preschool literacy initiative

public librarian recruitment

certification

PLA/LAMA/ASCLA Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) Program Core Course

Course Name

“Bare Muscles and Back Rooms: Politicking and Networking for Success” (building alliances and networking)

General Description

This two-day course will provide an overview of the effectiveness and value of political acumen at all levels. Covers such issues as identifying key players, networking at all levels and employing educational tools that work in the political environment.

Components

1. Strategic planning for political action at a local level.
2. Identification of local key players.
3. Coalition building.
4. Discern how local decisions are made.
5. Team playing with local Boards and Commissions.
6. Development of political advocacy skills for library governing board members, support groups and staff.
7. Political opinion polling and campaigning.
8. Handling the media.
9. Negotiation and compromise.
10. Political and lobbying skills.
11. Current local political issues.
12. Working with Boards and Commissions, Foundations, Friends of the Library, community leaders, and civic groups.
13. Developing support groups.
14. Overview of various governance and legal structures.
15. Preparation of relevant educational materials.
16. Federal/state/local statutes, ordinances, resolutions.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

1. Gain a general understanding of the strategies involved in planning for successful political action, including understanding the demography and culture of your local service area.
2. Be able to identify key players in decision making for political effectiveness.
3. Develop skills to build coalitions.
4. Be able to discern how local decisions are made.
5. Develop team playing skills with local Boards and Commissions.
6. Develop political advocacy skills.
7. Understand the process and impact of political opinion polling and campaigning.
8. Develop skills in handling the media effectively.
9. Develop skills in negotiation and compromise.
10. Develop and understand the role of lobbyists and how to use them effectively at the local, state and federal levels.
11. Gain an understanding of how to assess current local political issues including the role of newspaper editors and editorial boards.
12. Develop political skills in working with various support groups and community leaders which at times can have conflicting interests with Board and Commissions.
13. Learn how to develop support groups including recruitment, tactics and legal issues.
14. Become knowledgeable of the various governance and legal structures of Boards and Commissions and support groups.
15. Prepare useful educational materials that may assist others with understanding and assessing the political process.
16. Gain a knowledge of federal, state and local statutes, ordinances, and resolutions and their impact on local decision making.

Suggested Methods

Through reading, guest speakers, discussions, lectures, volunteering in a local campaign, field trips and interviews, the student will grasp how politics impact library decision-making. Students will be expected to develop a field project and report which employs the learning objectives of this course.

Evaluation

Pass (P) Fail (F) upon successful completion.

Key Texts

Turner, Ann M. Getting Political: An Action Guide for Librarians and Library Supporters. New York: Neal- Schuman, 1997.

Sun-tzu. Translated by Thomas by Thomas Cleary. The Art of War. New York: Shabhala, 1988 (There are also many other editions and interpretations.)

Bibliography

Baus, Herbert M. and William B. Ross. Politics Battle Plan. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1968.

Calero, Henry H. Negotiate the Deal You Want: Talking Your Way to Success in Business, Community Affairs, and Personal Encounters. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1983.

Church, Kathryn R. Dealing with Organizational Change: A Guide for Federal Employees & Managers. Huntsville: FPMI Communications, Inc., 1995.

Cohen, Herb. You Can Negotiate Anything. Secaucus: L. Stuart, 1980.

Covey, Stephen. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1989.

Edelman, Joel. The Tao of Negotiation: How You Can Prevent, Resolve, and Transcend Conflict in Work and Everyday Life. New York: Harper Collins, 1993.

Fisher, Roger. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. Boston: Hougton Mifflin, 1981.

Haas, Ernest B. The Uniting of Europe: Political, Social & Economic Forces, 1950-1957. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1968.

Hardesty, Susan and Nahama Jacobs. Success and Betrayal: The Crisis of Women in Corporate America. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1987.

Harragna, Betty Lehan. Games Mother Never Taught You. New York: Rawson Associates Publishers, Inc., 1977.

Jandt, Fred Edmund. Win-Win Negotiating: Turning Conflict Into Agreement. New York: Wiley, 1985.

Karrass, Chester Louis. Give & Take: The Complete Guide to Negotiating Strategies and Tactics. New York: Crowell, 1974.

Lebow, Richard Ned. The Art of Bargaining. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 1996.

Levin, Edward. Levin’s Law: Tactics for Winning Without Intimidation. New York: M. Evans, 1980.

Mandel, Ruth B. In The Running. New Haven and New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1981.

Nierenberg, Gerard 1. Fundamentals of Negotiating. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1973.

Nierenberg, Gerard 1. Creative Business Negotiating: Skills and Successful Strategies. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1971.

Paizis, Suzanne. Getting Her Elected. Sacramento, CA: Creative Editions, 1977.

Rollins, Ed. Bare Knuckles and Back Rooms. New York: Broadway Books, 1996.

Schatzki, Michael. Negotiation: The Art of Getting What You Want. New York: New American Library, 1981.

Sun-tzu., Translated by Thomas Cleary. The Art of War. New York: Shabhala, 1988.

Ury, William. Getting Past No: Negotiating With Difficult People. New York: Bantam Books, 1991.

Warschaw, Tessa Albert. Winning by Negotiation. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980.

White, Theodore H. Caesar at the Rubicon, A Play About Politics. New York: Harper & Row, 1968.

White, Theodore H. The Making of the President 1972. New York: Atheneum Publishers, 1973.

OTHER: Read biographies of local politicians.