The Importance of Partnerships

Partnerships and networks are vital to effective YA service.  Developing a true partnership (a relationship between two organizations who are working toward a mutually agreed upon goal) as opposed to simply making a contact, takes some effort. 

Choosing an organization with compatible goals, nurturing the relationship, regularly communicating, and continuously evaluating the project are all very important to a successful outcome.  The following are examples of perfect YA service connection agencies.  You will undoubtedly be able to come up with others based upon your own community: 

• After-school programs (YMCA, boys and girls clubs)
• Bookstores
• Community or Neighborhood centers
• Juvenile detention centers
• Parks and recreation departments
• Scouts associations

Making connections around town serves a dual purpose.  It improves your awareness of available resources and it reminds other organizations that you exist.  These connections can prove beneficial in many ways.  They can not only refer YAs to your collection and services, but also make your budget go farther by providing prizes, presenters or other support for programming.

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An ideal partnership, although often overlooked as one, is that between the public and school library.  Staff should be familiar with one another, keep in touch, and work together as much as possible throughout the year in order to reach YAs effectively. 

At the same time the two can provide mutually beneficial support to one another in areas of school curriculum (remember in the Services section – “school assignment alert”) and recreational and summer reading. 

According to Patrick Jones, school staff can benefit by

• Having access to public library materials that compliment their own
• Sharing resources and program ideas
• Furthering their students information access and research skills

Public staff can benefit by

• Gaining captive audiences
• Sharing information and resources
• Fulfill an educational mission

Ultimately, it is the student who benefits most when the two entities cooperate.  Students experience

• Reduced frustration in using libraries
• Increased access to information, recreational reading and technology
• Innovative programs to meet their needs
• Library staff having a better understanding of their needs

Jones’ mnemonic for successful school-public library (and school library-teacher) cooperation is called FASTING:

• Fitting in

For best success, try to tie a visit into the curriculum

• Asking

Proactively and directly, collect information you need

• Scheduling

Learn regular rhythms, timetables to include your information

• Teaching

Teach teachers about libraries

• Intervening

Seek out “teachable moments” – ideal situations

• Networking

Attend staff meetings, attend, and speak at PTAs etc.

• Goal Setting

Remember teachers are merely a means to the end of reaching YAs

More details on these concepts can be found in his book, Connecting Young Adults and Libraries 2nd Ed.

Keep in mind that developing partnerships may take some initial time and effort as well as maintenance, but the ongoing rewards are worth all the work.

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