How do you find partners for library initiatives?

1 Identify your goals and needs

Before you start looking for partners, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you can offer. What are the objectives and outcomes of your library initiative? What are the gaps and challenges that you face? What are the resources and skills that you have or need? By answering these questions, you can define your goals and needs, and communicate them effectively to potential partners.

2 Research and network

The next step is to find out who are the potential partners that share your goals and needs, or have complementary ones. You can do this by researching online, browsing directories and databases, reading newsletters and reports, and attending events and webinars. You can also network with your existing contacts, such as colleagues, patrons, friends, and family, and ask for referrals and introductions. The more you learn and connect, the more opportunities you will discover.

3 Reach out and pitch

Once you have a list of potential partners, you need to reach out to them and pitch your library initiative. You can use various channels, such as email, phone, social media, or face-to-face meetings, depending on the context and preference of the partner. You should tailor your pitch to the partner's interests, needs, and values, and highlight the benefits and impact of the collaboration. You should also be prepared to answer questions, address concerns, and negotiate terms.

4 Build and maintain relationships

Finding partners is not enough. You also need to build and maintain relationships with them. This means keeping in touch, sharing updates, providing feedback, acknowledging contributions, and celebrating successes. You should also be respectful, trustworthy, flexible, and responsive, and handle any issues or conflicts professionally and constructively. By building and maintaining relationships, you can ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of your library initiatives.

5 Evaluate and improve

Finally, you need to evaluate and improve your library initiatives and partnerships. You should set up a system to monitor and measure the progress and outcomes of your collaboration, and use various methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or observations, to collect data and feedback. You should also analyze the results and identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of your library initiatives and partnerships. Based on this, you should make adjustments and improvements as needed.

6 Learn and share

One of the best ways to find partners for library initiatives is to learn from others who have done it before. You can seek advice, guidance, and mentorship from other librarians or library associations who have experience in partnering with different sectors and stakeholders. You can also share your own stories, insights, and lessons learned with your peers and the wider library community. By learning and sharing, you can inspire and support each other in finding partners for library initiatives.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?