LibraryLinkNJ has purchased 10 individual registrations from ALA Editions for “Community Partnership: How to Raise Money and Build Relationships” with Paul Signorelli. This
four-week, asynchronous online eCourse begins October 3, 2011.

Drawing on the influential Urban Libraries Council report, Making Cities Stronger: Public Library Contributions to Local Economic Development, this eCourse will help you identify and act on opportunities that match your library’s mission and goals with those of businesses and other organizations in your community.  Building partnerships in the community is an excellent way for libraries to address the increased demand for library services that is coinciding with current funding cuts. Successful partnerships can not only help to fund your programs and but also win you new allies in the community by showcasing your library’s value.  

In this interactive facilitated eCourse, Paul Signorelli will show how to build productive community partnerships that will help your library engage in meaningful projects while enhancing its standing in the community.

eCourse Outline

Part 1: Community Collaborations Between Libraries and Local Business—An Introduction

• Overview of successful collaborations
• How collaborations are developed
• Identifying potential partners within a community

Part 2: Case Study: The Urban Libraries Council report Making Cities Stronger: Public Library Contributions to Local Economic Development

• Spelling out the economic, educational, and social needs that libraries and businesses both meet
• Completing a needs assessment in order to develop focused projects
• Beginning to build collaborations

Part 3:  Case Study: A Public Library Working With a Local Business

• Identifying stakeholders within the library, the business, and the community
• Methods for bringing stakeholders together
• How to develop a flexible plan of action

Part 4:  Case Study: A Public Library Working With Another Community-based Organization

• Implementing the plan of action
• Evaluating the plan of action
• Ways to expand existing partnerships for long-term sustainability

How this eCourse Works

The eCourse begins on October 3. Your participation will require approximately three to four hours a week, at times that fit your schedule. There are no live sessions. All activities take place on the website, and you will be expected to

• Read, listen to or view online content
• Post to online discussion boards
• Complete weekly assignments or activities

Instructor Paul Signorelli will monitor discussion boards regularly during the four-week period, lead group discussions, and will also answer individual questions. All interaction will take place on the eCourse site, which will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's recommended that students log into the site on October 3 or within a few days for an overview of the content and to begin the first lesson.

User Requirements

Participants will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message boards participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (mp3 files), and downloading and viewing PDFs and PowerPoint files. ALA Editions eCourses are fully compatible with Windows and MacOs.

About the Instructor

Paul Signorelli has more than 20 years of experience as a learning leader for libraries and other organizations and businesses. As Director of Staff Training and Volunteer Services for the San Francisco Public Library system, he created, implemented, and managed numerous training plans. He continues to serve as a writer, trainer, onsite and online presenter, and consultant for a variety of organizations and remains active in the American Library Association Learning Round Table and with the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD), where he has held leadership positions at the local and national level. He is currently a member of ASTD's National Advisors for Chapters.