Description: 

As we prepare for a renewed commitment to advocacy on behalf of libraries and the communities we serve in an election year, we have plenty of opportunities to build upon the successes we have created while also acknowledging the numerous challenges we continue to face.

Join us to kick off a new year of free online monthly California Library Association Ursula Meyer Advocacy Fund Training sessions as EveryLibrary Political Director Patrick “PC” Sweeney returns to facilitate a highly-interactive exploration of how individuals, community groups, and other organizations can draw upon data that matters, how we can use that information to the benefit of those we serve, and what each of us can do to become better advocates within the communities we serve during 2024.

Goal:

Participants will have plenty of examples from which they can draw as they begin or continue their advocacy efforts during an election year.

Objectives:

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Identify at least three ways local groups are successfully advocating for the communities they serve
• Describe at least three ways to foster community involvement in your advocacy efforts
• Cite at least three resources you can use to further hone your advocacy skills on behalf of your library and community

Presenters/Facilitator:  

Patrick “PC” Sweeney is a graduate of the San Jose School of Library and Information Sciences and former Administrative Librarian of the Sunnyvale (CA) Public Library. He was Executive Director of EveryLibrary California, a statewide initiative to support library propositions. He is co-author of “Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding” as well as “Before the Ballot; Building Support for Library Funding.” He has been recognized with a “40 Under 40” award by the American Association of Political Consultants for his work fighting for libraries at EveryLibrary. He is a lecturer at the San Jose Information School where he teaches courses on politics and libraries. He is active across social media as PC Sweeney.

About the Ursula Meyer Advocacy Fund Training Series