Successful Strategies in
Networking and Making Partnerships

1. Internal Partnerships
   1. Staff
      1. Get your staff involved with ALL your programs and projects. Even if they are not directly working on the project, let them know what is going on and they will support your efforts. This might be through meetings, newsletter, or even a brief note.
      2. Invite questions. Don't let any of your staff feel left out or ignored.
      Example: We met with all the staff, volunteers, student workers for a round table discussion on programs the library was currently offering. Suggestions on programs we might consider offering were examined.

   2. Volunteers
      1. Get your volunteers behind you, by including them in the sharing of information process.
      2. Look for specific people who can serve as volunteers on a particular project and they will help you.
      3. Never forget that in small rural communities every one knows each other. They can support or hinder your efforts. They are more inclined to help if they are included in the project or at the very least know what is being planned.
      Example: Our AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers (5) are treated like staff. They are included in staff meetings and invited to participate in training opportunities.

   3. Patrons
      1. Get familiar with your patrons, not only will you be able to server them better, you can take advantage of this knowledge when you are planning a project. You might be able to include them in your efforts.
      2. Get the community behind you.
      Example: We met a couple of "computer" nerds and asked them if they would like to assist us. They love it and so do we.
      Example: A library patron has setup a book fund.

   4. Library Board
      1. Your Library Board can be one of the best partners you can make. They are usually very active in the community and carry a lot of influence.
      2. The Board is also from different communities and this will assist your efforts in letting the whole area be informed and supportive.
      Example: We have a very "powerful" Board as far as the community influence is concerned. We have a professor in Jr. College, a local teacher, a former Sec to the Senate, an owner of a local business, etc. Our Board was chosen with much care. The influence, even behind the scenes is tremendous.

   
   

2. Local Community Partnerships
   1. Friends of the Library
      1. Your Friends group is closely connected with your library's interests so are extremely influenced by how you treat them.
      2. The Friends can help pay for or match funds for the project.
      Example: Our Friends are up-fronting money needed for a reimbursement grant.
      Example: We have a couple of church volunteers working at the library each week.

   2. County Government
      1. Keep your county commissioners informed about your projects. Take them cookies
      2. They can make it almost impossible if you don't have them behind you all the way. Besides that, they control library funding. You want them to feel part of the success.
      3. Attend commission meetings. Try to go before them with as many positive issues as possible so they will welcome your visits.
      4. Acknowledge them when writing PAs.
      5. Get to know the city managers.
      Example: It took two years of attending commissioners meeting before they started calling me by name and inviting me to set on committees.
      Example: The Clerk of Court called and asked if the library wanted the State of the Arts tag $ this year $165 for children's art books.
      Example: We now have a mini library in a small community called the Hosford Resource Center. We had a trailer donated from Tallahassee and the commissioners have supported the remodeling of it. It now has a reference collection, multimedia com puters, Internet access, Fax and copier. We have children and adult literacy programs there. Staff is planning summer library programs to be held there.

   3. School District
      1. Your school district is a natural partner, especially when doing children's and literacy programming.
      2. Local schools can assist you, help match "in-kind" funds, and support your program.
      3. Even if the schools are not directly involved in a particular project, it is important to keep close ties with them and keep them informed on what the library is doing.
      Example: We are able to use class rooms for tutoring and a building for one of the LATCH programs. The school provides support and monies for the five of our programs. Don't think this is a one way street. We also provide teen and adult tutors, training for School Resource Officer, serve as an Alternative Education site, and provide VISTAs for the America Reads program.

   4. Faith Community
      1. Contact your local churches, find out what they are offering.
      2. Network with them. They can provide mentors for your programs.
      3. They can provide space for tutoring and/or child care.
      Example: one of our churches is serving a center for our LATCH program. Local churches can support, serve as sites, provide volunteers, donated funds.

   5. Chamber of Commerce
      1. Join your chamber so you can keep updated on current trends and what is happening in your community.
      2. The chamber can include the library in their promotion. information
      3. Host one of the chamber meetings.
      Example: One of our board members is an officer of the chamber and one of the VISTAs is the wife of the current president

   6. Local Agencies
      1. Research you local directories and find out your community's movers and shakers.
      2. Make personal visits with them promoting your library. Invite them to a library program.
      Example: We held a "drug and alcohol" workshop for the county road workers to meet the requirement of one of their grants.
      Example: Offered to host a couple of "parenting workshops" for one the health centers.

