ALA Releases Free “Partnering for Stronger Programming: A Toolkit for Libraries”

CHICAGO – Libraries do their best work when they work with partners. The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the “Partnering for Stronger Programming: A Toolkit for Libraries”, a free resource created to help library workers consider the big-picture goals of library programming and determine ways to begin and sustain impactful partnerships.

The toolkit provides five tools for library workers with actionable steps to help partnerships grow sustainably, meet goals, expand organizational capacity, thoughtfully engage with partner audiences and more.

The five different tools can be used individually or in combination:

• Tool 1: Determining Goals: Why Do We Work Together?
• Tool 2: Determining Partnership Focus Areas: What Work Can We Do Together?
• Tool 3: Determining Contributions: What Do We Each Bring to the Table?
• Tool 4: Determining Partner Interactions: How Do We Work Together?
• Tool 5: Determining Strengths and Weaknesses: What Does a Successful Partnership Look Like?

Get the toolkit here.

The ALA Public Programs Office will collect use cases from libraries that have utilized the toolkit. If your library uses all or part of the toolkit, we invite you to email publicprograms@ala.org.

“Partnering for Stronger Programming: A Toolkit for Libraries” is an output of Phase 2 of the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA). In 2021, ALA received additional funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to help equip libraries with information and tools to help them successfully fulfill their roles as civic and cultural hubs.

Through NILPPA, ALA and Knology, a social science research nonprofit, are working to document the characteristics, audiences, outcomes, and value of U.S. library public programming. Learn more about NILPPA and its resources.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through grants LG-250153-OLS-21, LG-96-17-0048-17 and LG-62-13-0210-13, and by funding from the ALA Cultural Communities Fund.

About the ALA Public Programs Office

The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office empowers libraries to create vibrant hubs of learning, conversation, and connection in communities of all types. Learn more at www.ala.org/ppo.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

About Knology

Knology is a non-profit research organization with a mission of practical social science for a better world. Knology’s approach to research is not just theoretical—we work alongside highly networked, national organizations (including media creators, libraries, museums, game developers, and community groups) to simultaneously study and solve real world challenges in real time. Through research, evaluation, convenings, and capacity building workshops, our transdisciplinary team of over 20 social scientists, writers, and educators helps professionals improve their ability to facilitate understanding and advance public conversation. Our work yields new and refined practices partners can use to deepen their social impacts and build more inclusive, informed, and cooperative societies that thrive together with the natural systems on which we all depend.