Menu:
Becoming a Library Ambassador: Getting Involved Outside the Library
by Julie Biando EdwardsPublic librarians should be visible and vital parts of civic life. We all believe that our libraries are the hearts of our communities, and becoming engaged in community life is a smart move, both philosophically and politically. Philosophically, this helps us spread the message and mission of our libraries outside of the building. Getting involved gives us opportunities to talk to people about what the library means to the community, and lets us present librarians as concerned and dedicated professionals who recognize the library's place in the larger community.
We know that we are smart, passionate, and committed to our libraries, but getting out of the building and into civic life gives us a chance to show that to others. Talking about and demonstrating the philosophy of the library gives librarians, especially in the public sphere, attention and recognition that can be politically important. Getting out of the building and into the community helps us build a network of contacts that we can call on when we need to build a consensus or garner support for our services.
Becoming a "library ambassador" means moving out of the building, getting involved locally, and building relationships with the larger community. It may not come easily to many, or even most of us, and I admit that I sometimes have to muster the energy and courage to leave my cozy library and venture out into the world. Still, my job involves a lot of public relations work, and working as a library ambassador has been good for me professionally and personally. It has helped me understand the needs and desires of my city, meet new and interesting people who are important in community life, and advocate for my library in different and exciting ways.
Getting out of the building can be really difficult for many of us, so the first step towards becoming a library ambassador is to get comfortable with your community on your own terms. Getting people into the library and meeting with them at programs and book groups is a great first step towards making community connections and building networks.
Get people to come to you first!
When I was hired, I was asked to help bring people into the library by building upon existing programs and by instituting new programming. In my first year I arranged over 45 programs for adults in the community. By focusing so heavily on programming, I was able to meet a lot of people from the community while highlighting the great resources the library has to offer. Of course, most of the this was done with minimal funds, which forced me to get creative in the kinds of programs we offered. With some help from the Friends group, though, as well as the unwavering support of the director (and with help from local media outlets who were happy to publicize events) we were able to bring in new patrons and better serve existing patrons.
I became known among people in the community for providing quality programs for adult patrons, and I've been asked to give presentations on programming for other librarians in the region. Consistently offering programming has been an excellent way for me to connect with the community on my own terms, and it is a good first step for librarians looking to expand their reach without leaving their sphere of influence.
Expand your comfort zone
Once you are comfortable with interacting with members of the larger community on your own terms, it is time to move outside of your building and start making connections with community members you may not see in the library. Joining a service club such as the Rotary can be a good way to make connections and advocate for your library. I joined the local Rotary after being on the job for several months. The Rotary gets me outside of my comfort zone - I am the only member of the club who is not a business owner or banker, and for a long time I felt like I simply couldn't relate to any of the other members. Attending the weekly meetings was draining. As I got more comfortable, though, I realized that the fact that we were coming from two different worlds could actually work to my advantage!
Many members of these clubs may not realize what librarians do, so interacting with club members is an excellent opportunity for you to talk about librarianship as a profession and libraries as an important local institution. I quickly realized that the other members of the club thought that all I did all day was check out books, so I found an opportunity to speak to them about libraries and librarianship. Imagine their surprise when they learned that I actually went to school and had a professional degree.
It may be very difficult for librarians to feel comfortable in such a business-oriented organization, but partnering with such clubs is a great way to advocate for your library and to meet some wonderful contacts in the community who you can call on when you need local support for programs or services. Joining the Rotary, Kiwanis, or Soroptimists is a great way to move into the business community and advocate for all that libraries offer. One word of caution, though: joining these clubs can be expensive; make sure that your library is willing to sponsor you as a library ambassador to these service groups.
Programming for the community, joining service groups, and finding other ways to volunteer locally are all great steps toward becoming a library ambassador. Remember, people love libraries, but they don't always know that much about what librarians do and stand for. Bringing new people into your library and getting involved outside the building is a great way to advocate for your library, make new and important connections, and establish your position as an important member of your larger community.
Julie Biando Edwards graduated with from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with her MSLIS in 2005. She interviewed and was hired for her first professional position, as Adult Services Librarian at the Peabody Institute Library, MA, over the phone! She is a member of the Peabody Rotary Club, volunteers with the Peabody Education Council as a guest reader, and is a member of several professional organizations.