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As a part of National Library Week and 91´«Ã½'s year-round advocacy work, 91´«Ã½ released to help library advocates and libraries across the country share their story on digital platforms: a Live Stream and Video Storytelling Checklist and a Social Media Advocacy Toolkit. The resources are being rolled out in conjunction with the initiative, a video and social media effort that aims to encourage library advocates and users to create and share videos and content about their libraries.

"I have made library advocacy and community engagement my presidential priority," said 91´«Ã½ President Loida Garcia-Febo. "The new resources 91´«Ã½ has rolled out in 2019, including these two new video and social media tools, are setting a bar for librarians worldwide. It's my hope that it will inspire our advocates to flex their storytelling muscles and speak up for libraries on every platform."

The includes best practices and simple but effective tips for enhancing the appeal and impact of library stories, such as tagging strategically to attract the attention of decision makers. The kit also includes sharing graphics and sample posts for Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Advocates can use the to create high-quality videos on social media. The checklist includes a list of equipment necessary and step-by-step instructions for shooting video for Facebook Live and Instagram Live.

The home for 91´«Ã½’s advocacy resources is ala.org/advocacy, where advocates will find all of 91´«Ã½’s new plug-and-play resources, how-to one-pagers and more. 91´«Ã½ has been rolling out new resources throughout 2019.

“Storytelling promotes good will,” she Garcia-Febo. “These new resources are for advocates to tell their stories even more effectively to translate that good will into support for libraries, and especially concrete action on the part of elected leaders, community influencers and our patrons.

"We are working to innovate on the ways we have traditionally engaged with key stakeholders in order to build stronger relationships," said Kathi Kromer, 91´«Ã½’s associate executive director for Public Policy and Advocacy. "91´«Ã½ is focused on building relationships with decision makers and making sure 91´«Ã½ advocates in the field are well-supported to do the same. It's our mission to get as many tools as possible into the hands of library workers, users and friends."

91´«Ã½ is encouraging members to participate in the #MyLibraryMyStory effort by creating a short video and answering the question, “How does your library help make your community stronger?” Advocates can visit the for more information.

“Libraries of all kinds – public, school, academic, special – have National Library Week events and activities planned, and have been promoting them through social media and local print media,” Garcia-Febo said. We hope these resources will inspire and equip library and information professionals and users to share their work and impact stories in exciting and compelling ways.”