91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — Registration has opened for the first six-week session (April 18-May 23) of , a free, comprehensive advocacy training program, developed and presented by the with generous support from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Turning the Page 2.0 will be offered six times through 2011 and 2012.

Turning the Page 2.0 is an extension of the popular and successful Turning the Page: Building Your Library Community program previously offered by PLA. The 2.0 training addresses the same core issues of advocacy, communications and relationship building—this time in a convenient blended-learning format.

Participants will choose an advocacy goal for their library and then be guided through the creation of an Advocacy Work Plan. Highly interactive units cover topics such as creating and telling your library story, building relationships with key decision makers, project management and making the all-important ask.

Each six-week session of Turning the Page 2.0 consists of:

• In-person kick-off (Attendance is not required but is suggested.)
• Weekly interactive one-hour webinars with
• Independent assignments to advance Advocacy Work Plan (1-2 hours/week)
• Personalized facilitator feedback

The upcoming April-May session will begin with an optional, in-person kick-off on April 12 at the Registration for this preconference is free; however overall conference registration rates apply. Participants must register for the in-person event separately from the online portion of the program.

Registration for Turning the Page 2.0 is open to all public librarians, library staff and library supporters, including board members, Friends and local officials. Libraries are encouraged to complete Turning the Page 2.0 with an advocacy team that works through the program together.

For more information about the program, please email ttp2@ala.org.

PLA is a division of the 91´«Ã½. PLA’s core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve. Its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.