If you missed the advocacy webinar, check out an archived copy of it here: http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/community/sirsidynix-institute/overview
There’s a supplementary handout with lots of information: Some of the text is posted below.
Advocacy Resources for Libraries
Selected Resources for Libraries and Advocacy
Prepared by Stephen Abram
for the August 18, 2010 SirsiDynix Cengage Webinar
These resources are not in any particular order (heresy!).
Summary: My Blog Postings on the Value of Libraries
Here are the links to the value and impact of libraries postings that I wrote in 2010 to put my
links all in one place. Each posting contains dozens of links. Please feel free to share:
The Value of Public Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/06/the-value-of-public-libraries/
The Value of School Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/06/the-value-of-school-libraries/
The Value of Academic and College Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/07/value-of-academic-and-college-libraries/
The Value of Special Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/07/value-of-special-libraries/
Library Advocacy: Save the Library Campaigns
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/01/save-the-library-campaigns/
Having the Value Conversation: Springboard Stories
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/07/having-the-value-conversation-springboardstories
The State of America’s Libraries
http://tinyurl.com/State2010.
The Seattle Public Library Community Survey
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/08/05/the-seattle-public-library-community-survey/
http://www.spl.org/pdfs/about/community_survey_summary.pdf
How Libraries Stack Up 2010
OCLC has updated the venerable and cool 2 page PDF
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/07/29/how-libraries-stack-up-2010-2/
Losing Libraries
http://www.losinglibraries.org/
A library union speaks up for libraries!
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/07/07/a-library-union-speaks-up-for-libraries/
Gale Supports ALA Rally on Capitol Hill
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/06/26/gale-supports-ala-rally-on-capitol-hill/
My ALA DC PR Forum slides (ALA2010)
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/06/27/ala-pr-forum-slides-ala2010/
Value of Academic Research Libraries
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/issues/value/futures.cfm
Change across all facets of society—including demographic, technological, and economic
change—has the potential to greatly impact higher education and the academic library. As
we move further into the 21st century, it is important to pay attention to the trends around us
to inform our thinking about where institutions of higher education and their libraries are
headed.
Value of Academic Libraries
The Board of Directors of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) has
been working to determine how best to help members demonstrate the value of academic
libraries to the academy (see April 2009 ACRL Board Document Return on Investment in
Academic Libraries Research Memo). ACRL is interested in developing research that will
support advocacy efforts for libraries with decision-makers and funders in higher education.
After an invitational meeting in July 2009 (see ACRL Board document Report on ACRL
Value of Academic Libraries Research Meeting held Chicago, July 8-9, 2009 ) ACRL took
the first step of issuing a request for proposals for a comprehensive review of the
quantitative and qualitative literature, methodologies and best practices currently in place for
demonstrating the value of academic libraries. Subsequently, Dr. Megan Oakleaf was
selected to carry out this work. Her completed report is expected later in the summer of
2010.
Futures Thinking for Academic Librarians: Higher Education in 2025 (June 2010)
(PDF)
For academic librarians seeking to demonstrate the value of their libraries to their parent
institutions, it is important to understand not only the current climate. We must also know
what will be valued in the future so that we can begin to take appropriate action now. This
document presents 26 possible scenarios based on an implications assessment of current
trends, which may have an impact on all types of academic and research libraries over the
next 15 years. They are organized in a “scenario space” visualization tool, reflecting the
expert judgment of ACRL members as to their expectations and perceptions about the
probability, impact, speed of change, and threat/opportunity potential of each scenario. The
study draws out implications for academic libraries and includes an appendix with a
suggested activity, also available as an editable document so that you may customize this
activity for use in your library. Additionally, listen to a discussion with the report’s authors
about how to stretch your imagination and why considering possible futures is worthwhile.
Press coverage: Inside Higher Ed, Library Journal: Academic Newswire, and American
Libraries.
Confronting the Business Lens for Accountability of General Education, presentation
at the 2009 ACRL National Conference (.mov file)
Marilee Bresciani, Associate Professor, Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary
Education, San Diego State University
On the Research Library: A Comment (PDF)
John V. Lombardi, Professor of History and Chancellor, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, USA
A plenary address from the 2006 ARL Assessment Conference
Articles and Studies Related to Library Value (Return on Investment)
Developed by the ALA Office for Research & Statistics
ACRL 2009 Strategic Thinking Guide for Academic Librarians in the New Economy
Distinguished panellists will discuss the questions presented in this document at the ACRL
14th National Conference in Seattle, March 13, 2009, during a program session “Brother
Can You Spare a Dime? ACRL 2009 Strategic Thinking Guide for Academic Librarians in the
New Economy.” It is intended to spur strategic conversation, planning, and action in
academic libraries.
