As we move into more digital offerings at our public libraries, partnerships with vendors become more and more critical to delivering the collections and services our patrons expect. Public library staff may not feel like they have the experience or confidence to effectively navigate these relationships, especially since working with vendors can often be a role that a library staffer falls into, without any prior knowledge.
This session will address the basics of managing vendor relationships, with the goal of empowering public library staff to be able to establish and develop a strong vendor relationship, which ultimately benefits their patrons. We’ll cover: - How are library vendors usually structured (i.e. who are you talking to and when?) - Communication tips - learn to be assertive, set boundaries and communicate clearly, without being adversarial or too passive - Fostering productive, positive relationships - Dealing with sales-y tactics, negotiating, and contracts - The tough stuff - how to handle problems with the service or product - How you can continue to learn and grow in this area
We’ll share real-life strategies from our day-to-day work with vendors, as well as having time for discussion, so that we can all learn from each other.
