01/28/10 OLC Partners with PLA on Politics and Networking Program
On February 17-18, 2010, CPLA Instructor Judith Drescher will guide participants through a two-day program called Politics and Networking at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. The program is designed to help library staff with the skills and knowledge they need to understand their local political environment and to develop and implement effective action plans. The program is interactive and it includes a variety of group exercises based on a case study about a medium-sized county library with multiple branches. Using the same case study throughout the training will give participants an opportunity to apply what they are learning in a practical way in the "real" library – and to see the effects of the decisions they make throughout the two-day program.
At the end of the training program, participants will be able to describe their community demographics and culture, assess local political issues, explain how local decisions are made, and know how federal, state and local statutes, ordinances and resolutions affect local decision-making. They will develop the skills they need to build coalitions and work collaboratively, develop negotiation and conflict resolution skills, and understand how their values and ethics influence their political effectiveness. They will know how to identify key players and develop support groups and be prepared to deal effectively with the local media.
The OLC and the Public Library Association (PLA) are sponsoring this event. Registration and a full course description are available through PLA.
