02/14/05 - Libraries Making A Difference
Library Pen Pal
The Muskingum County Library System sent out a postcard requesting volunteers for its Library Pen Pal program. The library will rely on these volunteers to periodically send letters to legislators.
READ Posters Featuring Local Legislators
The Mansfield/Richland County Public Library created a series of READ posters that feature local leaders. Senator Bill Harris (R-Ashland), Representative Bill Hartnett (D-Mansfield), Representative Thom Collier (R-Mount Vernon), Mayor Lydia Reid of Mansfield, and Richland County Commissioner Ed Olson participated in the initiative to share what reading means to each of them. The library unveiled the posters in conjunction with an event celebrating the winners of their “What a Difference a Library Makes” essay contest where library patrons of all ages shared the essays they wrote on how the library has a made a difference in their lives.
Making a Difference in Your Life Writing Competition
The Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County held an essay content called the “Making a Difference in Your Life Writing Competition” asking that community members share their thoughts about the role the library played in their lives. The panel selected 17 winners, ranging in age from five to 93 years old, from the numerous entries the library received. The winners were honored at a n awards ceremony and reception attending by more than 200 members of the community, including a rea legislators and business leaders.
Making a Difference Brochure to Legislators
The Cleveland Area Metropolitan Library System (CAMLS) coordinated efforts with the nine library systems in the Cleveland area to produce a Making a Difference brochure for each legislator in the area. Each brochure included a list of the libraries in the legislator's district, combined statistics on library usage for all libraries in the district, an overview of library partnerships in the community, and a list of contacts for each library in the legislator's district. The brochures were distributed to legislators at a Cuyahoga County Commission meeting with all of the state legislators from the region; local government leaders; and representatives from the other local government entitie s (Ohio Municipal League, Ohio Township Association, and Ohio Parks and Recreation Association).
Don't Chip Away at Library Funding
The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library created a unique package that was distributed to each legislator in the Toledo area, members of the Ohio General Assembly's financial committees, the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, the majority leaders, and any other local community and business leaders who have influence with legislators. The library sent an envelope that contained an ice scraper with the slogan, “Don't Chip Away at Library Funding.” The package also included the library's own version of the OLC's Making a Difference bookmarks and a letter from Director Clyde Scoles. The Friends of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library paid for the production of the ice scrapers.
The library has established a strategy to educate patrons about library funding concerns by posting fact sheets and talking points on their Web site giving patrons the information they need to communicate effectively with their legislators. In addition, the library's comprehensive media relations plan includes a feature on WGTE Channel 30's popular news show, “The Editors”, an interview on a local radio station, and a meeting with The Toledo Blade's editorial board. The library has also partnered with representatives from the County Commissioners Association of Ohio to schedule a conference call after the release of the state budget to discuss the impact on public libraries and the other recipients of the local government funds.
If you have an example of your progress in the Making a Difference campaign, please contact Mackenzie Betts at mbetts@olc.org or (614) 416-2258.
BookMarks
As part of the Making a Difference campaign, OLC has created three bookmarks that are available for use online. The bookmarks contain statistics about Ohio's public libraries to educate your community members about the importance of public libraries. The bookmarks have content on only one side so that you can personalize the bookmarks and reproduce them as necessary.
The bookmarks are in PDF format enabling you to download the files below:
Making A Difference Bookmark1
Making A Difference Bookmark2
Making A Difference Bookmark3
The OLC suggests that the content you provide to personalize the bookmark should focus on ways that community members can support your library. For example, you can include:
- Instructions on how to join your Friends group;
- Announcements about your fundraising events/programs;
- Request to write a local legislator about protecting library funding;
- Overview of your unique services or collections; or
- Volunteer opportunities.
If you have questions regarding the use of these bookmarks, please contact Mackenzie Betts at (614) 416-2258 or mbetts@olc.org.
