No Time, No Staff, No Money' 10 tips for adding literacy services your library

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No Time, No Staff, No Money.10 tips for
adding literacy services _at_ your library!

• Dale Lipschultz
• Literacy Officer, dlipschu_at_ala.org
• Office for Literacy Outreach Services

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• The LRI is an online tool designed to
• Help library administrators and staff conduct a
  thorough inventory of their librarys literacy
  services and programs
• http//www.buildliteracy.org/toolkit/index.html

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• And
• 2. Provide resources and links to help address
  service gaps.
• http//www.buildliteracy.org/toolkit/index.html

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The LRI Library

• The LRI Library is a dynamic collection of
  resources and web links.
• The Library includes field-based examples of
  effective library literacy practices.

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LRI Content

• The LRI inventories library activities in four
  sections
• Understands its community
• Demonstrates a financial commitment
• Provides services for adult learners
• Offers access to technology.

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Using the LRI

• The LRI is your tool!
• Select a section
• Respond to each activity
• Yes, our library does this.
• No, our library doesnt do this now, but we would
  like to.
• Each yes or no response generates specific
  resources from the LRI Library.

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10 tips for adding literacy services _at_ your
library!
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Tip 1 Know your community

• 1. History
• 2. Economics
• 3. Demographics
• 4. Services

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Tip 2 Know your library

• Who do we serve?
• How do we do it?
• Who are we missing?
• Whats the impact of library services?

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Tip 3 Recognize your resources

• Hidden and visible
• Human and fiscal

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TIP 4 Break down barriers

• 1. Get to know your neighbors.
• 2. Invite potential partners to the
  library.
• 3. Talk about strengths challenges.
• 4. Brainstorm action steps.

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Tip 5 Be prepared to be the

• advocate
• convener
• note taker
• copy maker
• problem solver
• peacemaker
• community resource

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Tip 6 Dont take no for an answer.

• If at first you dont succeed
• Reflect on your experience.
• Reexamine your approach.
• Regroup your efforts.
• Try again!

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Tip 7 Assume nothing!

• Partnerships demand compromises.
• Partnerships need nurturing.
• Partnerships take time.

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Tip 8 Learn from your mistakes.

• See mistakes as lessons learned.
• Share these lessons with your partners.
• Develop new strategies.
• Take risks.
• Be brave!

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Tip 9 Tell your story!

• Use numbers narratives.
• Include your partners.
• Tell your story to everyone.

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Tip 10 Manage change

• Build on your successes.
• Realize when change is necessary.
• Acknowledge that change is hard.

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Next Steps

• Try the LRI online.
• Use the LRI _at_ your library.
• Identify your strengths.
• Recognize your barriers.
• Develop an action plan.

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We want to hear from you!

• Theres a feedback button at the bottom of each
  section of the LRI.
• Did you find what you were looking for?
• Were the LRI resources useful?
• What else do you need?
• What can you contribute to the LRI Library?