Tag Archives: Libraries

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #47: Bookmark Useful Websites and Resources

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #47: Bookmark Useful Websites and Resources

Advocacy is stronger when it comes with references!

Being able to back up what you’re saying with stories, statistics or studies makes you more convincing.

We’ve already talked about individual elements – an example (Exercise #9), a fact (Exercise #46) a number (Exercise #4), or a quote (Exercise #17).

But given that you may need to use different references in different situations, it’s best to have a few.

So for our 47th 10-Minute Library Advocate, bookmark useful websites and resources.

When you see something you can use, either save it in your browser, or keep your own list. There are several free online tools to do this: Start.me, Raindrop.io, Google Bookmarks, are just some of them. Use the comments section if you have other suggestions to share!

If you have a collection, you can start to organise it, for example by each of the Sustainable Development Goals. IFLA’s Library Map of the World SDG Stories are a good place to start, and here is an example of how you can collect and organise your bookmarks!

You can then use them when you are preparing letters, blogs or presentations.

Good luck!

 

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

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #46: Think about how to measure success

Text: the 10-Minute Library Advocate #46: Think about how to measure success. Image: a person standing next to a graph, with a ruler on the side, indicating measurementThe need for library advocacy is clear. But it’s not always easy to tell how effective it has been.

Changes in opinion or levels of support are not always easy to count.

But it’s far from impossible!

When you set goals, it’s worth taking a few minutes at least to look at how you know if you’re going in the right direction.

So for our 46th 10-Minute Library Advocate, think about how to measure success.

What indicators are there of whether you have reached your long-term goal (Exercise #7) or your milestones (Exercise #44)?

You could use analytics on social media, or count quotes in the media.

You can simply ask people, or use anecdotal evidence!

You can find out more about measurement in the SDG Storytelling Manual.

Good luck!

 

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

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #45: Learn a Striking Library Fact

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #45: Learn a Striking Library Fact

To have an impact in your advocacy, you need to be memorable.

Decision-makers will have lots of people coming to see them, making them to do things.

You need to ensure that what you say and do remains in their minds, and so that they bear you in mind when making choices about laws or funding.

There are various ways of doing this – using a prop or support (Exercise #33), having a great opening line (Exercise #30), or having a positive or negative scenario (Exercise #40).

One way to do it is to offer them information that they can then use in their own conversation – something interesting (or even amusing!) on a personal level.

This can be a great way of getting – and keeping – attention!

So for our 45th 10-Minute Library Advocate exercise, learn a striking library fact.

Examples include the fact that more people go to libraries than to Premier League football, the cinema, or the top-10 tourist attractions combined in England.

Or that there are more libraries than McDonalds in America.

See what you can find out about libraries in your country. Use the stories and data on IFLA’s Library Map of the World to look for inspiration.

Good luck!

 

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

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #44: Define Milestones

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #44: Define Milestones

Advocacy can take time to achieve success.

A combination of actions may be necessary in order to meet your objectives.

You could have to hold a number of meetings and events, contact partners, journalists or other influencers more than once.

In order to structure your work, you need to think both about a long-term goal (see Exercise #7) about shorter-term objectives.

So for our 44th 10-Minute Library Advocate, define milestones for your advocacy work.

You can do this by working backwards from your overall goal. What steps, in what order, will take you to this point? Who do you need to convince to support you? What materials do you need to prepare to convince them?

Defining such steps will not only help you keep momentum, but also to identify successes along the way and help you keep motivated.

Good luck!

 

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

Choosing to Celebrate Rather than Tolerate

As 16 November is the International Day for Tolerance, we pose a simple question:

What, exactly, is tolerance?

Is it a passive acceptance for the practices of other cultures, or rather, can it be an active celebration?

Perhaps everyone can choose for his or herself.

Let’s choose then to celebrate rather than tolerate.

Building Connections

Tolerance is strengthened through building mutual understanding between different cultures and peoples. Therefore, a celebration can be created through deepening this understanding.

Libraries, museums and other memory institutions have a unique role, not only in providing access to culture, but in defining the narratives that helps people connect with it.

This act of storytelling allows for engagement – connecting on a deeper level with other voices, other perspectives and the human-side of our interconnected histories.

Celebrating our differences, what makes us unique, and the stories we have to tell – this is more than tolerance. It is the connection we want to build in the world.

Building Peace in the Minds of Men

The Preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) states:

Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.

Education and exposure to culture builds tolerance by providing opportunities for people to connect, share and learn from one another. A library, an archive, a museum or exhibition can be the medium through which these connections are nurtured.

IFLA’s mission to inspire, engage, enable and connect the Library field helps empower all libraries to be this connection-builder in their own communities.

The Human Library

IFLA’s SDG Stories are rich with examples of libraries being spaces for building connections. The “Human Library” in Kazakhstan is one such example.

In this programme, participants from often discriminated-against groups acted as “human books”, allowing others to ask questions to learn about their experiences. The goal is to use storytelling and connection-building to address the issue of discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, political opinion, gender, sexual orientation and disability.

In the end, there was a sense of community and support created, and participants felt heard and empowered to continue sharing their perspectives.

No matter their resources, libraries can use their institutions to be the driver in bringing people together to share their stories and build mutual respect.

Four participants and Organisers from the Human Library Pose together

“Human Books and Organizers ” by Marina Poyarkova is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Take Action

We challenge our network not just to tolerate, but to celebrate, share and nurture our diversity, building a stronger and more connected world.

IFLA will continue supporting UNESCO’s mission to build peace through education, science and culture during the 40th Session of the General Conference. Read more about our participation here: Key Issues for Libraries at the UNESCO General Conference.

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #43: Tell a Friend to Tell a Friend

Image: two people with speech bubbles. Text: the 10-Minute Library Advocate #43, tell a Friend to Tell a FriendAdvocacy is about being convincing.

As mentioned a few times in our series (exercises 14 and 36), it can be more powerful when your message comes from someone other than you.

You can try to get a celebrity to speak on your behalf.

But you don’t have to focus on public figures. Your own visitors can be great ambassadors for you!

So for our 43rd 10-Minute Library Advocate exercise, tell a friend to tell a friend.

Encourage someone who comes to your library to make sure that the people they know hear about why they appreciate it so much.

Indeed, hearing this from a friend may be more convincing than from someone who is famous, but whom you don’t know personally.

You can do this through talking with users, but also through a poster or other reminder.

Good luck!

 

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

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #42: Think of a Counter-Argument

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #42: Think of a Counter-Argument

Advocacy is about changing people’s minds.

You want them to think differently and act differently.

Sometimes the only problem is simply that they haven’t taken the time to think about libraries before.

But sometimes there may be some resistance.

You need to be able to explain why they should spend time or effort on libraries, rather than something else?

And if you want to change a law or regulation, there may be opposition.

Your advocacy will be stronger if you can understand this.

So for our 42nd 10-Minute Library Advocate exercise, think of a counter-argument.

Try to imagine why someone would not support libraries in general, or your request in particular.

Write down your ideas, and try to respond. This will make you more convincing!

Good luck!

 

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