Exploring Milwaukee Public Library Partnership Opportunities

Prepared for the Milwaukee Public Library

By:Peter Dermody

Sarah HurleyEmily Reynolds

Ted SchusterSoumary VongrassamyMonica Wedgewood

Introduction

• Background• Problem Statement• Potential Partners• Methodology• Partnership Options• Evaluation• Recommendation

Current Library Trends

Current Library Trends

Problem Statement

MPL goals:• Broaden reach in the Milwaukee community• Attract the general mix of the City's

population• Respond to evolving constituent needs

Our report analyzes if and how academic library partnership can help MPL meet these goals.

Potential Partner Libraries

•University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)

•Marquette University

•Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)

Methodology

Partnership Options:

1. Library card access2. Meeting space3. Courier service4. Searchable catalog5. Programming6. Satellite collections7. Joint-use library facility

Criteria:

• Realizing efficiency• Enhancing services• Expanding capacity• Willingness and

feasibility of potential partners

Programming Options

• Community Readso Events based on one book hosted across the

community by each partner

• Culturalo Partners coordinate community learning

opportunitieso Utilizing partner expertise and resources

Programming Options

• Service-Learning Programmingo Students volunteer in coordination with courses

• Public Health Literacy Programmingo Regularly scheduled drop-in sessions for

community members to access health information

• Librarian Training Programmingo UWM School of Information Studieso Children’s services, outreach, and branch services

Satellite Collection Option

• Small number of MPL's popular materials loaned to academic partners

• Academic partners house and maintain the loaned materials

• Provides MPL with an initial physical presence on the campuses

• Potential opportunity cost related to availability of materials

EvaluationMost Efficient for MPL (cost)• Service-Learning• Health Literacy• Satellite Collection

Best Enhances MPL Services• Community Reads• Cultural Programming

Best Expands MPL Capacity• Service-Learning• Health Literacy

Most MPL/Partner Interest• Cultural Programming• Service-Learning• Health Literacy

Most Feasible for MPL/Partner• Cultural Programming • Service-Learning• Health Literacy

Recommendations

1. Implement service-learning programming• Most feasible, increases services, limited

budgetary cost2. Implement community reads, public health literacy,

librarian training, and cultural programming as well• Moderate costs, would improve quality and

quantity of services MPL provides to community 3. Pursue satellite collection option after initial

partnership relationships are established • Feasibility for partners is low

Special Thanks

Paula Kiely and Joan Johnson, Milwaukee Public Library

Eric Pearson, City of Milwaukee Division of Budget and Management

Melissa Berger, Erika Cheng, Paco Fuchs, Emily Ley, and Lara Rosen

Professor Andrew Reschovsky

Karen Faster, La Follette School of Public Affairs

For further informationContact the La Follette School’s publications office at 608-263-7657 or publications@lafollette.wisc.edu

Or see www.lafollette.wisc.edu/publications/workshops.html

Thank you

San Jose King Library (Joint-use facility)• Partnership between San Jose State University and the

city of San Jose

• $177 million facility that opened in 2003o Funding split 66.5% (SJSU) and 33.5% (City of San Jose)

• A marriage between each partner libraryo Separate staffs, material purchases, and budgetso Share access to space, material circulation, and personnel

resources

• Potential Challengeso Political environment, personnel and management alignment