Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding

Patrick “PC” Sweeney is a tireless and innovative advocate for libraries and the current political director for EveryLibrary. A 2007 graduate of the San Jose School of Library and Information Sciences, he is a former administrative librarian of the Sunnyvale (California) Public Library and was executive director of EveryLibrary California, a statewide ballot committee to support library ballot propositions. He is active in the California Library Association and across library social media as a cofounder of the ALA Think Tank. His library blog is well respected, and he is a sought-after speaker and presenter. A recent project, the Story Sailboat, worked to provide library services and materials—by boat—in the San Francisco Bay area. He was named a 2015 Mover & Shaker by Library Journal and tweets at @pcsweeney.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 and tweets @mrchrastka.

• Foreword, by Rebekkah Smith AldrichAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1 Getting StartedChapter 2 SurfacingChapter 3 Schmoozing and NetworkingChapter 4 Early Work and Political Landscape MemoChapter 5 Power MappingChapter 6 Building Your Vote Yes CommitteeChapter 7 Committee Roles and ResponsibilitiesChapter 8 Getting on the BallotChapter 9 Campaign BudgetChapter 10 Fund-RaisingChapter 11 VolunteersChapter 12 Theme and MessageChapter 13 Responding to OppositionChapter 14 Earned MediaChapter 15 Paid MediaChapter 16 Voter DataChapter 17 PollingChapter 18 Website and Digital PlatformsChapter 19 Canvassing and Phone BankingChapter 20 Campaign EventsChapter 21 E-MailChapter 22 FacebookConclusionAbout the AuthorsIndex

If you work in a public library in the U.S., buy this book, read it thoroughly, and use everything it teaches you throughout your library career ... Your budget could depend in it."" — MarketingLibraryServices.com""The authors do a masterful job of laying out the challenges library advocates can expect, while energizing readers all the while ... Sweeney and Chrastka deserve credit for a very up-to-date approach. The book includes discussion about the recent election of President Donald Trump and notes an increased potential for anti-library rhetoric, devoting a chapter to how best to respond to opponents, even opponents who lie. The authors have turned what can seem daunting and insurmountable into something very possible and approachable. Best of all, it feels like the authors are walking hand in hand with readers and will be with them every step along the way.""— VOYA"" The emphasis of this book is on best practices to help the reader through this difficult yet effective way of gaining and maintaining library funding through political action. Highly recommended for public libraries and any library that receives partial or full public funding.""— Catholic Library World