Community Partnerships: Strategies for Success (and Joy)

Librarianship is local, but partnerships aren’t just about filling program holes with local experts. Community partnerships foster collaborations that go beyond transactional relationships. Here are four tips for meaningful partnerships that have helped me build the work and world I love.

1. Two Deep: Identify multiple folks to work with on any partnership. Staffing changes may leave gaps; with two or more people from each institution, you strengthen the connection. Added support also distributes project workloads, which helps maintain long term relationships.
2. Show Up: Strong community partnerships are mutually supportive. Find out how you (personally, and the library) can support their programming goals. Whether it’s attending partner agency special events or providing library outreach, showing up for another organization builds the connective tissue that keeps partnerships going.
3. Plan Together: Invite community partners into the planning process. You may find unanticipated, overlapping program possibilities that strengthen ongoing services to the public. Ask how you can support their top priorities and initiatives. Maybe they are looking for book club tips, materials, storytime resources, or related services that the library can support.
4. Share Feedback: When the program is over, it’s easy to move on to the next deadline, but that’s a missed opportunity. Circle back to community partners after an event with a personal note. Say thank you. Ask for feedback. Take a moment to share positive evaluations from participants. Gratitude is a joy bringer, and post event communication is a crucial ingredient to successful community partnerships.

The benefits of building community partnerships are many! Partnerships connect youth and caregivers with local resources, addresses potential service gaps, and new partnerships often bring new patrons into library. Strong partnerships enhance library services to all, and what could bring more joy than that?

The post Community Partnerships: Strategies for Success (and Joy) appeared first on ALSC Blog.

 Librarianship is local, but partnerships aren’t just about filling program holes with local experts. Community partnerships foster collaborations that go beyond transactional relationships. Here are four tips for meaningful partnerships that have helped me build the work and world I love. The benefits of building community partnerships are many! Partnerships connect youth and caregivers with local resources, addresses potential service gaps, and new partnerships often bring new patrons into library. Strong partnerships enhance library services to all, and what could bring more joy than that?
The post Community Partnerships: Strategies for Success (and Joy) appeared first on ALSC Blog.  Read More

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