Transforming Our Image, Building Our Brand: The Education Advantage

by Valerie J. Gross

Overview

This book describes a groundbreaking concept that enables public libraries—and librarians—to become indispensable by following a "Three Pillars" educational approach, and by replacing traditional terms with powerful, intuitive, value-enhanced terminology that everyone understands.

While there is no question that what librarians and library professionals do is critically important, the ways in which these roles and responsibilities are described can mean the difference between being valued as essential to the community or considered optional. Something as simple as a choice of words can determine what is valued—and consequently what gets funded, and what gets canceled.

Transforming Our Image, Building Our Brand: The Education Advantage examines how the "Three Pillars" approach harnesses the power of language to enhance respect, generate increased perceived value, and garner funding. The power stems from positioning all that library professionals do under three, easy-to-remember "pillars," and replacing typical library terms and phrases with bold, value-enhanced terminology that commands value—language that people outside of the field can immediately understand. This book is essential reading for public library staff members at all levels of the organization, especially those in leadership roles; and its root concepts are applicable for all other library types as well.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598847703
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/08/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	188
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Valerie J. Gross, MM, MLS, JD, has served as president and CEO of Howard County Library System (HCLS) in Maryland since 2001.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

Part I Overview-The What and Why

1 The Power of Language 3

2 The Three Pillars Philosophy 7

3 Supporting Strategic Vocabulary-Key Terms 23

4 Supporting Strategic Vocabulary-A Few More Words 39

5 Strategic Titles 53

6 Tricks of the Trade 67

Part II Implementation-The How

7 A+ Partners in Education 77

8 Internal Steps 99

9 Knock Their Socks Off 117

10 Sensational Strategic Planning 139

11 Strong Investment 153

12 A New Era 157

Bibliography 163

Index 165

What People are Saying About This

Mindy Kittay

"I am reading Transforming Our Image and I can’t put it down. I’m writing notes like crazy. It makes absolute sense. This will be our foundation from now on."

Barbara Dimick

"The best change initiative for public libraries that I can remember."

Delane James

"Applying the Transforming Our Image words and attitudes resulted in our receiving budget increases when every other library in our area continued to see dramatic funding cuts."

Laura Raphael

"I was completely blown away. Gross articulates exactly how public libraries should be presenting themselves to the community for what we are already doing. A passionate treatise of our educational value. "

Editorial Reviews

Informative and approachable, this resource offers many suggestions to better help the public understand the role of libraries. This, in turban, helps with funding and more.” —VOYA

From the Publisher