When Friends Become Frenemies: Navigating the Wild World of Rogue Friends Groups & How to Survive It

Sierra Vista has had the most unique Friends experiences out there. The city has two stand alone Friends Groups, both of whom support the library, but it's been a wild journey getting there. This speaking session will be a little of all things: a case study on what what wrong in Sierra Vista (find out why are Friends are wild), how we got there and how it maybe could have been avoided, and how we rectified the situation with the proper legal and written framework needed. Most libraries are not covered by written agreements with their Friends and don't know where to start--this lecture will go over our unique perils, how to avoid them, and how to set you and your library up for success by protecting yourself through understanding, compassion, and common sense moving forward. 

Learning Objectives:

Presenters:

Emily Duchon directs the operations for the 30,000 plus square foot Sierra Vista Public Library in addition to managing four additional cultural & recreational divisions for the City of Sierra Vista: The Henry H Hauser Museum, Adaptive Adults Recreational Program, Family Programming (including mobile recreational services and KIDS WORLD before and after school program, as well as the City Artist Studio). Her decades long experiences include operational excellence, mentoring and retaining top notch employees, facility maintenance, and keeping Friends Group motivated yet grounded in their mission She believes in servant-leadership, innovation, diversity & inclusion, and the power of local government to change lives for the better. In her off time, you can catch her hiking in the mountains, reading, and spending time with her family.