Partnership Policy

Purpose

This policy is meant to provide a framework for partnerships between SPL and external organizations (businesses, non-profits, community groups, etc.). SPL’s Partnership Policy aims to ensure SPL’s partnerships are community-inspired and align with SPL’s Strategic Plan.

Principles

SPL partnerships are community inspired and align with SPL’s Strategic Plan. All partnerships should have:

• Regular communication.
• Clear roles and timelines.
• Flexibility on both sides.
• Common goals.
• Benefits to all partners and the community.
• Regular evaluations that all partners are involved in.
• The ability to end the partnership.

Criteria

Partnerships may be sought out by SPL or offered to SPL. The following best practices will be considered when seeking partners, responding to partnership requests, or evaluating existing partnerships:

• The partnership must fulfil at least one goal or objective in SPL’s Strategic Plan.
• The partnership must fulfil partner’s goal[s] or objective[s].
• The partnership allows the library to expand patron base, reach underserved areas of the community, build stronger relationships with individuals and groups, strengthens SPL’s reputation in the community, or enhances SPL’s programs or services.
• The partner understands the value of the library and recognizes how the library supports them and their organization, and vice versa.
• The partner shares aspects of SPL’s vision, mission, or values as outlined in the Strategic Plan.
• The partner has expertise or resources that SPL lacks and vice versa.
• The partnership shouldn’t duplicate a library program or service if the library is successfully meeting the demand for that program or service.
• The partnership ensures confidentiality of library user records.
• The partnership is feasible. Partners have the capacity to fulfill partnership responsibilities.
• The partnership honours the terms of collective bargaining agreements and employment and safety regulations and guidelines.
• The partner does not seek fee or payment for performance or services. However, partners may share costs of running a program or collaboratively seek a funding partner.

Definitions

A partnership is a collective effort between SPL and other institutions, organizations, businesses, or individuals to accomplish common goals with a shared sense of purpose and responsibility for the outcome. Partnerships can be short- or long-term, ongoing or unique, complex or simple, formal or informal. Partnerships tend to fall into the following categories but often have elements of more than one category, depending on the nature of the partnership.

Types of Partnerships