Working Together

Discover the best way your library can work with community leaders, allies, and collaborators to create lasting and purposeful partnerships.

People are often burnt out in libraries right now. This feeling emanates in part from the feeling that we're the last public institution standing, and therefore have to pick up whatever is falling through the cracks of a failing social net. This book focuses on the proactive strategies that can change this reality. If public library staff are feeling alone, they need to find partners, allies, and collaborators.

Working Together walks librarian staff through the various types of partnerships and includes information on models for developing, sustaining, and discontinuing partnerships; tools and tips for partnering with purpose; pointers on finances and record keeping; and more. This book prepares the reader to develop transformative solutions to systemic problems no institution or sector could address on its own.

Each chapter includes a Voice from the Field, with insights from Michelle Boisvenue-Fox, Executive Director, Mesa County Libraries, Colorado; Jaci Cooper, Director of Projects and Planning, Kent District Library, Michigan; Brooke Doyle, Program Manager, WebJunction, OCLC; Lucas Camuso-Stall, Director of Government Relations & Advocacy, Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Ohio; Rebecca Hass, Community Engagement Manager, Anne Arundel County Public Library, Maryland; Ross Holt, Director, Randolph County Public Library, North Carolina; Pat Losinski, retired, Former CEO, Columbus Metropolitan Public Library, Ohio; April Roy, Director of Employee Success, Kansas City Public Library, Missouri; Cora Schaeff, Managing Librarian, Historical Sage Branch, Bay County Library System, Michigan; Zachary Stier, Director of Children's Services, Ericson Public Library, Iowa; Barry Trott, Adult Services Consultant, Library of Virgina; Elizabeth Warren, Strategic Partnerships Director, Denver Public Library, Colorado; and Kathy Zappitello, Executive Director, Conneaut Public Library, Ohio.