Advocacy
Municipal advocacy efforts are a year-round undertaking. In order to be successful in maintaining or increasing municipal funding of libraries, Councils and municipal administrators need to fully understand the value of libraries in their communities. There is an opportunity for regions to support their member libraries with advocacy materials, messaging and training for library managers. It is acknowledged that ALTA has a role to play in preparing trustees to advocate on behalf of their boards.
The Systems Advocacy Committee has created these resources for use when you are speaking with your local elected officials. Documents are included below for your reference.
General Advocacy Topics
Last year, the Systems Advocacy Committee created a handout that speaks about the role and value of libraries to people in the community. Library boards should also refer to their respective municipality’s strategic plan priorities, and identify how libraries help municipalities achieve their goals.
Topics
Relations Between Library Boards and Municipal Council/Administration
Board Member Recruitment
Issue: How to recruit active, engaged board members.
Ask yourself:
- Is your board trying to recruit new members?
- What skill/experience gaps exist on your board that you could fill with new members?
- Have you struggled in the past to attract and retain engaged board members?
- Do your board members understand their roles and responsibilities? Does your library have a robust orientation program for new board members?
Click here for information on recruiting and selecting library board members.
Click here for resources from the Alberta Library Trustees Association (ALTA).
Click here for the roles and responsibilities of public library boards.
Municipal Funding
Issue: Potential cuts to library operating funds with the expectation that libraries will use reserves for operations.
Ask yourself:
- Using reserve funds for operations is a short-term strategy. What happens the year after this is used in terms of funding? How does the library cope with inflation and other increased costs?
- Using reserves means these funds are not available for capital improvements or repairs. How will libraries deal with these emergent requirements?
Click here for information on library reserves.
Click here for a PowerPoint presentation template to present to council.
Click here for a guide on presenting your library budget to council.
Relations Between Library Boards and Municipal Council/Administration
Issue: How to foster and engage understanding that one doesn’t report to the other, libraries are not municipal departments and have a range of funding streams (Provincial, Municipal, fundraising, sponsorship, fees, etc.)
Ask yourself:
- How can board members strengthen the relationship between library boards and municipal councils/administrations?
- How is your library helping to deliver on municipal priorities? (e.g. economic development, youth and senior programs, etc.) Why is this important?
- What tactics can be used to illustrate the value that libraries deliver for the community? (e.g. informational graphics, short videos, etc.)
The Libraries Act
Issue: Understanding the Libraries Act and its implications for board members and municipal councils.
Library board members play a crucial role in setting policy and governance for libraries, and ensuring that services meet the needs of the community
Ask yourself:
- What is the role of library board members with respect to making decisions about the library? What is the role of the library manager?
- How does the Libraries Act describe the autonomy of library boards? What financial autonomy do library boards have?
Click here for the Libraries Act
Click here for information from the Public Libraries Services Branch (PLSB)
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