Reach Out! Motivating and Involving All Staff in Community Outreach - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Reach Out! Motivating and Involving All Staff in Community Outreach

Meet the OPACs - Online People Access Crew

• Natalie Couch, Chattahoochee Valley Libraries
• Angela Glowcheski, Sequoyah Regional Library System
• Stephanie Irvin, Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services
• James O’Neal, Middle Georgia Regional Library
• Tracy Walker, Chestatee Regional Library System

The Problem

How do we guide staff to go outside library walls and connect with community members who do not venture into the library?

What are the obstacles that library staff members must tackle before they are ready to serve? Librarians are wedded to the building

• Maintain operation hours
• Staff to workload ratio
• Building maintenance

What are obstacles that library staff members must tackle before they are ready to serve? Overextended agendas

• Libraries are for

everyone … everyone?

• Not aligning work

with strategic goals

What are the obstacles that library staff members must tackle before they are ready to serve? Outreach can be intimidating

• Librarian as expert or

educator

• Fear of change and public

speaking

Survey Results

In early 2017, we surveyed Georgia Public Library directors about library outreach behaviors and perceived barriers to outreach . 33 directors (out of 63 library systems) responded to the survey of 10 questions.

Directors’ Comments

• 100% of respondents conduct outreach in their

systems

• On average, respondents stated that about 28% of

total staff conduct outreach

Directors’ Comments

What do you think are barriers to staff working within the community outside of the library?

• Time and money/resources
• Community groups’ lack of perceived value from library outreach services
• Staff lack knowledge about community needs
• Staff are not comfortable, willing participants in efforts with outside

individuals/groups and leaving library premises

Solution: Make Outreach a Method

• Staff Training
• Evaluation Tools
• Assessment of Staff
• Purposeful Outreach

Solution: Make Outreach a Method

• Integrate outreach into all departments
• Build skills by staff training
• View librarian as an outreach participant - not an expert
• Focus on active engagement
• Perceive it as a time to form connections
• Establish relationships

Staff-Focused Outreach & Participation

❏ Staff Training Model for Outreach ❏ Outreach Survey Tools ❏ Assessment for Administrative Staff ❏ Staff Questionnaire ❏ Outreach Checklist ❏ Post Outreach Assessment Tool

Staff Focused Outreach

❏ Step One: Surveys ❏ Step Two: Scripts ❏ Step Three: Training

Staff Focused Outreach

Outreach Survey Tools

• Administrative Staff Questionnaire

○ Guide toward organizations and services

• Staff Questionnaire

○ Highlight staff skills, interest and current civic involvement

Staff Focused Outreach

❏ Step One: Surveys ❏ Step Two: Scripts ❏ Step Three: Training

Staff Focused Outreach

❏ Step One: Surveys ❏ Step Two: Scripts ❏ Step Three: Training

Staff Focused Outreach

Outreach Checklist - Help Organize Staff for Event

• Create clear understanding of audience
• Prepare key talking points
• Materials to take

Staff Focused Outreach

Post Outreach Assessment Tool

• Allows staff member to organize thoughts
• Outlines what worked and what didn’t
• Opportunity to share what would have been better

How Our Tool Addresses Concerns

Obstacles Faced

• Librarians are wedded to the building
• Overextended agendas
• Outreach is intimidating

How Our Tool Addresses Concerns

• Planned, organized outreach efforts
• Use checklist to focus outreach and plan goals
• Ease staff worry with practice
• Chance to build a relationship

How Our Tool Addresses Concerns

Questions?

Find our toolkit at www.bit.ly/toolkitoutreach