Sun. 8:30 - 9:30 am
Wally Bobkiewicz - Evanston
Karen Danczak Lyons
Luis Herrera - City Librarian San Francisco
Hydra Mendez
Emily Virosi - San Francisco School District
Siobhan Rirodan - Free Library Philidelphia
This session was about sharing examples, stories, and tips about how to get things done at the top level of the library. According to the panel, and from what we've heard in our SIF trainings, and from our management team - it's all about relationships. It's important to know your government officials - know what is important to them. Then, you are able to communicate what is important to your library, and find opportunities to connect those paths.
The panel shared some great examples of investing the time and trust to create these relationships paid off for their libraries or organizations. There were also some very cool examples of what other libraries were doing - shower van for homeless that pulls up to the library, a library social worker, a school district partnership that meets within the library to help families navigate the registration process, and more.
If this sounds interesting to you, check out my notes below .....
Notes:
Government officials work with us as well, title is misleading.
Evanston, 75,000, North of Northwestern University, Rotary International based there (600 employees), Wally and Luis worked together in Long Beach. Started as intern at Long Beach, and asked where is the project for the library. The library had never had a "project" with the city. He took on the project for the library, 25 years a go.
You don't know how good you are, the resources you are / have. You should be partners at the table working with mayors, city councils, departments, etc. - what you offer is something very different. In Evanston - we are partners at the table.
Next chapter - library works with economic development department as a place for resources for those looking for jobs, small businesses, workshops with access to databases.
Library as a place to gather for social issues.
Cradle to career program - social service agencies and orgs partner together.
Emily Narasa or Virosi (?) - President of San Francisco Unified
"Ichi-go Ichi-e", Japanese phrase, one moment one meeting, dates back 1,000 years to japanese tea ceremony. Crawl through small hole into a hut, samurai, leave sword outside, symbol that they are human. They would have tea and discuss how they could end conflict. This phrase is meant to remind us take advantage that you will never be here in this space, this group, this conversation again.
PhD in communication from Stanford, did research in communication, 1998 research on children's computer use libraries. Many children had access at home, but came to the library to meet other kids to talk about where best games were and best websites.
Likes to wear hats! (Ste is my new favorite person!) Both school district and organization for women. Working on fighting women trafficking (at least half are children). Awareness events are held at the library. Brought protesters into their group and to the table as subcommittee. Have worked with libraries on displays an awareness campaigns.
In Nov 2015, voters adopted renewal of children's fund (2 cents per $100) and public education fund ($77 million annual increases next 25 years) - approved by 75% of voters. Even in recession have been able to offer sports, music, art to students in public education.
choice system for public schools (not neighborhood assignment) families list preferences. Group formed to help families with this complicated system. Library used as a meeting place to work with families to help them organize this.
Siobhan Rirodan - Library of the Year from Philadelphia, 400,000 card holders (28% below poverty line), 52% are not reading at grade level in 3rd grade, 6th wealthiest areas in nation?
Read by 4th is Philidelphia's program - Case Foundation, to try to help school district. Raised $3 million, goal to do this in 6 years with 50 partners. Faith based and cultural organizations are not at the table yet. Fits in with the strategic plan for the library. Monitoring over 6,000 children in camps in city over 10 branches in the community as well as parks and rec. Testing children in camps before and after.
How keep track of children not attending school (behavior, health, transient) - help parents and family involvement.
Paschaville - workforce investment - highest unemployment (jn county?), resumes, skill building (interview, dress for success).
Building bridges with books - works with school district, 256 schools only 15 have libraries. School district approached. K-2 cohort of children out of 10 schools coming for weekly library visits, information instruction. Will their ability improve because they have access to resources? Now moved from 10 - 18 libraries.
Words at play vocabulary initiative - 30 million word advantage from those in affluent homes, 40 families participating in program. More dads attending programs than mom. Advertise out with flyers to recruit parents, nail salons, bodegas. Most successful vocabulary building program.
Luis Herera - balance between strong mayor and city manager, though about own career, 38 years in different jurisdiction, most have been city manager versus strong city mayor. Strong mayor - has been good, all about relationship building, takes a long time, relationship building, but worth it. Residents value quality of life, put money where mouth is. Library patterned their set aside after the children program (2.5 cents for $100) - during recession, brag about no layoffs instead increasing hours. It takes a tremendous amount of initiative.
