General Resources:

• Member Library Votes
• 414 Panel Discussion Script
• Return on Investment Calculator
• Campaign Planning Guide [draft version]
• Campaign Material Gallery
• Board of Elections Links
• Focus Group Summary - Library Supporters
• Focus Group Summary - Non-Library Users
• Evaluative Group
• Target Libraries
• About Successful Votes
• 5 Phases of the Campaign
• Encouraging Voter Participation
• Project Consultant: Libby Post

Jan. - April

Build & Organize

Activities:
(Internal)

• Get everyone "on board." Inform staff, trustees and Friends Group.
• Gather statistics to support your case.
  • Statistics & Demographics
  • Annual Report Data
  • Millennium Reports
    • Create Lists: Use this to pull a list of active patrons. This might include those who have used the library within a certain time period, such as the last six months, or a list of patrons with the most active checkouts. This feature can also be used to generate a patron list that can be compared to the registered voter list obtained from the County Board of Elections. Contact Laurie Shedrick at 845-471-6060 ext. 21 for more information.)
• Develop messages (See: sample messages & message worksheet)
• Make your budget report and other financials transparent and easy to understand. Educate the staff on these issues.
• Arrange a space planning or other consultation.
• Create a Campaign Plan.

(External)

• Identify supporters.
• Identify at least two "Champions" in the community to support your case.
• Create a "Friends & Allies" Group/form a community coalition.
• Begin Letter to the Editor Campaign
• Press releases.

Related Resources:

Workshop Materials [Organizing a Campaign]

• Workshop PowerPoint: Organizing a Campaign
• Clarifying Your Role in the Library's Campaign
• Your Campaign Team
• Building a Dream Campaign Team [Library Journal]
• Friends Group Resources

April- June

• Develop campaign promotional materials.
  • See the Campaign Material Gallery for ideas.
• Utilize targeted marketing strategies to reach specific community groups.
• Build community constituencies.
• Begin educating the media. (Checkout the MHLS Marketing & PR webpage to support your media activities. You'll find media contact information, tips for "Meeting the Press" and much more.)

• MHLS Marketing & PR webpage
  
  Workshop Materials [Marketing & PR for Your Library's Vote]:
• Workshop PowerPoint: Message, Marketing & Media: Making them Work for Your Library's Referendum
  
• Framing Public Issues (pdf)
• Talk Values - Not Programs
• Recommended Individuals for Campaign Tasks
• Frequently Asked Questions - SAMPLE (West Hurley)
  

June - August

Connecting with Voters

Activities:

• Finalize campaign team.
• Voter Identification through phone calls and tracking voters.
• On-going media relations.
• Establish computer operation for voter tracking, thank you letters, etc.

• Workshop PowerPoint: Connecting with Yes Voters
• Advokit: a web-based voter contact management system

Connecting with Voters (Part 2)

Activities:

• Library Director Letter to Regular Users.
• Direct Mail (three pieces over 5-6 weeks before GOTV)
• Phone Calls to supporters.
• Persuasion calls to non-committed.
• Door-to-Door campaign activities.
• Friend-to-friend campaign activities.
• Tracking voters.

November
Week Before the Election

Get Out the Vote - INTENSIVE EFFORT

Activities: