Participants of the September 2008 CPLA workshop, “Politics and Networking” presented by June Garcia and Sandra Nelson, learned how to understand their local political environment and how to develop and implement effective partnerships. As a result of this workshop and the current LSTA grant, library managers were asked to tell SALS how they would plan to use the workshop skills and if they were able to implement a work plan.
Here are some stories:
Stillwater Free Library
As a result of the workshop Sara and her Board were going to build a larger support base for the library’s 414 funding. In order to see if they were successful, the vote would pass and the library would see increase usage by the community.
Did that happen?
Due to current economic times, the Library Board has decided now is not the right time to ask for more funding from our community.
In order to increase library use they have turned the Friends group, addressed some basic floor plan issues, and increased programming. According to this year’s annual report, these areas of focus have definitely worked. The result is an 87% increase in program offerings with 75% increase in attendance accordingly. Overall the increase in visits has been 37%, and they expect an even greater increase this year thanks to exposure in the press regarding our building restoration. The improved conditions for handicap persons, parking, lighting, and overall atmosphere in the building will be a great pull for community members to return to their home library.
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Mechanicville District Library
As a result of the workshop Laura and her Board were going to create a Long Range Plan Committee. In order to see if they were successful, the committee would agree on 3 goals.
Did that happen?
The three goals the Committee came up with are:
1. Define Library Vision
2. Establish a Friends Group
3. Building Expansion
Library Vision: Educate, Cultivate, Recreate. To become a cultural education center, a family place, and a local history depository.
The Library is currently offering computer skill workshops, educational family presentations and has been using the Ellsworth room as a community room to groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, a Photography club and a quilting group to name a few.
The Library has been accepted in the CDLC’s digital pilot program. The Library will be digitizing its historical collections so that it may be viewed by all. This in turn will give us the ability to collect more historical documents and artifacts.
Establish a Friends Group: Cultivate frequent users to create a fundraising, lobbying group.
The Library is in the beginning stages of establishing a friends group.
Building Expansion:
In order to get a referendum passed in the near future the Library has been busy with outreach programs and becoming part of the community. There are staff members on several different committees throughout the city, such as the Chamber of Commerce, Prevention Council, and the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center. The staff brings the Library to several locations: Nursery Schools, Head Start, the Community Center and delivers books to senior citizens.
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Waterford Public Library
As a result of the workshop Tim was going to continue to build a partnership with the Town of Waterford’s Parks and Recreation program. In order to see if they were successful, the library would have more regular communication with the town regrading coordinating youth service programs with the library.
Did that happen?
The library developed stronger ties with the Town of Waterford’s Parks and Recreation staff resulting in a couple of meetings to discuss different ideas for partnerships. The library hosted a couple of visits with kids in the Recreation program this past summer; it was well received.
Looking forward, the library hopes to develop a reading program that would be taken to the Youth Council facility on a regular basis. They are also exploring taking gaming equipment to the Council for gaming programs.  There is a new Town board liaison for the library who is very interested in what might be done with partnerships. The library expects to host a Town agenda meeting and to participate in Waterford’s Quadricentennial festivities, including co-sponsoring a spelling bee.
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