About this item
While there is no question that what librarians and library professionals do is critically important, the ways in which these roles and responsibilities are described can mean the difference between being valued as essential to the community or considered optional. Something as simple as a choice of words can determine what is valued-and consequently what gets funded, and what gets canceled. Transforming Our Image, Building Our Brand The Education Advantage examines how the Three Pillars approach harnesses the power of language to enhance respect, generate increased perceived value, and garner funding. The power stems from positioning all that library professionals do under three, easy-to-remember pillars, and replacing typical library terms and phrases with bold, value-enhanced terminology that commands value-language that people outside of the field can immediately understand.
About the Author
Valerie J. Gross, MM, MLS, JD, President & Primary Consultant of Valerie Gross & Associates, served as President & CEO of Howard County Library System (HCLS) for 16 years (2001-2017) .
An educator and attorney for 30 years, Gross holds a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a Master of Library Science from San Jose State University, and a law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law. She is a member of the ALA, PLA, MLA, and the California Bar Association.
Developing a new vision for libraries, Gross worked with the HCLS Board, staff, funders, elected officials, and the community to implement the "Libraries = Education" approach. She led the transformation of HCLS to its current prominence as a renowned educational institution, alongside the region's schools, colleges, and universities.
As the philosophy evolved, Gross was invited to speak and write about the strategy. She has delivered 100 keynotes, workshops, seminars, and webinars on "Libraries = Education," drawing the participation and input of thousands of library professionals from all 50 states and 108 countries around the world. Combining these experiences, she authored Transforming Our Image, Building Our Brand: The Education Advantage (ABC-CLIO, 2013) .
For living this game-changing vision, HCLS was recognized in 2013 as Library of the Year by Gale and Library Journal selected from among the continent's 21,000 public and academic libraries.
As part of the award, Library Journal hailed the "libraries = education" equation "a 21st-century model worthy of study and consideration by every library in America, if not the world." (Library Journal, June 2013)
The growing movement is ushering in a new era for libraries everywhere.
