Successful Community Development OLA Conference – February 4, 2005 Bob Ernest, Trustee Cathy Matyas, Chief Librarian Waterloo Public Library Waterloo, ON

Waterloo Public Library WE WON! 2004 Public Library Service Award Minister’s Award for Innovation

Waterloo Public Library Located in southwestern Ontario, one hour west from Toronto Located in southwestern Ontario, one hour west from Toronto Part of Waterloo Region: Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and Regional Municipality of Waterloo Part of Waterloo Region: Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and Regional Municipality of Waterloo Four public library systems Four public library systems Two universities, one community college Two universities, one community college

Waterloo Public Library City of Waterloo City of Waterloo Population of 105,000 Population of 105,000 Highly educated Highly educated High tech and knowledge-based High tech and knowledge-based Diverse and stable employment base Diverse and stable employment base High ranking in terms of wage and salary rates, average household income and cost of living High ranking in terms of wage and salary rates, average household income and cost of living One of the fastest-growing regional economies in Canada One of the fastest-growing regional economies in Canada 20,000 post-secondary students 20,000 post-secondary students

Waterloo Public Library Main Library and one neighbourhood branch Main Library and one neighbourhood branch Well-used, well-loved civic service Well-used, well-loved civic service 1M+ circulation 1M+ circulation Focus on four key roles as of 2003: Focus on four key roles as of 2003: Popular collections, services and programs Popular collections, services and programs Early literacy Early literacy Digital resources Digital resources Community development Community development

Waterloo Public Library Community Development... Community Development... “...the social, cultural, economic and environmental enrichment of individuals who are identified as a ‘community’...” The Partnership Handbook Human Resources Development Canada, 1997

Waterloo Public Library Focus on community-based partnerships to participate in local community development Focus on community-based partnerships to participate in local community development Community-based partnerships Community-based partnerships take place in the community, have involvement of community members and have a direct impact on the community take place in the community, have involvement of community members and have a direct impact on the community provide enhancements outside of the organization provide enhancements outside of the organization help people in general or for a community cause help people in general or for a community cause

Waterloo Public Library WPL has over 30 community partnerships, most of which have been developed over the past two years WPL has over 30 community partnerships, most of which have been developed over the past two years Community-based partnerships have allowed us to reduce duplication, extend our collections, services and programs Community-based partnerships have allowed us to reduce duplication, extend our collections, services and programs ( and go to “Partnerships”) ( and go to “Partnerships”)

Waterloo Public Library Benefits of community-based partnerships Benefits of community-based partnerships Local participation and empowerment – “for the community, by the community” Local participation and empowerment – “for the community, by the community” Enhance local and collective skills Enhance local and collective skills Provide a learning environment Provide a learning environment Integrate several areas of development: social, economic, environmental, educational, cultural Integrate several areas of development: social, economic, environmental, educational, cultural Challenge the status quo and motivate change Challenge the status quo and motivate change

Waterloo Public Library Examples of WPL community-based partnerships: Examples of WPL community-based partnerships: Books-and-Quilts (Waterloo County Quilters’ Guild) Books-and-Quilts (Waterloo County Quilters’ Guild) Books to Grow (Waterloo Region Home Child Care) Books to Grow (Waterloo Region Home Child Care) Student Connections (University of Waterloo) Student Connections (University of Waterloo) ProjectNOW (various organizations serving new immigrants) ProjectNOW (various organizations serving new immigrants) Community Art (Waterloo Community Art Centre) Community Art (Waterloo Community Art Centre) Emergency Food Hamper Program (House of Friendship) Emergency Food Hamper Program (House of Friendship) Most Wanted Book Program (Bookstore, Cinema, Library) Most Wanted Book Program (Bookstore, Cinema, Library)

Waterloo Public Library Where we get our partnership ideas: Where we get our partnership ideas: Trustees Trustees Chief Librarian Chief Librarian Library staff Library staff Community Community

Waterloo Public Library Partnership skills Partnership skills Negotiation and facilitation skills Negotiation and facilitation skills Team building and group process skills Team building and group process skills Problem-solving and conflict resolution Problem-solving and conflict resolution Planning skills Planning skills Evaluation skills Evaluation skills Time management Time management Financial management Financial management Stress management Stress management Marketing and media relations Marketing and media relations

Waterloo Public Library What has this partnership accomplished? What has this partnership accomplished? What do I and others value about this partnership and its accomplishments? What do I and others value about this partnership and its accomplishments?

Waterloo Public Library Dividends to our library Dividends to our library 21% increase in operating budget over the last two years 21% increase in operating budget over the last two years $1.4M capital funding to improve book collections in 2004 and 2005 $1.4M capital funding to improve book collections in 2004 and 2005 $400,000 federal grant funding for ProjectNOW $400,000 federal grant funding for ProjectNOW $10,000 private donation for literacy activities $10,000 private donation for literacy activities $6,000 service club donation for Books to Grow $6,000 service club donation for Books to Grow

Waterloo Public Library WE WON! 2004 Public Library Service Award Minister’s Award for Innovation

Waterloo Public Library Thank you! Bob Ernest, WPL Trustee Cathy Matyas, Chief Librarian