This presentation offers libraries some basic strategies for establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships in order to increase impact and community value.
4. What is a partnership?
used in a broad way “partnerships” describes
relationships between people, organizations,
agencies & communities that work together
and share interests
6. Determine Needs
Review your library’s & your
department’s strategic plan and seek
feedback from your Teen Advisory Group
Develop a list of goals or needs and
think about what a partner could
contribute to help you address them
successfully
7. Inventory Assets
•meeting & display spaces
•a newsletter, website & social media presence
•highly trained staff
•direct access to community members
•a network of existing community groups, partners, supporters &
volunteers
•the capacity to implement programs
•a wealth of in-depth, quality information, tools & resources
•a focus on serving the entire community
•volunteer opportunities
•good PR/reputation enhancement
•donation/sponsorship opportunities
8. External:
•Youth & after school groups
•Businesses & business focused groups
•Charitable organizations
•Workforce development
•At-risk youth
•STEM
•Immigrant advocacy
•Community development
•Schools
•Government agencies
Internal:
•Friends of the Library
•Other departments
Identify & Vet Potential Partners
9. Build & Maintain Relationships
Can be time-consuming initially
Communication & people skills are critical
Include partners in the work of the library
Build good communication channels
Find ways to make the partner look good
Continue to have conversations about their
needs & priorities
Develop an understanding of their processes
10. Co-Develop a Program
Use each other’s goals to jointly develop a
program that meets both parties’ needs
Clearly identify who is responsible for what
Set a reasonable timeline
Check-in often to ensure forward progress
Design an evaluation component
11. Implement Program
Utilize a marketing plan to get the word out
Communicate often
Make adjustments as needed
Collect and share successes
12. Evaluate
How did the partnership impact your teens?
What is better for them now?
Measure the success of your joint effort and to
what degree it met the needs/goals you
originally developed
Is there any potential to grow or expand the
partnership?
Also take into consideration practical things,
like whether or not their staff are easy to work
with
13. Adjust or Move on
Work with the partner to make any needed
refinements or improvements
If you’ve outgrown the partnership for any
reason, be up front and move on
It’s never personal—focus on your library’s and
department’s strategic plan and goals
Keep the door open for future partnering
14. Further exploration
Building Strong Partnerships with Businesses,
http://ow.ly/pNMU0 (.pdf)
“Corporate Partnerships for Non-profits: a Match Made in
Heaven?” http://ow.ly/pNSvj (.pdf)
“It Takes a Neighborhood: Purpose Built Communities and
Neighborhood Transformation” http://ow.ly/pHAtY
“Public Library Partnerships which add value to the
Community: the Hamilton Public Library Experience”
http://ow.ly/pHzRJ
15. Information Sharing
What haven’t we covered?
What would you like to know in more detail?
What successes, challenges or resources do
you want to share?
What’s one thing you’ve learned
you can use at your library?
Increases: program effectiveness, program relevance, political leverage, visibility, reputation, organizational capacity, revenue streams
Come together to solve a problem
Other possibilities: museums
Businesses and nonprofits however, have different cultures, organizational capacities, motivations, and purposes. Nonprofits are driven by their social missions to generate positive community returns. Businesses are driven by the need to generate profits and increase value for shareholders.
identify linkages between business priorities, community need, and project priorities.
Need to decide whether the partnership is a good fit for both parties