Planning evaluation and advocacy training

'It was one of the best training sessions I have been to and so practical. We have our inspection at the beginning of June and the info we were given will be very helpful in preparing evidence etc. as well as for co-operation between us and the public library service.' School Librarian.

'How to make friends and gain influence! Thank you.' Public Library Staff.

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This area of training can be combined with other areas and can be delivered as a joint package - for example, libraries with schools, museums, archives, youth services, with a focus on partnership in action.

Photograph of participant in training

A practical approach to planning, evaluation and advocacy, adaptable to a range of agencies, situations and staff. Ensuring your service is appropriate and effective, gathering and using evidence of success... raising your profile! For school libraries training can include the self-evaluation process for school libraries, although separate courses are available focusing exclusively on this. To find out about separate training in self-evaluation of the school library, click here.

Merseyside Libraries making a difference
Throughout 2007-2009, Jerry delivered a very effective programme of consultancy and training for Merseyside Libraries (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton, Warrington and Wirral). Working closely with the programme steering group and with frontline staff, Jerry created and delivered an extensive package of consultancy and training in support of staff development and strategic planning and evaluation. He provided a practical toolkit and delivered twelve training days designed to engage a critical mass of staff at all levels in:

reflecting on what we do and why
reflecting on how we do things: including who does what… planning, delivery and evaluation is not the exclusive domain of managers
recognising success… all of us, every day
using evidence of success… in every library, locally, across the authority, across the region…
contributing to the development and promotion of the service

This approach is very flexible and is adaptable to Archives, Museums, Galleries, Community Development, Leisure, Arts and Sports.

What staff said:
At the end of training sessions, 30% of participants evaluated the training as 'excellent'' and 59% evaluated it as 'very good'.

Before training, only 16% of participants felt they were either 'clear' or 'very clear' about this area of our work. After training, 86% of participants felt they were either 'clear' or 'very clear'. This is a 70% improvement.

Before training, only 10% of participants felt they were either equipped or very equipped to deliver / develop this area of our work. After training, 71% of participants felt they were either equipped or very equipped. This is a 61% improvement.

What the client said (Peter Marchant, Head of Libraries, Knowsley Council, on behalf of the steering group):
'To what extent did the training meet our requirements? Excellent. From earlier work with Knowsley, around the subject of staff interactions with children & young people, I knew from the comments of front-line staff involved that Jerry was a first-rate trainer, delivering exceptional, motivational training.'

The training was extremely well received, with very high levels of positive feedback...

'I now have loads of ideas…in order to evaluate the needs of the community and act accordingly.'
'…a very interesting day that has delivered practical and useful information that I can use in my daily planning …Jerry was inspirational and motivational.'
' We have never focused on the outcome in the past – this will change!'
' A very intensive day, but well worth it.'
' …it will help focus backroom activities as well as front line work.'

The evaluation forms also indicated a real commitment to carry this work forward in the workplace. One actually refers to 'the passion of library staff' – something perhaps not generally recognised, least of all by librarians themselves.

I would be happy to be contacted further on this subject, if required.'
Peter Marchant, Head of Libraries, Knowsley Council.

For the complete client evaluation of this programme go to Clients' Comments.

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As with all of Jerry's training, sessions can be tailored to specific local needs. Jerry is also happy to create new courses to meet specific needs.

Training options include:

Good school libraries: making a difference to learning
Hitting the mark: planning, evaluation and advocacy for archives
Hitting the mark: planning, evaluation and advocacy for children's and young people's library services
Hitting the mark: planning, evaluation and advocacy for museums
Hitting the mark: planning, evaluation and advocacy for public library services
Hitting the mark: planning, evaluation and advocacy for school libraries
Libraries supporting learners: self-evaluation in the school library resource centre [Scotland]
Managing: up, down and all around
Planning for success: self-evaluation in the primary school library
Planning for success: self-evaluation in the secondary school library / LRC
Project management: an introduction
Singing from the rooftops… an introduction to effective advocacy, marketing and promotion

Areas commonly explored across these training options:

Why and how planning, evaluation and advocacy go hand in hand
Aims, outcomes, outputs... what's the difference and why do they matter?
Why our service is so important and special
Understanding and exploiting the service's unique selling points (USPs)
Partnership work in action (for instance, public libraries and schools)
Outcomes-based planning and evaluation of the service
Matching activities to outcomes
Gathering evidence of success
Consulting and involving people
Developing an advocacy strategy
Deciding on advocacy audiences
Key advocacy messages
Advocacy in action
Action planning

'As always this was a very professional training session. Jerry was able to be flexible and react to the needs of the specific group he was working with. The group had both school and public librarians and they had slightly differing views but Jerry was able to work with this and created a day which both stretched and enthused the delegates.'
Margaret Pemberton, Chair of YLG South West and Schools Library Service Librarian, Bristol City Libraries

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Jerry Hurst provides training courses, workshops and seminars for libraries, schools, museums, galleries, archives, youth services and other agencies. The focus can be work with children, teenagers or adults or the full range of service provision.

Training options are adaptable to the client's specific requirements. The content, level, approach and intended learning outcomes are always designed to reflect the client's brief. Jerry is also happy to create new courses to meet specific needs. This approach ensures that outcomes for participants are closely aligned with local service and staff development priorities.

If you need further information, or would like to discuss your training or consultancy requirements, please e mail jerry@jerryhurst.co.uk or telephone +44(0)20 8364 6166.