Library Leadership in Community Development

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Library Leadership in Community Development

• A Route to Marketing, Collection Development, and
  Program Expansion
• 2007

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Context The Past Decade

• Library Director and Citys Community Services
  Division Connection
• Family Literacy Exploration (1996)
• Marketing Plan Addresses Underserved Populations
  (1999)
• Arts a la Carte Membership (1999)

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Context The Past Decade

• Community Development Consultant (2004)
• Increasing Focus on Community Development Models
  (2004 - present)
• Outreach Librarian (2006)

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Art at Red Deer Public Library

• An appreciation for art and the importance of
  visual literacy underlies many aspects of Red
  Deer Public Librarys identity
• We believe the library is a place to investigate
  multiple literacies
• Manifesto of the Art Lending Program

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Art at the Library

• Kiwanis Gallery Exhibitions
• Art Lending Program
• Hospital Partnership

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Art Around Every Corner

• AFA Placement Program
• Permanent Collection
• mezz Installation
• Graphica, anime, picture books, art appreciation
  kits
• Ghosts

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The Kiwanis Gallery community connections make
the difference

• AFA Traveling Exhibits program
• Community Groups
• Local artists

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Holistic Programming Model

• Organic approach start with artwork and see
  what naturally grows out of it
• artwork/ artist/ program/ collections/ target
  markets/ physical gallery/ virtual gallery/
  music/ podcast

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Kiwanis Gallery Shows - Outcomes

• Engaging local artists and community groups
  promotes library and establishes reputation as a
  cultural community centre
• Adult, Teen and Childrens collections are
  highlighted
• Programs bring in new people who might not
  normally visit a gallery

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Kiwanis Gallery Shows - Outcomes

• Staff from various library departments get
  involved with programming
• Our outreach target markets are engaged new
  Canadians, PDD, Aboriginals
• Opportunity to explore new media and reach a
  larger audience by creating virtual exhibits and
  podcasts

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Art Lending Program
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Art Lending Program Outcomes

• New partnerships City Cultural Services, DTHR,
  Advisory Board Members from arts and business
  communities
• Original art available to everyone
  inclusiveness
• Expansion of visual collections

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Art Lending Program Outcomes

• Promotion of local emerging and established
  artists who then become new library members and
  advocates for the library
• Increased number of Organization Memberships
  Medical Offices, Community Centres, City Hall

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Healing and Wholeness Collection

• Funding
• Call for art
• Special jury
• Volunteer training
• Ongoing partnership

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Hospital Partnership Outcomes

• New partner for library were currently
  looking at other innovative ways we can work
  together to serve the public
• New relationships developed between artists,
  patients and volunteers
• Increased understanding of the role of art in
  healing and wellness

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Hospital Partnership Outcomes

• Increased awareness of the librarys Art Lending
  Program on the part of hospital staff, volunteers
  and patients
• Expanded market for local artists
• Library is a part of an innovative initiative
  that gives us provincial and national recognition
  within the health field

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• The volunteers return from their shift pumped
  and rejuvenated. They know its very worthwhile.
  They see the benefit of their work and know its
  meaningful.
• Hospital Staff Member

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• Project Description
• Library Programs (movies, stories, writing,
  performing)
• Infrastructure and Logistics (memberships,
  advisory group, facilities, plain language, etc.)

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• Check out the video produced by artsparks on the
  Digital Red Deer web site
• Detective Maverick and
• the Mystery of the Missing
• Book
• http//www.digitalreddeer.ca/

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Adult Storytime

• New format of a storytime in multiple formats a
  combination of audio, video, and print.
• Adult content storytime with appropriate literacy
  level for the audience

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Outcomes

• Marketing new markets in PDD community, new
  partners, new clients, community good will
• Collection Development expansion of collection
  for persons, families, support workers
• Program Expansion March 2007 was the busiest
  programming month ever at RDPL!

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Packs Programs

• artsparks Fun Packs
• Family Fun Packs
• Reading Fun Backpacks
• Book Club Fun Packs
• Fun Packs for Waiting Rooms (social agencies and
  perhaps other)

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Packs Programs (Anticipated) Outcomes

• Marketing waiting rooms, new partners, business
  connections, new clients, community good will
• Collection Development superb new books
  purchased with donations/grant dollars
• Program Expansion more literacy materials and
  arts materials to support programming

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Outreach Librarian Goals

• Revisit, analyze and complement existing library
  programs and services for seniors, people with
  developmental disabilities, Aboriginals and
  newcomers/new immigrants
• May Link

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Outreach Librarian Goals

• Research, plan and create replicable community
  outreach projects for these populations such as
• Michif Language Initiative (Métis Collection
  Project)
• Library Book Club Kit Collection for Seniors
• Virtual Libraries in Foreign Languages
• Accessible Library Programming for PDD community

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Outreach Librarian Goals

• Become a community information resource for these
  customer groups and create their presence on the
  Red Deer Public Library web site
• Métis Collection - http//www.rdpl.org/documents/r
  eaders/metis-selection.pdf
• International Collection - http//www.rdpl.org/int
  ernational-collection-bibliography

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Michif Language Initiative (Métis Collection
Project) Goals

• Draw the attention of the Red Deer and Central
  Alberta community to the Michif language by
  creating a strong collection of related materials
  in Red Deer Public Library
• Strengthen the partnership between Métis Nation
  Red Deer Local 84 and Red Deer Public Library
• Promote and celebrate Métis culture

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Michif Language Initiative (Métis Collection
Project) Outcomes

• Marketing two Métis displays in the both library
  branches, media coverage
• Collection Development Métis Collection in the
  library and Michif Language Online pathfinder
• Program expansion two Michif Language workshops

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March Programs
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Outcomes

• Reaching Out Bringing In

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Community Development in a Library Context

• Connect
• Consult
• Collaborate
• Community development is a rich and
• complex approach that leads to innovative
• models of librarianship

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CONNECT

• Community development begins by
• building relationships
• looking first at individuals and the community
  and then examining library services rather than
  the other way around

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CONSULT

• Identify needs
• Ask underserved groups and individuals to
  articulate what would best serve them
• Ask these groups how they would choose to be
  served

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COLLABORATE

• Establish a path together that will meet needs
• Propose new ideas and strategies
• Experiment over a long period of time be
  patient
• Document together the information and stories
  that you share

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Processes to Facilitate Community Development

• Join community networks!
• Get involved in multi-sectoral initiatives
• Establish advisory groups
• Hire an Outreach Librarian or assign this
  function to one or more staff members
• Consider working with a Community Development
  Consultant