This is a summary post of the 10 hours of professional development delivered by FOPL to the library community in Fall/Winter 2013/2014.  It is available here for viewing and listening any time!
Influencing Skills: Advocacy for Public Libraries
Free FOPL Member Training Series
Let’s be prepared! Over the next year we will have a great opportunity to communicate the value of public libraries in our communities and province. The 2014 provincial and municipal elections in Ontario will be held on October 27, 2014. Voters in our province will elect MPP’s, mayors, councillors, school board trustees and all other elected officials in Ontario in 2014. This creates a great opportunity to focus our attention on positioning the impact and value of public libraries in Ontario.
• Is your whole library team – staff, management and trustees – empowered with the best training and strategies to positively influence the position of public libraries in the public forum?
• Do you have all of the tools, talking points, research and information you need to communicate with power and influence?
• Do you have a plan? Polished strategies? Great relationships and networks?
The Federation of Ontario Public Libraries developed this 10 hour training program for public library management, staff, and trustees to build our library community’s skills and muscle to speak and influence effectively about the wonderful role we play in Ontario’s culture, economy and society.  It is a:

• A series of webinars and teleconferences with respected leaders in our profession
• Based on the voice of experience and best practices
• Underpinned by recent, solid Canadian and U.S. research on advocacy and political influencing of funding and perceptions of the value of public libraries.
• Respectful of your valuable time – every session is a manageable time commitment for you and your colleagues at just 60 minutes each
• Builds your team’s skills over time. We will use webinar and teleconference technology so everyone can participate at as many sites as possible with no big travel commitment.

HERE IT ALL IS; AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!

October 2, 2013: Webinar
Factors influencing funding decisions by elected politicians at the state/provincial level: a case study of public libraries in Canada: Part 1
Instructor: Cheryl Stenström, PhD

Understand key concepts in the advocacy process such as influence, persuasion marketing, promotion, lobbying and networking. Learn more about the highlights of the most recent research from Cheryl Stenström from her recent doctoral research where she studied the factors (internal and external) that influenced Canadian politicians and civil servants when making funding decisions about public libraries.  The insights from her survey work show that while many public libraries are facing difficult decisions in the face of uncertain funding futures, the ability of the sector to obtain favourable responses to requests for increases and support may require a less simplistic approach than previously thought. The ability to create meaningful connections with individuals in many communities and across all levels of government should be emphasized as a key factor in influencing funding decisions.

https://ola.adobeconnect.com/_a1002386517/p1pd7z5qs3q/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

October 10, 2013: Teleconference
Real Life: Advocacy Practitioners Sharing Session 1
Speaker: Sam Coghlan (Retired, Stratford Public Library)
Learning Objective: Advocacy in Town and County libraries

This teleconference is a moderated discussions of the experiences of talented library leaders and practitioners to successfully advocate for their libraries in their communities.  Hear their war stories and strategies as well as their tips and tricks.

https://fopl.ca/media/2013/10/79071650-Part-2-of-2.mp3

October 25, 2013: Webinar
Factors influencing funding decisions by elected politicians at the state/provincial level: a case study of public libraries in Canada: Part 2
Instructor: Cheryl Stenström, PhD

Continue to examine applications of influence in a variety of settings, e.g., local, provincial, and national.  How do you identify stakeholders in your local setting?  What are the key strategies you need to know and what is a good framework for action over the longer term? Cheryl Stenström shares her insights and completes this two-part foundation for exploring influencing and advocacy strategies for Ontario public libraries.

https://ola.adobeconnect.com/_a1002386517/p577d8mhb0j/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

November 4, 2013: Teleconference
Real Life: Advocacy Practitioners Sharing Session 2
Speaker: Ken Roberts (Retired, Hamilton Public Library)
Learning Objective: Advocacy in Urban Libraries

This teleconferences is a moderated discussion of the experiences of talented library leaders and practitioners to successfully advocate for their libraries in their communities.  Hear their war stories and strategies as well as their tips and tricks.

https://fopl.ca/media/2013/11/Recording-1.mp3
https://fopl.ca/media/2013/11/Recording-2.mp3

November 21, 2013: Webinar
The Top 6 Best Practices for Advocates in Any Setting
Instructor: Professor Wendy Newman, MLS, University of Toronto iSchool

Simply one of the best library advocates around! Wendy Newman shares her insights on the top strategies, applying best practices, and directing your passion for public libraries successfully.

https://ola.adobeconnect.com/_a1002386517/p2d48gc7tm4/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

November 27, 2013: Webinar
Real Life: Advocacy Practitioners Sharing Session 3
Panel: Stephen Abram, host, TBA
Learning Objective: Advocacy and Engagement at Burlington Public Library

This webinar discusses the great outreach advocacy at Burlington Public Library where staff and trustees delivered dozens of targeted presentations to community groups.

Speakers:

Maureen Barry, CEO, Burlington Public Library

Kerry Langford, Trustee, Burlington Public Library

https://ola.adobeconnect.com/_a1002386517/p9ohm2jiyf6/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

December 12, 2013: Webinar
Networking for Positive Influence and Positioning
Instructor: Ken Haycock, MLS, MBA, PhD, University of Southern California

Training in positive networking techniques and theories with global expert and thought leader Dr. Ken Haycock.

https://ola.adobeconnect.com/_a1002386517/p3pbqgkwrk5/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

Dec. 17, 2013: Teleconference
Real Life: Advocacy Practitioners Sharing Session 4
Panel: Stephen Abram, Host TBA
Learning Objective: Advocacy Panel: Small, Rural and County Libraries are different

These teleconferences are moderated discussions of the experiences of talented library leaders and practitioners to successfully advocate for their libraries in their communities. Hear their war stories and strategies as well as their tips and tricks.

Panelists:

Mary Baxter,Georgina Public Library

Cindy Weir, Owen Sound Public Library

Claire Dionne, Russell Public Library

Susan Downs, Innisfil Public Library

Rona O’Banion King Township Public Library

Jill Nicholson, Lincoln Public Library
https://fopl.ca/media/2013/12/Part1.mp3
https://fopl.ca/media/2013/12/Part2.mp3

January 15, 2014: Webinar
Real Life: Advocacy Practitioners Sharing Session 5
Panel: Stephen Abram, Host TBA
Learning Objective: Toronto Public Library’s New Value Study

This webinar presents the results of the new value study performed by the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto’s Rotman Business School.  Modern measurements of the quantitative and qualitative economic, learning, cultural and social impact of public libraries are presented.

https://ola.adobeconnect.com/_a1002386517/p4dfi5pv40j/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

January 28, 2014: OLA Super Conference Workshop
Pulling the Strands Together and Taking our Act on the Road!
A capstone activity that pulls it all together in a half-day workshop
Workshop Leaders: Stephen Abram and Cheryl Stenström

Communicating with power and polish is our goal.  FOPL develops communication strategies and talking points to prove the positive value and role of libraries in Ontario. This session will highlight these tools and lay the groundwork to move forward with passion and energy in 2014.

Here is a link to the PowerPoint slides.  This was an afternoon workshop delivered adjacent to the OLA Super Conference.

ENJOY! and learn.