<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[A Life in Libraries]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://cherylbecker.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[cbecker53]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://cherylbecker.wordpress.com/author/cbecker53/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Telling the Story:  Why is YOUR Library&nbsp;Essential?]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>Yes, the economy is tight.  Yes, funding bodies are telling libraries &#8220;we love libraries, but there&#8217;s just no more money.&#8221;  But, with the right blend of statistics, anecdotes, and persuasion, you <em>can</em> influence elected officials, who can, in turn find the money to support your library.   The key is to personalize the message to fit your library, and to use stories that will resonate with your local officials.</p>
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<p>Over on <a title="M Word" href="http://themwordblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The M Word</a>, Nancy Dowd gives a great example of <a title="Strategic Message" href="http://themwordblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/crafting-strategic-story-for-your.html?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FzcGn+%28The+%22M%22+Word+-+Marketing+Libraries%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">one such message</a>.  Such messages really do work.  Even better, I think, would be having &#8220;Sue&#8221; come and tell the story herself.</p>
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<div style="width: 250px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27640054@N08/5229323438" target="_blank"><img class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" title="Conversation by Patrick Bohnen" alt="Conversation by Patrick Bohnen" src="https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5229323438_345685f2d4_m.jpg" height="160" width="240" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Conversation by Patrick Bohnen (Photo credit: Kraemer Family Library)</p></div>
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