Just two more weeks left to register for this NEW and exciting online 
course from the PLC:

NEW COURSE! 

ADVOCATING FOR YOUR LIBRARY: SUCCESSFUL POSITIONING WITH DECISION-MAKERS 
(LIBRARY ADVOCACY AND LIBRARY ISSUES) <http://www.plc.fis.utoronto.ca/coursedescription.asp?courseid=209>
24 Mar 2008 - 11 May 2008
7 weeks; online
Instructors: Kathleen DeLong & Pam Ryan
Fee: $395.00

This web-based, instructor-led course is for participants seeking ways to effectively position their library for success with decision-makers and constituents. 
Advocacy is about raising awareness and gaining commitment that leads to action. Successful libraries understand the advocacy process and exercise 
professional leadership in the gaining the attention and commitment of decision-makers to address the library's issues. 
Advocacy may relate to policy, funds, support, or partnership, and may be directed to external or internal decision-makers.

The course includes how advocacy relates to promotion and marketing, how to understand your decision-makers’ environments and their perceptions of libraries, 
and how to identify and engage key stakeholders. Participants will develop an advocacy plan for a particular issue of concern (objectives, target groups, obstacles, 
communication tools, and evaluation) tailored to their own individual situation or environment.

Course Objective is to enable participants to:

* Develop a practical Advocacy Plan that meets their specific context and need
* Develop the skills to exercise professional leadership, both in the workplace and on behalf of the library sector.
* Foster relations and promote the presence or role of their library.
* Appreciate the value of partnerships in advocacy.
* Develop strategic insight to focus productive personal energy on a cause / issue and to energize others.

Course Project: 
Develop an Advocacy Plan for an issue of concern selected by the course participant and using the Library Advocacy Now workbook. 
Participants are encouraged to post work-in-progress to the discussion board and use feedback from course instructors and other students to refine their work. 
Participants who complete their Advocacy Plan will qualify for a Letter of Completion.

For more information and to register of the PLC Ottawa, Toronto and online courses go to: www.plc.fis.utoronto.ca.