Project G
Librarians Build Communities is an exciting new program which builds and strengthens communities by making it easier for librarians to connect with local libraries and nonprofit organizations and put their librarian-skills to use by volunteering for good causes. The program is an expansion of the American Library Association‘s annual volunteer service day Libraries Build Communities._
Program History
The American Library Association’s Libraries Build Communities project began in New Orleans during the 2006 American Library Association Annual Conference when ALA member-volunteers helped with projects related to the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina. Over 100 ALA members continue to volunteer to assist in cities where they meet for Annual Conferences. In 2007 Libraries Build Communities assisted school and public libraries in Washington, D.C.; in 2008, Anaheim, CA; in 2009, Chicago, IL; in 2010, Washington, D.C.; and in 2011, New Orleans. Some volunteers assist other organizations (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, local food bank), but the majority of volunteers assist libraries and librarians. Libraries Build Communities is managed by the ALA Chapter Relations Office (CRO).
Libraries Build Communities was proposed as a project for the ALA Emerging Leaders 2011 Team F, who worked to transform and expand the annual day of service to an ongoing, national volunteer program. Therefore, Project F renamed the program to Librarians Build Communities to reflect the positive impact that librarians as professionals have in building communities by volunteering. Project F created a viable template from which a year-round volunteer organization can be implemented.
5. Expected Goals and Outcomes
The 2012 Emerging Leaders team will build on the work started by Project F and implement the program in their home states. Some members of Project F from 2011 will serve as project advisers to ensure a seamless transition from one team to the next.
Projected outcomes for Librarians Build Communities include the following:
1. Utilize or modify methods (local, state, national) compiled or suggested by Project F to extend and implement Librarians Build Communities in pilots within group members states.
2. Create a resource for libraries and organizations with libraries to find and obtain specialized volunteer assistance, whenever and wherever it is needed. For example, one or more online resources (e.g., a website or web page, such as a clearinghouse; a blog; a Facebook presence; volunteer management tools) will be designed and created to connect librarians with volunteer opportunities.
3. Implement a public relations plan to advertise and promote the program to librarian volunteers and to library and non-profit organizations around the country. This could include a series of articles in journals, blogs, etc. The media exposure will not only highlight the importance of supporting libraries, but also demonstrate the importance of librarians in communities across the country. It is recommended that feedback is collected on pilots or proposed models if possible. This information will help the program develop.
4. Explore partnerships with professional library organization‘s (such as local library chapters and associations) and/or develop a taskforce to help support and manage the program.
5. Develop budget plan(s), as necessary, for the pilots utilizing the financial implications researched by Project F.
A report should be written describing the progress (research, plans, and resources designed) on these outcomes. Resources developed should be showcased at the poster session. It might also be a good idea to modify the brochure that Project F developed if necessary to illustrate the group's progress. Other means to advertise the program at the poster session are encouraged as well.
Clearly, libraries and librarians everywhere—every day—are in need of volunteer assistance, especially in these tough economic times, and in more cities than where ALA holds its Annual Conferences. Although offering one day of service in one city is certainly worthwhile, it is time to explore ways to extend the spirit of volunteerism and collegiality demonstrated in the ALA Libraries Build Communities project in order to provide all libraries requiring support with the specialized assistance only librarians can share.
Project F identified steps to transform and extend an annual volunteer service day into means to provide libraries with librarian-volunteers whenever and wherever needed.
Project activities could include:
1. Studying other volunteer models operating on local, state, and national levels to ascertain best practices.
2. Determining a method or methods (e.g., a national day of service, an online clearinghouse matching available librarian-volunteers to libraries needing assistance, etc.) to provide specialized volunteer assistance to libraries.
3. Finding ways to obtain volunteer-librarians in cities, states, and regions to provide specialized assistance.
4. Exploring partnerships to help support and manage library assistance efforts at the local, state, and national levels (e.g., American Association of School Librarians (AASL); Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF); Public Library Association (PLA); ALA Chapters; and library-related organizations and businesses).
5. Outlining financial implications of managing project, including transporting and feeding volunteers, correspondence, registration, supplies, etc.
6. Ascertaining whether this emerging leaders project needs to be continued by another emerging leaders team.
Expected Outcomes
1. Methods to extend and implement Libraries Build Communities widely (local, state, national) will be determined
2. Libraries, large and small, will have one or more resources to find and obtain specialized volunteer assistance, whenever and wherever it is needed; for example, one or more online resources for Libraries Build Communities will be designed and created (e.g., a website, such as a clearinghouse; a blog; a Facebook presence) for libraries and librarians.
3. Increased media exposure not only will highlight the importance of supporting libraries, but also demonstrate the importance of librarians.
4. Recommendations on whether this emerging leaders project should be extended for further research and development of Libraries Build Communities for local, state, and national volunteer service projects.