The First Years Last Forever Building, Growing and Sustaining Partnerships Garrison Kurtz Director of Programs

The First Years Last Forever Charge for the Day: How Can We Make Sure That We Form the Right Partnerships? How Can We Maximize Our Effectiveness as Partners? How Can Librarians be Invited to the Table from the Beginning?

The First Years Last Forever Overview Influencing the Success of the Collaboration Single-Mindedness Relationships, Relationships, Relationships Why This Project/Partnership? Know Your Collaborative Partner Know Your Assets/Challenges Know Your Mission and Goals

The First Years Last Forever 1.Know Your Mission and Goal What do your customers think? What does your funder think? What do staff members think? What is needed? WIIFM?

The First Years Last Forever 2. Know Your Assets Facilities Dedicated, educated, experienced staff Untarnished image and unparalleled public and civic support Data and Information Access to diverse families Funding

The First Years Last Forever 2. Know Your Challenges Image Language, Acronyms Organizational Culture Fast Changing Environment Siloing & Isolation

The First Years Last Forever 3. Know Your Collaborative Partner What type of organization is it? Funding source Customer base Mission Political pressures What do they need but not have in order to be successful? WIIFM?

The First Years Last Forever 4. Why This Project/Partnership? Efficiency? Simplicity of message Easier access for customers/ Recruitment to increase utilization of libraries (Early Literacy Initiative Evaluation 2003) Stronger case to funders Less redundancy Effectiveness? Better outcomes Easier assessment

The First Years Last Forever 4. Why This Project/Partnership? Systemic Challenge Societal or transorganizational challenge (e.g. reaching diverse populations) Resource limitations Booming demand Societal change Access to Expertise and Resources Marketing Funding Image

The First Years Last Forever 5. Relationships, Relationships, Relationships When facing the choice between a task and a relationship, choose the relationship Dedicated time for staff and volunteers to attend events Careful selection of advisory group, board members- -Engage key “types” of players (Gladwell) Make it easy for others to know what you are doing LEVERAGE, LEVERAGE, LEVERAGE Promote the work of others

The First Years Last Forever An Experimental Study of Search in Global Social Networks Table 1. Type, origin, and strength of social ties used to direct messages. Only the top five categories in the first two columns have been listed. The most useful category of social tie is medium-strength friendships that originate in the workplace. Type of relationship % Origin of relationship % Strength of relationship % Friend 67 Work 25 Extremely close 18 Relatives 10 School/university 22 Very close 33 Co-worker 9 Family/relation 19 Fairly close 22 Sibling 5 Mutual friend 9 Casual 22 Significant other 3 Internet 6 Not close 4 Peter Sheridan Dodds, Roby Muhamad, Duncan J. Watts, Columbia University follow up to Stanley Milgram’s, “The Small World Problem

The First Years Last Forever 5. Relationships, Relationships, Relationships When facing the choice between a task and a relationship, choose the relationship Dedicated time for staff and volunteers to attend events Careful selection of advisory group, board members- -Engage key “types” of players (Gladwell) Make it easy for others to know what you are doing LEVERAGE, LEVERAGE, LEVERAGE Promote the work of others

The First Years Last Forever 6. Single-Mindedness Reduce and/or Manage complexity Make it easy to say YES! And carry the message (Allport) Use language, brand and communication mechanisms to convey your focus Employ all your staff, volunteers and partners towards the goal

The First Years Last Forever The Information Chain Theory: Population + Motivation + Technology + Codification + Centrality + Symbols  Scale of Cooperation (ICL)  Wealth.

The First Years Last Forever 6. Single-Mindedness Reduce and/or Manage complexity Make it easy to say YES! And carry the message (Allport) Use language, brand and communication mechanisms to convey your focus Employ all your staff, volunteers and partners towards the goal

The First Years Last Forever Every Child Ready to Read

The First Years Last Forever 6. Single-Mindedness Reduce and/or Manage complexity Make it easy to say YES! And carry the message (Allport) Use language, brand and communication mechanisms to convey your focus Employ all your staff, volunteers and partners towards the goal

The First Years Last Forever 7. Factors Influencing the Success of the Collaboration (Amherst H. Wilder Foundation) Environment History of community cooperation Favorable political and social climate Collaborative group/players are seen as leaders in community

The First Years Last Forever 7. Factors Influencing the Success of the Collaboration (Amherst H. Wilder Foundation) Member Characteristics Ability to compromise Mutual respect, understanding and trust Appropriate cross-section of members Members see collaboration in their self-interest

The First Years Last Forever 7. Factors Influencing the Success of the Collaboration Process and Structure Flexibility Adaptability Appropriate pace of development Development of clear roles and policy guidelines Members share a stake in process & outcome Organizational participation at multiple levels

The First Years Last Forever 7. Factors Influencing the Success of the Collaboration Communication Open and frequent communication Established informal relationships and communication links

The First Years Last Forever 7. Factors Influencing the Success of the Collaboration Purpose Concrete obtainable goals and objectives Shared vision Unique purpose

The First Years Last Forever 7. Factors Influencing the Success of the Collaboration Resources Sufficient funds, staff, materials and time Skilled leadership

The First Years Last Forever 7. Factors Influencing the Success of the Collaboration Growth & Sustainability Communication =Development +Program +

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