Part time librarian supporting green initiative, city offered to pay for staff - created a full time librarian, to get green initiative programs out there. Concern about mental health services, homeless - staff - we are not social workers. Department of health - hired full time social worker!!!! (That is amazing!) Has expanded - health and safety team - work to help monitor restrooms and handle specific neighborhood issues. Homeless initiative upset - felt like not at the table. Brought them to the table - difficult conversations, but came out as a better organization. Different lens to engage homeless community. HC felt library listened to them. Now a mobile van that stops on main library area for showers for individuals who need it (lavalei - name of van?).
School board president has department head status. 86,000 visits to neighborhood visits for library instruction. Librarians go out into schools (develop information skills). Engage in connect ed. Trying to get every student to get a library card. September, hoping for 99.9% for cards (at 68% now).
Working with controllers office - established relationship a long time ago, how do we sustain finances, running out of money from massive bond program. Ben Rosenfield - city controller - told Luis go back to voters, advised what changes to make with language (just needed 50% , plus 1). Largest capital improvement in library history. Just completed project 24.
Literacy fusion (adult, children) one stop show. Carved out space for unique opportunity.
Karen desigwyan?- Evanstan Library? - Leverage what you can already do (not complain about what don't have) to create a space at the table. In community lots of residents working in jobs not loving, but needed health care. In terms of economic development, small businesses are where we can have a great impact. Partnered with successful business groups (share story) and economic development group.'
Every Child Ready to Read - Partner with school districts, large immigrant population (partner with Big Read), bringing in a tile about immigration, collaborative and complimentary titles, part of a community wide discussion on immigration. Shared story - immigrant teen killed (great kid), started a conversation on stopping violence and creating safe spaces and community value of protecting our children. Mother of child has created a foundation and is working with community to help find new paths. Discussions with teens to talk about youth violence. Library provides a space, supports conversations, brings new children to the table.
Looking at what has gone well, what we need to improve. Looking back at MLK Jr. and marching through that space, and looking at a welcoming community, affordable housing. Asked city council for significant property tax increase. Reached out to 20 community partners (16 came) - asked for them to come and talk about work they did with the library, the difference it made for the them/community. Showed library builds community (even got a grant with city for one of partners), share story share community.
Questions:
Luis - strong mayor relationships? Bottom line different approaches to governing of city manager vs. mayor. Know civic agenda. State of city - shared civic agendas. What can the library do to tie into the city agenda? Every opportunity to make mayor look great (genuine) - take advantage of the opportunity. Mayor is an effective listener and picks up those messages. Mayor put out a call to hire young people for summer and library does it. Take time to listen to what their priorities are.
What is effective in your establishment of bonds / relationships / collective impact - what is the most effective messaging? Bring people along in Collective Model?
Siobahn - getting people together not the problem, challenge is the time - commiting to process, that is where you have to extract more. A lot of partners came thinking there was money (none) it was their commitment and work that was available. It is a heavy load, put our name on everything because we are the backbone, library pulls lion's share, will pull back when others pull forward.
Salt lake county models - desire by organizations for departments to take more ownership, credit for what they deserve.
Audience - South Carolina - what are failures no one to talk about
School district - for years consider a fortress, took a decade to break down that wall, key is to offer your vulnerability, hey not doing this well, put our heads together, relationship building, one school board member who will talk to you and come to your events. Ex. summer meal program - called upon libraries to help serve as a location for summer lunch meals. How do kids know where to go? Rome - it is an app, happy to list community locations where free lunch is available.
Siobahn - Had to hit reset button on how continue what library was doing but in significant downscale, heavy duty strategic planning (not all things to all people), refocused to school children, workforce investment, people of varying abilities, put library at center of these initiatives, push out ego (pervasive, persistant organization), messaging is challenge, library is center of community.
Salt Lake - Staffing, traditional models challenging - must connect with staff on the impact of what this will do (health, community, etc.) measurement around staff, longitudinal, staff will buy in, can't just force new idea, more community involvement can be tough for staff (cultural shift) encourage them and the benefit.
Luis - persistance, re-examine what you have not done effectively, safe and working initiative with police department is not their yet, work in progress
Seattle, WA director - grant challenges?partners won't commit, or commit to time frame?
Wally - have relationship ahead of time
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