

There is little more convincing than someone who is focused on providing a great service, be it to people in a local area or the staff and students at a university or school.

So for our 25th 10-Minute Library Advocate exercise, be passionate about your job!

Clearly this is a full-time task. But if you take just 10 minutes, you can think about how you can show your motivation to your users and visitors.

Go that little bit further, and people around you will see that by supporting libraries, they are supporting people who are doing the best they can for the community.

Good luck!

 

See the introduction and previous posts in our 10-Minute Library Advocate series and join the discussion in social media using the #EveryLibrarianAnAdvocate hashtag!

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #24: Think What Your Audience Wants to Hear

The 10 Minute Library Advocate number 24 - Think What Your Audience Wants to Hear. Picture of a person speaking at a lecternAdvocacy is about getting people to agree with you.

When you talk with someone, you want them to understand that you have shared goals, and that you can help them.

Especially for decision-makers, who often have to face problems, libraries should look like a solution.

To do this, you need to adapt your arguments, and select or prioritise them. But how to do this?

For our 24th 10-Minute Library Advocate Exercise, think what your audience wants to hear.

You can do this by looking at the issues they care about.

For example, a K-12 education ministry official wants children who are ready for class.

A health official wants people who can learn about how to live healthier lifestyles.

Parents may just want help in keeping children entertained and helping them develop their skills.

So pick someone – or a group of people – you want to talk to and think what they want to hear!

Good luck!

 

See the introduction and previous posts in our 10-Minute Library Advocate series and join the discussion in social media using the #EveryLibrarianAnAdvocate hashtag!

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #23: Find – and Use – Buzzwords

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #23: Find – and Use – Buzzwords

Choosing the right words can make a difference.

They can help people make connections in their heads with other issues, placing libraries in a broader context.

They can make your message seem more relevant to wider public debate.

For example, see our ‘Words of the SDGs’ series that explains some of the most used words at the United Nations!

So for our 23rd 10-Minute Library Advocate Exercise, find – and use – buzzwords.

A ‘buzzword’ is a word that is fashionable at a given moment.

Think about the words that journalists and politicians keep on using in articles and speeches.

If over-used, a buzzword can become a cliché, so be careful!

Share your ideas and good luck!

 

See the introduction and previous posts in our 10-Minute Library Advocate series and join the discussion in social media using the #EveryLibrarianAnAdvocate hashtag!

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #22: Draw an Influence Map

The 10 Minute Library Advocate #22: Draw an Influence Map

The route to success in your advocacy isn’t always simple.

To influence one person – say a mayor, a law-maker or a funder – there can be various routes.

As mentioned in previous 10 Minute Library Advocate exercises, it can be powerful to work through someone else – a journalist or a partner.

To plan how best to use your time, you need a way to work out how to focus your effort.

So for the 22nd 10-Minute Library Advocate exercise, draw an influence map.

Visualise who has an influence on who, and how they do it.

Think about how you can, in turn, influence them most effectively. Are they already friendly to libraries? Do they understand the arguments? Is it easy to get them to influence others?

Think also about where there may be difficulties – people who think libraries are unnecessary, or who oppose any publicly funded service.

This will help you decide where to focus your advocacy, and how. You can find examples of influence mapping in libraries here, or this example from broader development policy here.

Good luck, and don’t forget to share images of your influence maps!

 

See the introduction and previous posts in our 10-Minute Library Advocate series and join the discussion in social media using the #EveryLibrarianAnAdvocate hashtag!

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #21: Test Your Arguments on a Friend

10 Minute Library Advocate Number 21 - Test out your arguments on a friend. Image: two people talking to each otherIt’s not always easy to prepare good arguments.

You need to get both the substance, and the style right.

But finding the right way to make your point, in the simplest, most convincing way possible can take time.

You don’t need to do this alone though.

To make sure you’re on the right path, it can be good to get the opinion of another person.

So for our 21st 10-Minute Library Advocate Exercise, test out your library advocacy arguments on a friend!

See if they’re convinced about the value of libraries, or of how you help tackle social and cultural issues.

They can offer you feedback or suggestions, point out where you can be clearer, or stronger, as well as congratulate you on your successes.

Make sure your friend knows to be objective and – if needed – critical. Your arguments will be better for it!

Good luck!

 

See the introduction and previous posts in our 10-Minute Library Advocate series and join the discussion in social media using the #EveryLibrarianAnAdvocate hashtag!

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #20: Do Your Background Research

 

The 10 Minute Library Advocate Number 10 - Do Your Background Research. Image: Person in a Magnifying Glass

In advocacy, the personal touch is important.

If you’re trying to convince a politician or other decision-maker to support you, you need to adapt to them.

And of course politicians and decision-makers are human beings, with interests, priorities and preferences.

If you can find a way of linking your message to their personal experience, you have a stronger chance of success.

So for our 20th 10-Minute Library Advocate Exercise, do your background research!

Before you meet someone, try to find out more about them.

Do particular issues matter more for them than others? You can then bring in how libraries help in that field.

Where do they come from? You can find an example from the library in their home-town.

Elected officials in particular will have campaign material you can use to find this out, for example.

Good luck!

 

See the introduction and previous posts in our 10-Minute Library Advocate series and join the discussion in social media using the #EveryLibrarianAnAdvocate hashtag!