Staff Advocacy

One of my first projects at Kitsap Regional Library was to restore a staff-led advocacy committee. At one time, the committee consisted of staff assigned to the task. Re-imagining the team, we created an application process and sought out staff that were positive, enthusiastic advocates. The goal was to empower these staff to shift the culture of the organization. They were given guidance and the tools they needed to be successful. Together, they developed an identity and mission, and a plan for how to make an impact on the library and the community. More than a committee, the group was now a team, calling themselves "The Agency," they became a powerful resource, bridging some of the the organization's communication gaps. 

The Agency inspired leadership, peers, other libraries and the community, executing many successful projects, improving communication, and the culture of the organization and setting the bar for how the library should reach out to its community. They successfully carried out the award winning Traveling Book Campaign, introduced a new mission and values to staff, and provided critical communication and support needed to ensure staff had embraced the new brand before it's launch. 

As part of the Traveling Book Campaign, the team devised a guerilla marketing plan to reach non-patrons in the community.

Mission: Shared Values was devised to encourage peers to recognize one another while introducing them to the new organizational values.

The team was encouraged to have discussions about the mission of the library and develop ways they could positively impact their culture.

Setting an example for what outreach for the library could be, the team created a number of social media campaigns that gave a human face to the organization.

The team often used playfulness and the unexpected to engage their peers.

Although we had developed the brand for many years, at the launch, the work for staff was just beginning. The team developed a launch plan that would recognize staff and ensure they felt supported and appreciated as they began a new chapter for the library.