I attended this presentation on Saturday morning after a wonderfully insightful and funny speech by Sir Ken Robinson. Needless to say, I was feeling happy and energized when I entered the conference room. The discussion centered around the efforts it took to build two new libraries - one in Walnut Creek and one in Oakland and how important partnerships were in reaching their goals.
Walnut Creek's initial effort was rejected by the community because they felt the new building would infringe on the park that was at that location. The community was also concerned that the limited parking in this park/restaurant/shops area would be further impacted by the additional use the library would bring. In order to overcome these objections the library went back to the drawing board, conducting public forums and surveys and reviewing the architectural plans in order to receive public blessing. It was through their partnerships with the local community, business leaders, and public officials that they were able to reach a mutually acceptable solution and the library was built.
Oakland faced a difficult battle to open a new branch in a very poverty-stricken area of the city. The new library director, Carmen Martinez, used her personal contacts, including her contact with then mayor Jerry Brown, and friends in the school district and in state agencies to get the project approved, funded, and finished. Ms. Martinez's advice was to make sure you get out there and meet people in positions of authority and develop your personl network of contacts.
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