[canceled] Library Advocacy and Storymaking: The Hero’s Journey from Community to Page

As librarians we’re steeped in story—through our patron interactions, in our communities and programs, and, of course, on our shelves. How can we use the power of story to bring out the best in our communities and our work? How can we craft library advocacy stories with the greatest transformative effect? This course explores the impact of advocacy stories in a shifting library landscape and how to implement library advocacy through strategies that both uncover and inspire community heroes. Participants will workshop their own short library advocacy story using a storytelling model in which the library user is the central figure in the tale of how they use their library to access what they need to create the community they want. Whether you’re new or established in the field, advocating from the director’s desk or through front-line service, this course will prepare you to recognize, craft, and deliver library stories that support and strengthen your evolving community and profession. Go beyond data to create stories that can be used to bolster support for the library in your community, advocate for your library with municipal leaders, and build innovative connections with area organizations.

In this course, learners will:

• Identify the elements of powerful library stories
• Recognize ways humans are wired to engage story
• Craft an advocacy story that applies to your library to take with you
• Evaluate storymaking policies and procedures for your library
• Identify potential audiences for your advocacy story and explore ways to share

Audience:

• Public, school, or academic librarians who are getting started on their advocacy journey, or those who want to learn about new techniques that enhance their current advocacy efforts