Monday, May 1, 2023
Session 1: Keynote
John Chrastka is EveryLibrary's founder and is a longtime library trustee, supporter, and advocate. He is a former partner in AssociaDirect, a Chicago-based consultancy focused on supporting associations in membership recruitment, conference, and governance activities. He is a former president and member of the Board of Trustees for the Berwyn (Illinois) Public Library (2006–2015) and is a former president of the Reaching Across Illinois Libraries System (RAILS) multi-type library system. Prior to his work at AssociaDirect, he was director for membership development at the American Library Association. He is a member of the ALA as well as the Illinois Library Association and the American Political Sciences Association. He was named a 2014 Mover & Shaker by Library Journal.
9:30-10:20 AM
Mystic Ballroom
John Chrastka, Every Library
The Advocate’s Playbook
Advocacy and Activism are interrelated but are not the same. In order to succeed in either an advocacy effort or an activism campaign, it is critically important for library leaders to understand the differences in the techniques you should use and the messages you should share. As we face ongoing budget problems and other challenges at all levels of government, a new kind of approach to both advocacy and activism is key in building support among the elected officials who control your finances and participate in your contracts. That starts with understanding the theories behind both advocacy and activism. Together, we will explore strategies and tactics used by some of the best community organizers, political action committees, and politicians to effect change and build power. We will emphasize the resources and skills that Librarians and Library staff need to develop if they want to have the political and community support needed to increase funding. From building coalitions to activating activists, attendees will come away with practical and actionable insights to help you in either type of effort.
Sponsored by: CLA Legislative Committee in conjunction with Connecticut Library Consortium
