1. Elected Officials are People Too
Elected Officials are People Too!  How PR & Marketing Can Help Your Local Advocacy and Funding

2. PRESENTERS
Bernice Crouse, Executive Director, Franklin County Library System (PaLA Marketing & PR Committee)
Jennifer Knisely, Executive Director, Altoona Public Library
(PaLA Legislative Committee)
Rob Lesher, Executive Director, Dauphin County Library System
(PaLA Legislative Committee)
Marilyn Jenkins, Executive Director, Allegheny County Library System
Joe Kuklis, Founder & CEO, Wellington Strategies LLC

3. What are your pain points in advocacy?

4. The Three B’s of Connecting
BE PRESENT
Get out into the community
(public meetings, forums, etc.)
Meet people one-on-one
BE OPEN
Actively listen to the needs of community representatives
Invite elected officials to your library
BE YOURSELF
People appreciate sincerity

6. Makes it Easy
Visit Pennsylvania Library Association’s website: palibraries.org
or use the black PA Forward Memory Band
Copy or modify other librarians’ excellent work
Find sample programs, media kits, press release templates, clip art for signage, editorial calendar, and much more

8. Local Impact Yields Results
Get to know your local elected officials – you never know where they’re going to end up!
School Board
City Council
Township Supervisors
County Commissioners
Visit local offices – as often as possible!
Use the PA Forward fact sheets as conversation starters

9. Local Impact Yields Results
Ask your elected officials:
About constituents’ concerns
How the library can help (and include that in your Strategic Plan)
To visit the Library (for a tour, special event, photo op, get a library card)

10. Take advantage of opportunities

11. Participate in National Library Legislative Day
Every May
Spectacular training day
House & Senate
Main Issues Discussed
Success

12. Remember: Elected Officials are People!
Understand what motivates them
Provide opportunities for good press
Host “office hours” & public forums
“Follow” them
Become a familiar face
Leverage the power of numbers
Library directors
Board members
Friends
Users
Partners

13. Don’t overwhelm: use targeted marketing materials
Research the particular interests of elected officials
Education?
Workforce development?
Special needs?
Aging?
Community health?
Key your message to THEIR issues
Be succinct
Use memorable and meaningful statistics
A picture (or infographic) is worth 1,000 words
Create leave-behinds
Always find a reason to FOLLOW UP

14. Keys to success with elected officials
Start local
Build relationships
Use your WHOLE network
Say a lot in a few good words
Keep coming back!

15. REMEMBER: Elected Officials Are People Too So get to know them!