This years publication
This is what went to Library Legislative Day this year.
Ask you community partners to share a story
We love getting the sweet stories from our library users. Our legislators also need to hear from our community partners.
The best way to get those stories is to ask personally. Use the communication method you generally use for them and give them the form link.
Short and simple is best, with a heartfelt “thank you”.
Graphics
Click on the image to open in a new tab for download. On PC, right click and select download. On Mac, control-click to download.
Here’s a link for coloring pages in Canva.
Go to Library Legislative Day
Registration closes on Jan 9! Registration and other information is on the Library Legislative Day website. You don’t need to be a WLA member to register.
Please let us know you’re registered! The event organizers don’t tell us in advance who’s attending.
Some questions answered
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2025 google form for library love stories: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10erIYc5Um42xlVm3VKdoVL8o2tKfojytOasKNuTA85M/edit?usp=sharing
- The 2023 spreadsheet has disappeared. I have the basic document in word:
Library love story guts 2023.docx - 2022: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O887bF2luO05MWgXifHsK8EUzEXFHkf8cz-m19ysVh0/edit?usp=sharing
Here’s my Library Love Story 2024 (Responses).xlsxWhy Collect Stories?
IFLS staff and librarians will be handing our system’s stories to our state legislators on February 11 for Library Legislative Day. We did this last year, and it was memorable and impactful!
Why might you want to collect stories (sometimes called testimonials) for your library? In early 2020 Meredith Farkas wrote this in American Libraries:
“In an era of shrinking budgets, libraries must find ways to tell our stories, which often require us to go beyond simply reporting data. Not only have the ways that libraries serve their communities changed and expanded, but it’s become clear that the outputs we usually report are far less significant than the outcomes—the impact of our collections and services on our communities.”
Bring these stories to make you case for:
- Act 150 reauthorization
- Additional county funding
- Grants or major donor fundraising
- Annual report presentations and graphics
The results of the survey will be available to you all year!
How to collect stories
You hear people say good things about your library and staff all the time. The trick is to collect those stories so you can access them easily to use to communicate the great work your library does.
You can hand your storytellers a paper form or direct them to the digital form. You can also record the story yourself. Jot it down right away–I promise you won’t remember at the end of the day!
There are two simple tools to use.
- The online form can be used by the public and your staff. Can you bookmark it in a handy location? The results will be collected and available for you all year.
- Don’t love digital? Use paper!
- Set out simple forms..
- Tuck a notebook at the circulation desk and let staff know they should jot down comments as they hear them (after asking permission, of course).
Do you need additional assistance? Submit a HelpDesk ticket.
Not finding what you need here? Try searching the IFLS article index.
Need help answering specific questions or finding additional resources?
Click on the green HelpDesk button and we’ll make sure the right IFLS staff gets that message right away. Can’t find the green button? Use this email: [email protected].
There’s no wrong door! You can contact these IFLS staff for support on this topic:
Rebecca Kilde [email protected] or 715-839-5082 x127