Advocacy for Librarians and Libraries

Resources from the NN/LM and NLM

Resources for Hospital Librarians on Communicating Their Value Workshop materials for the class, "Measuring Your Impact: Using Evaluation for Library Advocacy "
Hospital Library Promotional Toolkit from the NN/LM New England Region. The toolkit was designed by the Hospital Library Subcommittee of the NN/LM NER's Regional Advisory Committee (RAC).
Marketing and Justifying the Library Links to books, articles and full text web sites that focus on marketing and justifying the library.
Valuing Library Services Calculator A medical library calculator from Betsy Kelly, Evaluation Coordinator, NN/LM MidContinental Region. Calculate what your library is worth to your institution.
Library Cost Benefit and Return-on-Investment (ROI) Calculator Another calculator from Ms. Kelly that helps you determine what your library contributes to the bottom line.

Titles held in the NN/LM PNR Lending Library on advocacy, marketing and valuing your library:
- Dudden, Rosalind Farnam. Using Benchmarking, Needs Assessment, Quality Improvement, Outcome Measurement, and Library Standards. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc. 2007.
- Matthews, Joseph R. The Bottom Line: Determining and Communicating the Value of the Special Library. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2002.
- Seiss, Judith. The Visible Librarian: Asserting Your Value Through Marketing and Advocacy. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 2003.

Additional books are available through the NN/LM PNR Lending Library on evaluation, library management and other topics relevant to advocacy.

Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians A task force is charged to develop an action plan for MLA to " influence hospital decision-makers and key leaders in the health care field."
Hospital Libraries Section of the Medical Library Association (MLA) This is the largest and oldest of MLA's many special interest sections. One of its stated purposes is "to promote the interests and act upon the concerns of hospital libraries and librarians". The sections quarterly newsletter, National Network, is an excellent source of ideas and information from hospital library colleagues.
Standards for Hospital Libraries in J Med Libr Assoc 96(2) April 2008
MLA's Librarian Survival Kit Created to help you promote your value as a health sciences librarian and the value of the services you provide to your institution.
MLA Advocacy Toolbox: A Practical Guide to Communicating Your Value. This web page is for MLA members only.
MLA Benchmarking Network This MLA initiative provides opportunities for hospital, academic, and specialty health libraries to learn more about the benchmarking process, compare data, establish best practices, and identify and work with a benchmarking partner. Participate in the next round. Use the data to establish best practices and show your value.
MLA Professional Resources This web page is a potpourri of materials and tools including hospital library standards, JACHO standards, public relations and marketing for your library, and other issues of concern to medical librarians.