1. Partnerships and Collaborations in Tough Times
An Infopeople Webinar with
Joan Frye Williams and George Needham
January 26, 2010

2. Why Think About This Now?
Decreasing resources concurrent with increasing demand
Community expectations for greater efficiency and cooperation
Questions about the relevance of the library

3. Partner vs. Donor ≠

4. Rethinking Library Collaboration & Partnerships
Special Challenges
Paralysis born of scarcity
Defensiveness – expectation of criticism
Fear of losing control
Love/hate relationship with success

5. Special Opportunities
Sense of urgency
Climate of change
Fluid staffing
Everyone is in the same boat
Some grant programs favor collaborative projects

6. Find Time by Cutting Other Tasks

7. Don’t Do the Heavy Lifting Alone

8. Know Your Community Who are your users? Who else is out there?
How does the community see itself?
What is its vision for its future?

9. Know What You’re Already Doing
Existing partners
Type of activity
Staff involved
Time frame
Results
Any patterns?
Possible referrals?

10. Know Management’s Expectations
What does success look like?
How does this stack up against other priorities?
How far can you go in committing the library?
Do they have other successful models in mind?

11. Know Your Assets Facilities Collections/Stuff People/Skills
Information
Activities
Brand/Reputation

12. Determining Asset Value
What we value
vs.
What civilians value
What prospective partners value

13. Know the Other Players

14. Seek Common Ground You may share Current users Target audiences
Neighborhoods
Funding sources
Challenges
Desired outcomes

15. Finding a Partner: The Usual (Hard) Way
Get idea
Identify needs/gaps/things you don’t have
Guess which strangers might be sympathetic to those needs and have the assets you want
Invite strangers to collaborate

16. Finding a Partner: An Easier Way
Cultivate contacts outside the library
Keep each other filled in about your own interests and assets
Recognize common ground
Together, develop ideas that take advantage of assets you already have

17. Think “Local”

18. Mine the Social Networks

19. Look Beyond the Usual Suspects
Churches and interfaith groups
Parents’ groups, e.g. PFLAG, home schoolers
Support/recovery groups

20. People We Already Know See Us As
Welcoming/open
Energetic
Savvy
Respectful of their priorities
Trustworthy
Fun

21. People Who Don’t Know Us See Us As
Old fashioned
Dull
Rule-bound
Bureaucratic

22. Levels of Collaboration
Glance
Date
Engagement
Marriage

23. Manage for Success Shared purpose Clear objective(s) Division of labor
Frequent communications
Sense of humor
Snacks

24. It’s OK if You Aren’t Twins

25. Convincing People to Support Collaboration
Mission statement tie-in
Quality of life tie-in
How civilians will benefit
Assets offered by each partner
How partners will benefit
When results will be delivered
Why this will be exciting, fun

26. Explore different techniques
It’s a Simple Formula…
Focus on shared goals +
Explore different techniques

27. The Return on Your Collaboration Investment

28. Dare to Forge Surprising New Alliances

29. Let’s Continue the Conversation
Visit