21st Century Academic Libraries in Higher Education
This document was prepared by Julie Todaro, ACRL President, 2007-2008, for a presentation at the American Association of State Colleges & Universities (AASCU)
Academic Affairs Winter Meeting, February 8, 2008, Tempe, Arizona.
What Chief Academic Officers Want from Their Libraries: Findings from interviews
with Provosts and Chief Academic Officers (PDF)(October 2007)
This is the central finding from a recent survey of Provosts and Chief Academic Officers
conducted on behalf of the Association for College and Research Libraries by Leigh S.
Estabrook and the University of Illinois
Changing Roles of Academic and Research Libraries
Essay derived from a Roundtable on Technology and Change in Academic Libraries,
convened by ACRL on November 2-3, 2006 in Chicago
The Future of Higher Education: A View from CHEMA (PDF)
A report presented by Council of Higher Education Management Association (CHEMA) and
Educause Center for Applied Research (ECAR), with generous sponsorship from Carter &
Burgess, Inc., and produced for CHEMA by APPA.
Campus of the Future Poster session (PDF)
Poster session presented by ACRL President Pamela Snelson and ACRL Executive
Director Mary Ellen K. Davis, July 8-11, 2006, at The Campus of the Future, a joint
conference sponsored by AAPA (Serving Educational Facilities Professionals), NACUBO
(National Association of College and University Business Officers), and SCUP (Society for
College and University Planning).
Top Issues Facing Academic Libraries for the Future of Academic Libraries and
Librarians
ACRL unveiled its Top Ten Assumptions for the future of academic and research libraries
March 31, 2007, during its 13th National Conference in Baltimore. The ACRL Research
Committee developed the top ten assumptions after surveying member leaders and
conducting a literature review. Listen to ACRL leaders discuss the top ten assumptions in a
podcast interview.
Do We Need Academic Libraries? (January 2000)
This position paper, written by Larry Hardesty, addresses the necessity of requiring
accredited transregional and virtual institutions to maintain a physical library space.
New Gates Foundation Libraries Report
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/06/22/new-gates-foundation-libraries-report/
Toward Equality of Access: The Role of Public Libraries in Addressing the Digital
Divide
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/topics/Documents/TowardEqualityofAccess.pdf
Totally Digital Library Annual Reports
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/05/25/a-totally-digital-library-annual-report/
School Libraries and Student Achievement
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/05/13/school-libraries-and-student-achievement/
Why school libraries are more important than ever!
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/05/13/why-school-libraries-are-more-important-thanever/
Cutting Libraries in a Recession is like cutting Hospitals in a Plague . . .
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/24/cutting-libraries-in-a-recession-is-like/
Study: A Third of Americans Use Library Computers
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/03/29/study-a-third-of-americans-use-library-computers/
The use of library technology had significant impact in four critical areas: employment,
education, health, and making community connections. In the last 12 months:
• 40 percent of library computer users (an estimated 30 million people) received help
with career needs. Among these users, 75 percent reported they searched for a job
online. Half of these users filled out an online application or submitted a resume.
• 37 percent focused on health issues. The vast majority of these users (82 percent)
logged on to learn about a disease, illness, or medical condition. One-third of these
users sought out doctors or health care providers. Of these, about half followed up by
making appointments for care.
• 42 percent received help with educational needs. Among these users, 37 percent (an
estimated 12 million students) used their local library computer to do homework for a
class.
• Library computers linked patrons to their government, communities, and civic
organizations. Sixty-percent of users – 43.3 million people – used a library’s computer
resources to connect with others.
Additional Readings and Resources:
I prepared this summary list in August 2010. These readings on trends in libraries are ones
which I consider very good and useful. I could easily have missed many great resources
and would be delighted to hear more about more. They have all been very influential in
library land and serve as important pieces of information for senior level decision-making in
libraries and consortia. They form the foundation for informed debates and strategies.
I expect that you are already aware of many of these. Many have come out and been
regularly updated. Being mindful of budgetary considerations, all of these are free and
available through the web. Feel free to add these to your bookmarks and download the
PDF’s and reports for reading.
I do try to keep up-to-date on advocacy developments in libraries and add links regularly
through my blog, Stephen’s Lighthouse. You can visit it here (or add it to your reader, RSS
feeds.
http://stephenslighthouse.com
Feel free to follow me on Twitter (sabram) or friend me on Facebook or LinkedIn and Plaxo
(Stephen Abram). Most new blog postings are copied to Facebook and Twitter too.
I am always available to chat or visit clients as my schedule permits. Feel free to contact me
anytime:
Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLA
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Markets
Cengage Learning (Gale)
412-120 Perth Ave.
Toronto, ON
CANADA M6P 4E1