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The Morning After: The budget passed – now what?
Long Island Library Conference 2016
@MrChrastka@everylibrary
Building voter support for libraries
John ChrastkaExecutive [email protected]
● First Nationwide PAC for Libraries
● Set up as a c4 rather than a c3
● 33 Campaigns to date 25 wins
● $64.4 million in stable tax funding
● Pro Bono Approach
● Negotiation and Lobbying Support for funding
● Over 50 trainings
● #votelibraries 2016
● The Political Librarian
● everylibrary.org - professional facingvotelibraries.org - public facingaction.everylibrary.org - petitions and events
You Did It!Now What?
Building on your momentum
What Your Voters Believe
“From Awareness to Funding” says…
National Voter Attitudes
Building voter support for libraries
37% will Definitely vote yes for the library
37% will Probably vote yes for the library
26% will Probably or Definitely vote no or may vote either way.
Library Use Does Not Matter
A voter’s willingness to support increased library funding is not driven, or limited, by library use.
- OCLC "From Awareness to Funding" p. 7-2
Building voter support for libraries
Library as Transformative Force
[T]he library is not perceived as just a provider of practical answers and information; the most committed supporters hold the belief that the library is a transformational force.
- OCLC "From Awareness to Funding" p. 7-4
Building voter support for libraries
Attitude - Not Demographics
The factors that determine residents’ willingness to increase their taxes to support their local library are their perceptions and attitudes about the library and the librarian.
- OCLC "From Awareness to Funding" p. 7-3
Building voter support for libraries
They recognize the value of a ‘passionate librarian’ as a true advocate for lifelong learning.
- OCLC "From Awareness to Funding" p. 7-4
Building voter support for libraries
Attitude - Not Demographics
What Activates Voters A Reason to Vote Mobilized Personal Contact with
Candidate or Issue* Culture/Tradition/Habit
of Voting* Trust in Government Decided to Vote Weather/Access to Polls
Building voter support for libraries
What Activates Voters for The Library?
The Librarian is the Candidate
The Library is the Incumbent
Library = Librarians + Community
Building voter support for libraries
Were You an Accidental Candidate?
You have political capital
Now What?Building on your political capital
Building voter support for libraries
What is Your Next Big Opportunity?
Fundraising and DonorsLocal, State and National Coalitions
Town/City/County Budgets
State Legislation and Federal Funding
Funders and Grantmakers
1. An Identified Need 2. Personal Motivation3. Experience of the Issue*4. Prior Success as an
Advocate*5. Institutional Reputation6. Made a Pledge7. Ease of Access to
Advocacy Tools
What Activates Advocates?
Building voter support for libraries
ADVOCATES:
1. An Identified Need
2. Personal Motivation
3. Experience of the Issue*
4. Prior Success as Advocate*
5. Institutional Reputation
6. Made a Pledge
7. Ease of Access to Tools
Activate in Either Context
Building voter support for libraries
VOTERS:
1. A Reason to Vote
2. Mobilization
3. Personal Contact with Candidate*
4. Culture/Tradition/Habit of Voting*
5. Trust in Government (pro or con)
6. Decided to Vote
7. Weather/Access to Polls
Voters and Funders and Donors and Constituents
The attitudes and behaviors are the same
Probable and Super Supporters
• They are involved in their communities
• They recognize the library’s importance to the community and to a
child’s education
• They are not always heavy users of the library, but believe the library
is a noble place, important and relevant to the community
- OCLC "From Awareness to Funding" p7-4
Building voter support for libraries
Probable and Super Supporters
• They recognize the value of a ‘passionate librarian’ as a true
advocate for lifelong learning
• They see the library as a vital community resource like public schools,
fire and police, and are willing to increase their taxes to support the
library.
- OCLC "From Awareness to Funding" p7-4
Building voter support for libraries
FundraisingWhat do donors want?
How are they different from voters?
What do donors want?1. Leverage for their
donation
2. New reasons to give to the library
3. Proof - every person on the committee gives
4. Challenge / Match
Building voter support for libraries
#everylibrary
Voters and Donors are Basically the Same
[T]he library is not perceived as just a provider of practical answers and information; the most committed supporters hold the belief that the library is a transformational force.
- OCLC "From Awareness to Funding" p. 7-4
Building voter support for libraries
Coalition PartnersBuilding the a coalition for the library
Bringing the library to existing coalitions
Extending Your Influence
What systems already exist in your community or statewide that align with libraries? Where are your natural partnerships? Who are you regularly frustrated with?
State and Local Systems:
Boards and Commissions
Coalitions of Common Cause
Coalitions of Common Concern
What Coalitions are Right for You?
Economic Development
Early Literacy and Early Childhood
Grade Level Reading
Housing and Food Security
Immigration
Safety and Violence
Grants and CapacityBuilding partnerships Being invited to apply
Someone Else’s BudgetTown/City/County Partners
State Legislation and AppropriationsFederal Funding
Making a New Ask
1. Where does revenue come from?
2. What are the priorities of my elected officials?
3. What is “regular order” for the lawmaking or rulemaking
body?
4. How can I make this easy for them?
Making a “New Ask” Easier
We have developed language for an ordinance/bill that would address X or Y or Z….
Would you like to see it?
Building voter support for libraries
Now What?Really, what is the next big thing
for you and your library?
What are your assets?
Building voter support for libraries
Civic Attitudes Beyond Voters
● 94% of Parents say libraries are important for their children. 79% say “very important”. 2
● 58% of Americans have a library card. 3
● 62% of card holders have visited the library in the last year at least once.4
2. Pew, May 2013
3 and 4. Harris Interactive | ALA, January 2011
#everylibrary
‘Day After’ the Campaign Assets
A. Current Allies and Endorsers
B. Current Situational Awareness
C. Actionable Voter and Card Holder Data
D. Fundraising for the Campaign
E. Volunteers on the Campaign
F. Opposition to the Campaign
G. Messaging about the Campaign
Building voter support for libraries
Run Your Next Big Thing Like a Campaign
Be the Candidate
Building voter support for libraries
How Candidates “Surface”● Write the book● Tell their story● Be seen as an expert● Start an Exploratory Team● Get endorsed● Launch their Campaign
What is Your Book?
Strategic Plan
Management Plan
Service/Programs/Collections Plan
Fundraising Goals
Financials and Fiduciary
Building voter support for libraries
What Do Candidates Know?
● Your ‘vision for the community’ is the key story to tell
● You will either have more money than people, or more
people than money
● Elections are won through coalitions
● Endorsements drive legitimacy
● Proxies are needed to speak for the candidate
Building voter support for libraries
Build Infrastructure Before You Need It
1. Start talking about your plans2. Introduce staff to the public3. Drink more coffee (meetings)4. Ask people to join you5. Spend money to get Likes6. Sign folks up for emailing lists7. Continually educate your stakeholders
Like - Support - ID
I Like what you’re doing --->
I Support what you are doing --->
I Want to identify us with what you are doing.
Building voter support for libraries
#everylibrary
To Library Users:● “As you know...”● Personal Value Proposition● Value for Other● Activation as a Voter
To Non-Users:● “As you can imagine...”● Value to/for “Other”● Satisfaction as a Voter
Remember – Use Does Not Matter
Building voter support for libraries
John ChrastkaEveryLibrary
action.everylibrary.org
facebook/everylibrary@everylibrary
Building voter support for libraries
Thank You