A special project of the Australian Library and Information Association

Thank-you Day
Wednesday 16 May 2001

Thank-you Day is a new LIW initiative. It aims to draw the attention of decision-makers to your library to show what outstanding value it is - and that it is worthy of more investment. Decision-makers in all types of organisations are not often thanked for the difficult judgments and decisions they have to make. You could be the first to do so publicly.

ALIA is encouraging all library and information services to use the opportunity of the Thank-you Day to showcase your services and their impact to your funders - be they governments, government departments, educational institutions, businesses or charities.

Thank-you brochure
Because the public library is the centre of information in local communities - and the most politically-visible - the ALIA president will be mailing a Thank-you brochure to all elected members of local councils and state governments, urging them to take time out during LIW2001 to catch up on all the great things going on at their local public library. The Thank-you brochure encourages the elected members to ponder and discuss what the range and quality of the service should be, while thanking for their investment in these community assets.

What you could do
If yours is a public library, you could use this opportunity to invite your elected members and their key staff to your library. You might like to show off your successes by arranging for them, the media and library supporters to meet people who have benefited from your library's programs. Or, you could design a presentation that highlights new and innovative services to your community that have been made possible through government funding.

Libraries in other sectors can organise similar activities, targeted towards your particular funders and decision makes, and highlighting issues of particular importance for your library and users. If yours is a tertiary library, you could consider having a Thank-you Day feature for senior administrators and teaching staff, and the student association. If a school library, you could invite in your volunteers, the school council, parents and citizens and the principal. And if yours is a special library, why not invite your senior management, users and other people who help make your library special.

In all cases, celebrate your successes, draw attention to the impact your services have, and provide a glimpse of an innovative future, worthy of further investment. Above all, make it a positive experience.

Your Friends group and volunteers might help organising the day - you could also use the opportunity to say thank-you to them! After all, 2001 is the International Year of Volunteers.

There are many reasons to say 'thank-you' to state and local members, administrators, boards, principals, supporters, volunteers and users.

Thank-you for participating!