ARSL Advocacy Guides

ARSL Advocacy Guides

Become an advocacy superstar! The following resources have been produced and curated by the ARSL Advocacy Committee to provide tips, tricks, and best practices for effectively communicating the needs, impact, and potential of your library to community stakeholders of all kinds.

This page will be updated as new resources are added. Guides are listed in alphabetical order by title.

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Challenge Response Checklist PDF Print
Written by ARSL Advocacy Committee   
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:13 AM

Facing down a material challenge can feel overwhelming. Patrons who approach library staff with concerns about a book they've found on your shelves often want immediate action to be taken, and can respond aggressively if they aren't satisfied with your response to their concerns. Having an established, well-documented procedure for receiving, reviewing, and responding to challenges is the best way to manage your patron's expectations around material challenges and to help your staff act with confidence should one occur. The following checklist is a great starting point for building your challenge procedures!

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Challenge Response Mind Map PDF Print
Written by ARSL Advocacy Committee   
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:38 AM

Download the full-size Challenge Response Mind Map

 
Life Cycle of a Book PDF Print
Written by ARSL Advocacy Committee   
Thursday, June 27, 2024 10:49 AM

New customizable resource for explaining the life cycle of a library book!

Help your community understand the process of collection development and review at your library – especially the many ways that decisions are made locally, by local staff, with your community in mind.

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Tips for Talking with Legislators PDF Print
Written by ARSL Advocacy Committee   
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 12:01 PM

Building relationships and support for your library starts with introducing yourself to your elected officials. Remember, they are serving a lot of people, so the more positive the relationship you build the more likely the position you would like to advocate for will be remembered when it’s time for them to vote. Introduce yourself, follow up, set up a meeting when possible, and remember that a good relationship with their office staff can be an equally important bridge to build, not burn.

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