Queensland Public Libraries
Association
LibRaries …the fourth ‘R’
Sue McKerracher, ALIA
sue.mckerracher@alia.org.au
1
STRATEGIC RESPONSE
How do we respond to people who
ask us what purpose library and
information professionals serve in an
information-rich environment, where
many people have online access to
books and other resources?
2
OUR VISION
Inspired, knowledgeable, creative,
literate, enterprising, respectful and
connected communities, where
everyone has equal access to
information and ideas
3
OUR MISSION
Library and information
professionals help
people create better
futures
4
Better futures for
themselves
Keen readers gaining
pleasure from books
Adults learning new
skills in classes
Students achieving
better marks in exams
5
Better futures for
their families
Grandparents taking
children to storytime
Parents sharing books
with their children
Wage-earners finding a
better job
6
Better futures for
those who rely on
their expertise
Clients relying on their
lawyers
Patients relying on their
doctors
Companies relying on
their business advisors
7
STRATEGY
Better futures are
achieved by extending
people’s knowledge
and understanding
8
Increased knowledge
and understanding
come from access to
other people’s ideas
Authors’ ideas
expressed in novels
Academic thinking in
respected journals
Commentators in
newspapers
9
The role of library and
information professionals
is to find, share and
connect
Find items for the loan
collection
Find information,
document delivery
Find partners to
enhance the service
10
Connect with ideas,
books, information,
knowledge, resources,
community
11
UNIQUE SELLING POINT
The services delivered by
library and information
professionals are unique
12
Nowhere else will you find
books, resources,
technology, expertise and
physical spaces available
to everyone and free at
the point of use
13
Libraries are where
art, culture,
community, enterprise
and learning come
together
14
Libraries and
information services
are catalysts for
discovery and
innovation
15
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
Library and information
professionals are
trusted guides
16
We know the best
places to look
17
We know how to
search more
thoroughly and
find things faster
18
We help people
discover the missing
pieces
19
MARKET POSITION
In an expanding
information marketplace,
library and information
professionals are
more important than
ever before
20
There are more books
and resources
available now than at
any time in history
21
People with online
access are faced by
an overwhelming
number of books and
resources
22
Anyone can surf the
internet; library and
information professionals
help people navigate it
23
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SECTOR
Challenges
Opportunities
• Changing landscape
• Freedom of access to
information and
copyright issues
• Funding restraints
• Outdated image of
libraries and librarians
• Focus on knowledge
and information
• Technological
innovation
• Community support
for library and
information services
24
THE LIBRARY DIVIDEND
How to use
The Library Dividend
to advocate for
Queensland public
libraries
25
THE LIBRARY DIVIDEND
The Library Dividend
gives us …
26
A document
A dollar figure
Local comparison
Interstate comparison
Community endorsement
People would pay more
Rankings
What people value most
27
THE LIBRARY DIVIDEND
State Library of
Queensland
resources
28
Powerpoint
Fact sheet
Library value calculator
Advocacy plan template
Presentations
29
THE LIBRARY DIVIDEND
What can we do with it?
30
News story for the media
Opportunity to call on friends and
ambassadors for comment
Opportunity to seek out
existing and new partners
Opportunity to sell our story internally,
within council
Opportunity for the library team to feel
good about what they do
31
Great conversation starters
Nearly half of all Queenslanders are
public library members …
People value the services we offer –
lifelong learning, literacy, internet
access, supporting local culture and
the arts …
Our library returns $2.30-worth of
community value for every dollar
invested …
People would pay $52 a year for
library services (more if they could
afford to), yet we are achieving all
this for just $41 …
32
What is your ask?
We need a new library
We need to upgrade our building
We need more staff
We need to be included in council
strategies around youth, family
services, learning, arts and culture
We need funding to improve our
collection
We need approval for our digital
strategy
We need council to see libraries in a
new light
33
Ask your Mayor to launch it locally
Present it at the next council executive
Send a copy to existing and potential
partners – U3A, school principal, authors
Send a copy to advocates – faith leaders,
bookshops, real estate agents, doctors
Circulate around council – youth, family
services, health, ageing, arts, culture
34
THE LIBRARY DIVIDEND
What you will need
to create
35
Covering letter
Call to action
Key messages for advocates
Follow through
36
THE LIBRARY DIVIDEND
Questions
37
Why are Queensland results different from
Victoria and New South Wales?
38
Why are Queensland results different from
Victoria and New South Wales?
The states are very different, especially in
their land and population size and diversity
Governance, funding, management and
operations are different
The studies took place at different times
over a seven year period
39
Why are our council’s libraries returning
more or less than others?
40
Why are our council’s libraries returning
more or less than others?
Public libraries are designed around
their communities
The level of community benefits will depend
on the local community
41
If people are willing to pay $52, why aren’t
we charging them?
42
If people are willing to pay $52, why aren’t
we charging them?
‘Free at the point of use’ is a core value of
libraries the world over, promoting equality
of access to information for everyone,
including the most disadvantaged in
our society.
43
How does this return on investment
compare with other council services?
44
Healthy infrastructure supports a healthy economy,
attracting new employers and improving the
overall quality of life in our communities. We
consistently see paybacks along our roads, rails
and bridges. These dividends - safe, secure,
efficient transportation - pay us back in our dayto-day lives well in excess of every dollar we
invest. Moody’s estimates every additional
dollar spent on infrastructure generates a
$1.44 increase in gross domestic product.
Paul Yarossi, chairman of the American Roads and Transportation
Builders Association, February 2012, referring to Moody’s Analytics
45
WORKSHOP
Building your own
advocacy plan
46