Advocacy in Action! Success for library advocacy worldwide

While advocacy is a key role for many library associations, it can vary widely in terms of goals, scope, scale, style, method, reach and impact. This one-day workshop will feature a selection of library association advocacy programs from across the world that are inspiring and have been influential — whether advocating for the role of libraries in social development, education and literacy; for the support, resourcing and development of library strength and capacity within a country; or for the rights, freedoms and principles that enable equitable access to information in a complex, diverse and digital world.  

Speakers will highlight successes, challenges and outcomes, sharing lessons and practices that could benefit any library association looking to strengthen its advocacy effectiveness. There will also be opportunities for attendees to showcase their own innovative uses of media, social media, promotional materials, member engagement, champions, other advocacy means; and the agenda will provide ample opportunity for participant questions and table discussions.

Outline

9:00-9:30 Welcome, Outline of Day, and Introductions

Michael Dowling, Chair IFLA Management of Library Associations Section

9:30-10:00 Successful Advocacy in U.S.A

Michael Dowling, American Library Association: Successful Advocacy in U.S.A (pdf)

10:00-10:45 Country presentations and discussion

• Dato Zawiyah Baba, Librarians Association of Malaysia: Empowering Young Librarians (pdf)
• Hau Ren Ke, Library Society of China (Taipei): Advocacy Actions of Laroc (pdf)

10:45-11:00 Break

11:00-11:30 Advocating virtually

Susan Haigh, Canadian Association of Research Libraries: Advocating Virtually (pdf)

11:30-12:30 Country presentations and discussion

• Ana Maria Talavera Ibarra, Peruvian College of Librarians
• Constantine Matoke Nyamboga, Kenya Library Association: Kenya Library Association Advocacy Plan (pdf)
• Rauha Maarno, Finnish Library Association: Social Media – Cheap and Powerful (pdf)

12:30-1:30 Lunch (and show and tell)

1:30-3:00 Advocacy Breakout Session 

Registrants work together on new advocacy plans or enhancing a current advocacy effort.

Facilitators, Hella Klauser, German Library Association and Karin Linder, Swedish Library Association

3:00-3:15 Break

3:15-4:30 Round robin discussion of attendee ideas with feedback

4:30-4:45 Wrap-up

For further information, contact Michael Dowling, MLAS Chair, mdowling@ala.org

The presentations are shared here with Creative Commons Attribution License. 

Please register for the event!

Registration is free (but seating is limited, so a maximum of 3 representatives from each country can be accepted)