   7. Local Businesses
      1. Investigate and find out who in each business is the best contact person to approach with the idea of partnering with them for a particular project.
      2. Be sure you thank them publicly and privately when they help support you project. You can want to send them a copy of your final report.
      Example: One of the local business who support our literacy silent auction each year no longer support some other projects because they did not receive a thank you. We really make sure they receive ours.
      Example: we received $ for support of the Hosford Resource Center for local businesses.
      Example: Art contest for 6 years local artist donates a print each year, we send him a full report at end of project each year.

   8. Local Organizations
      1. Again investigate the organizations what is their mission. Who are they? What assist to they have that can help you?
      2. Think about what you can do for them. Yes that's right. "What can you do for them" That is what networking is all about. Helping each other.
      3. There are some wonderful assets in you community and through networking you can tap into their resources.
      Example: The Lions club provided funds for an illuminated magnified light.
      Example:The Democratic Party donated a book drop
      Example: Volunteers from the Senior Beta Club and FFA work at LATCH.

   9. Local Collaborations
      1. Children services providers.
      2. Adult literacy providers.
      3. Community Care.
      4. All the STARTS Healthy, Even, Head etc.
      Example: The Children's Coalition supplies $ for Back-to-School pkg and 24 Kid Kits backpacks.
      Example: The School District bought the library set of Pre-GED and GED software as well as workbook and TABE test.
      Example: The library produced the first Liberty County Directory.
      Example: The library serves as a site for Community Cares Alternative Education youth supervised by a VISTA worker (5)

   
   

3. External Partnerships
   1. State Library
      1. Get familiar with the state librarians, so familiar they recognize your name. "Keep in their face".
      2. The State Library offers a variety of resources. Remind them to include you in their "special" programs.
      3. They can help you locate funding sources.

   2. Access Networks
      1. Training.
      2. Support.
      3. Resources.
      Example: SOLINET training, Soaring to Excellence, Dancing With Change teleconferences, etc.
      Example: Tallahassee Freenet is hosting my Web page.
      Example: Handles state projects such as the REAP project (Our library is one of 13 counties that participated in this project of getting online).
      Example: Consortium provided a couple of computers.

   3. Department of Education
      1. Again, get to know who can network with you. They have $$$ so find out who has the funds and how you can get some of it to help your programs.
      Example: Our county was one of four that made up Region 1 TSIC project. These counties have at least 40% of their population over 18 without a high school diploma. We still receive $$ to support literacy programs.
      Example: Discretionary $ for cyberspace.

   4. Colleges and Universities
      1. Find out what outreach programs they are offering in your community. The services they offer might enhance your program or you might be able to assist them.
      Example: FAMU has served as fiscal agent for one Panhandle Area Literacy Services or PALS for four years.
      Example: Washington VoTech has given our county two laptops with educational software. They also have a computer repair department that will work on our older machines.

   5. Workforce Development
      1. Do you have a One-Stop in your community? How can you network with them? WAGES? JTPA? Back-to-School?
      2. Training, transportation, etc.
      Example: WAGES and JTPS students are transported to the library for adult education and then to work four days weekly.

   6. Department of Children and Families
      1. Check to see if they provide and $ for family preservation grants.
      Example: We have receive $ for four years for LATCH after school supervision projects coordinated by VISTAs.

   7. Department of Juvenile Justice
      1. Prevention.
      2. Community Partnerships.
      3. New & Innovated.
      4. Local Department of Corrections.
      Example: currently we have three Juvenile Justice Grant in our county. The Library Youth Enrichment Program has received funding for six years for teen tutoring. The Youth Outreach Program (YORAP) is in its first year and is also a tutoring program for middle and high school students. The PASS grant provides a social workers and School Resource Officer.
      Example: Inmates from our Corrections did all the carpenter work at the Hosford Resource Center.
      Example: we do the Basic Read tutor training at the education department at the Correction

   8. National & State Foundations & Organizations
      1. American Bar Association.
      2. Ezra Jack Keat's Foundation.
      3. Alford Dupont Foundation.
      4. George G. Tapper Foundation.
      5. Literacy Volunteers of America.
      6. State Business Regulations.
      Example: We have received money, training or support from all of these sources. Remember training is $$$
      Example: We receive used computers for all my staff and students WAGES, JTPA

So these are our successful strategies: Internal, community and external partners. These partnerships are not hard to form, however, they do take a lot of time and constant effort. You must continue to nurture them. But it is worth all your efforts.