In 2018, the Library asked voters to authorize an 8-cent increase in its property tax based operating levy – the first such request in 22 years – to maintain and improve facilities and services. I was part of the Library team responsible for the educational campaign; my role involved contributing to talking points and content and overseeing creation of a wide collection of promotional materials.
The campaign was developed on a fairly short timeline; the decision to go before Kansas City voters came in late summer of that year in order to meet the deadline for appearing on the November ballot. The Library's Public Affairs team had to quickly prepare a suite of materials for staff to use in outreach and education efforts, as well as planning public-facing marketing tactics.
Using data and information provided by Library leadership our internal planning group,I developed a series of fact sheets, bookmarks, presentations, and infographics explaining the need and outlining scenarios if the ballot issue did or did not pass. I worked with our Facilities team to install outdoor banners and yard signs outside Library locations, and collaborated with my Public Affairs colleagues on writing blog posts, newsletter articles, developing social media posts, and other communications.
The collective efforts of staff and supporters paid off when the returns came in on election night. The effort passed overwhelmingly, with 83% of voters endorsing the measure.
As one way to demonstrate the need for a levy increase, the benefits and projects for each Library location were outlined on a series of branch profile documents that I designed. Sheets were developed for each of the Library's 10 locations and its Outreach department and made available at stakeholder presentations. Large panels with similar information were also displayed at each site, and full sets of profiles were also made available on the Library's levy website for viewing and download.
Immediately after the levy successfully passed, the Library wanted to express gratitude to community partners and patrons for their support during the campaign. I proposed creating a "Thank You!" postcard with blank space on the back where various staff could write personalized notes to partners. We also ran ads in various Library communications and posted banners, panels, and yard signs inside and outside Library locations to express gratitude to our patrons.
In the weeks following the election, I took the lead in establishing a public reporting structure under the framing of “Next Chapter,” a tag the Library applies to projects funded in part to the levy passage that was used in signs or other communications. I also worked with the Library’s Digital Branch to set up a page on the website dedicated to sharing progress and updates, including specific upgrades and improvements at each location.
