This year’s swag

Updated graphics, links and messaging

Link to the form: https://forms.gle/25QxPEiRL3R77uMt9

Paper form Canva template or pdf

Coloring pages Canva template or pdf (some from last year, some new ones.)

8.5×11 poster Canva template or pdf

Facebook header Canva template or png.

Facebook post suggested language

note: include link in post!

5 minutes. One question. Huge impact.

Our elected officials and funders need to hear from you so they have a clearer understanding of what the public library adds to our community.

We’ve made it so easy! Use the online form or a paper form to tell us your story. We’ll do the rest.

Short or long, your story makes a difference!  https://forms.gle/25QxPEiRL3R77uMt9

Library Love Story 2024 logo png.

Why Collect Stories?

IFLS staff and librarians will be handing our system’s stories to our state legislators on February 7 for Library Legislative Day. We did this last year, and it was memorable and impactful!

Why might you want to collect stories (sometimes called testimonials) for your library? In early 2020 Meredith Farkas wrote this in American Libraries:

“In an era of shrinking budgets, libraries must find ways to tell our stories, which often require us to go beyond simply reporting data. Not only have the ways that libraries serve their communities changed and expanded, but it’s become clear that the outputs we usually report are far less significant than the outcomes—the impact of our collections and services on our communities.”

Bring these stories to make you case for:

• Act 150 reauthorization
• Additional county funding
• Grants or major donor fundraising
• Annual report presentations and graphics

The results of the survey will be available to you all year!

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How to collect stories

You hear people say good things about your library and staff all the time. The trick is to collect those stories so you can access them easily to use to communicate the great work your library does.

You can hand your storytellers a paper form or direct them to the digital form. You can also record the story yourself. Jot it down right away–I promise you won’t remember at the end of the day!

There are two simple tools to use.

1. The Tell Your Library Love Story digital form can be used by the public and your staff. Can you bookmark it in a handy location? The results will be collected and available for you all year. Anne Hamland is putting Love Story buttons on websites. Would you like one? Submit a HelpDesk ticket.
2. Don’t love digital? Use paper!
   • Set out simple forms, blank paper in shapes or a notebook for people to write their stories..
   • Tuck a notebook at the circulation desk and let staff know they should jot down comments as they hear them (after asking permission, of course).

If you don’t have the time or staff capacity to enter handwritten stories into the digital form just send them by courier to Reb at IFLS by February 1.

Encourage patrons and the public to participate! Here are some ideas.

Easy ways to use this campaign

Passive Program (the basics)

• Put these posters up in a spot that’s visible.
• Add a table stocked with paper valentine forms, My Library Love Story coloring pages, markers, crayons, pens.
• Add a box to collect the love stories.
• Ask Anne Hamland to add a button with a link to the form to your website. Are you a webmaster?
• By Feb 1, either send your handwritten stories to Reb at IFLS or have a staff person input them using the Library Love Story digital form.

Want to do more? Here are some add-ons.

• Encourage all of your staff to be ready to collect stories. Some ideas: after story time, at check-out, whenever someone tells a staff member about a their library story.
  • Staff can enter the story directly into the digital form. Collect names when possible, always ask if they are comfortable sharing their name.
  • Alternately, direct people to fill out their own paper form or coloring page, help them use public computers to fill out the digital form.

• Hang handwritten stories in a prominent location, with instructions about how to add a story. (For instance, “Find a table with supplies to create your Library Love Story inside by the children’s section.”)
• Share the form link and collected stories on social media.
• Publicize through your normal media channels, like a regular newspaper article or your library’s newsletter.
• Add a selfie frame to your passive program area. If you like this option, contact Reb for details.
• Ask your Friends group and trustees to actively promote the campaign.
• Feel free to use the QR code! It links directly to the online form. 

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Need help answering specific questions or finding additional resources?

Click on the green HelpDesk button and we’ll make sure the right IFLS staff gets that message right away. Can’t find the green button? Use this email: helpdesk@ifls.lib.wi.us.

There’s no wrong door! You can contact these IFLS staff for support on this topic:

Rebecca Kilde, PR and Communications Coordinator, kilde@ifls.lib.wi.us

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