6/22/06 - Spontaneous Advocacy

At the final performance of Camp Crescendo last week, J. J. Dion, a local singer/songwriter who performs for kids and adults, gave a great plug for libraries. He was introducing a song and said he'd gotten it off a CD he checked out at the library. He then encouraged everyone to check their local library for music CD's. "It's a great place to find stuff." Sometimes our best advocates are the people we serve. If you have an advocacy story you'd like to share send it to lbrilz@cityofboise.org

2/14/06

One of the librarians here at Boise Public takes her advocacy very seriously. She was in a furniture store the other day shopping for a new couch and got to talking to the salesman. When he found out where she worked he said he really needed to get in to the library and get a card. Not one to let an opportunity go by she told him she'd bring in an application when she came back to get the couch. And that's just what she did. She brought an application and a card and just like that, we've got a new patron. This isn't the first time she's done that. She's been known to keep an application and blank card in her purse - just in case. You never know when a random advocacy moment just might strike.

10/27/05

My fifth-grade daughter spent the summer at a large day-care facility this year and they took the kids on lots of field trips. This daycare is for kids from ages 3 - 12 and I noticed the younger kids were coming to the library for visits but not the older kids. I had a chance to talk to the woman in charge one afternoon while I was waiting and I commented on this. She was very surprised when I said we have programs for older kids too. She knew they could bring the younger kids but really had no idea that we offered class visits for other older kids. I was able to tell her about all the programs and services we have for kids of all ages and she said they'd definitely put it on the list for next year. This brings up a couple of things to think about in terms of library advocacy. Never assume that library users know all the services you have to offer and watch for those unplanned opportunities to get the word out.

Your challenge for this week: find at least one opportunity to talk about your library and the great things you have to offer to someone outside of the library walls. That's the first step to becoming a library advocate.