The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announce the release of a new publication, Partnership for a Nation of Learners: Joining Forces, Creating Value, which offers guidance on creating effective community collaborations. The publication is a product of IMLS and CPB’s Partnership for a Nation of Learners (PNL) project that united libraries, museums, and public broadcasters to address issues of central concern to their local communities.
“Museums, libraries, and public broadcasters share a common service mission, have complementary assets, and are trusted sources of information and ideas,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, IMLS Director. “I am gratified that the Partnership for a Nation of Learners project will live on through this publication, which spotlights exemplary community partnerships across the country and shares ‘how-to’ information on successful collaborations. In these challenging economic times, partnerships are more valuable than ever.”
“Libraries, museums, and public broadcasting licensees are valuable and respected assets trusted by the public,” said Patricia de Stacy Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer, Corporation for Public Broadcasting. “Together, they have an important role to play ensuring our democracy comprises an informed and educated citizenry, by providing lifelong learning opportunities for everyone.”
The partnership’s central components were the 2005 and 2006 PNL Community Collaboration Grants, which provided seed investments for 20 collaborative projects across the country. Grants were awarded to address topics such as raising awareness about substance abuse in Alaska, conserving family heirlooms in Nebraska, and helping to educate families about childhood asthma in Boston. The publication presents in-depth profiles of six high-performing, PNL-funded partnerships and short profiles of the remaining grantees. The profiles illustrate how vital community organizations can collaborate to effectively tackle important local issues and achieve outcomes that would be unattainable for a single organization.
One of the goals of the Partnership for a Nation of Learners was to cultivate the art of partnering. To assist organizations that are considering partnering, the publication’s ‘lessons learned’ section details tips and best practices from PNL partners, including:
Align Project Purpose with Institutional Mission and Community Need
Partnerships must be grounded in individual partners’ missions and the common desire to address community needs.
Take Time to Plan
Thoughtful planning pays dividends throughout the life of the project and results in identifying the project goals and desired outcomes. The best partnerships are long-term commitments, instead of one-off projects.
Choose Partners Carefully and Get to Know Them Well
Identifying partners requires an assessment of community assets and strategic selection of partners. Capitalize on the strengths of partner institutions, ensuring that each partner contributes what it does best.
Relationship Building and Communication
To get the necessary internal buy-in at every organization, anticipate how many staff members will be needed for a project and involve them from the very beginning.
The Residual Impact of Partnering
After a partnership concludes, many partners report that the “act of partnership” generated numerous benefits – including insights into their own organizational strengths, assets, and need for improvement – along with insights into the needs of communities and new strategies for public service.