Outreach Series: Session Eight – Outreach Advocacy

Session Archive

Session Slides (PDF)

This is the last in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.

Learn about advocacy in Outreach Librarianship, its importance, different types of advocacy, and some easy ways to do it.

While this session can stand on its own, if you are new to Outreach, please consider viewing all eight sessions.

1. Foundations of Outreach
2. Mobile Services
3. Outreach Services
4. Virtual Services
5. Event Services, Community Conversations, and Feedback Loop
6. Community Partnerships
7. Collecting Data in Outreach and Community Assessment
8. Outreach Advocacy

About the presenters

Rick Medrano is the Patron Services Supervisor for the Erie Community Library Branch of the High Plains Library District. Rick started in libraries in 2010 at the Salida Regional Library before moving to Greeley. At HPLD, he has served in a variety of positions including paging, working in the Virtual Library and Mobile Services department, and as an Outreach Librarian. As an Outreach Librarian, Rick focused on connecting transitional and reentry populations with library services and in formalizing data collection and analysis processes with the MOVE Department. He has passion for serving underrepresented populations, library advocacy, and service evaluation. Rick holds BAs in Sociology and History from the University of Northern Colorado, an MA in Sociology (Applied Emphasis) from the University of Northern Colorado, and an MLS from Emporia State University.

Rosa M. Granado is an Associate Director of MOVE for the High Plains Library District (HPLD) located in northeastern Colorado.  She believes that although Outreach is one of the most misunderstood facets of public library services, it is also one of the most rewarding and impactful ways we can serve the community.  Rosa started in public libraries as a Page, working her way up to an Outreach Librarian. She served as the HPLD Outreach Manager for three years before moving into her new position.  Rosa holds a Bachelor of Science in English from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Arts in School Library Instructional Leadership from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a Master of Management and Library Information Sciences from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Matthew Hortt is currently Executive Director of the High Plains Library District and has been the City Librarian for the City of Santa Clarita Public Libraries and the Director of the Simi Valley Public Library. He has nearly twenty years of progressive experience in public libraries working at all levels in Colorado, Nevada, California.  He holds a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of North Texas and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Public Affairs from The University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Hortt has experience in library safety/security, policy writing, strategic planning and construction project management. He has a passion for library advocacy and focuses on fundraising, working closely with Library Friends and Foundation groups to diversify fundraising activities.