Libraries and Library Associations Working Together Get Results!

Recruitment Letter Templates from 2003 Letter-writing Campaign

The Professional Health Librarians of New Brunswick / Bibliothécaires professionnels de la santé du Nouveau-Brunswick (PHLNB/BPSNB) embarked on a letter-writing campaign in early 2003, in an effort to bring about the hiring of a full-time professional librarian in a New Brunswick health region where the library assistant who managed the one-person library, was planning to retire.  It was felt by the health librarians in the province, that hospital management should move forward and hire a professional librarian to fill the position; however, there was concern by all, including the retiring library assistant, that this would not be the case.  The retiring library assistant who had fostered the library forward, very generously lent her support to PHLNB/BPSNB, since it was her desire also, that the library be managed by a professional librarian.

In planning the letter-writing campaign, PHLNB/BPSNB drew upon the advice of Mary Jane Hampton who presented at CHLA/ABSC Conference ’99 in Halifax.  Mary Jane had stated in her presentation entitled, 10 Steps to the Lobby, that action such as a letter-writing campaign required a critical threshold of seven letters in order to capture the attention of its target.  Consequently, PHLNB/BPSNB engaged seven professional interests/associations to write letters in support of the desired outcome.  The resulting templates of the letters and cover-letters, along with excerpts of supporting professional standards, have been made accessible to CHLA/ABSC membership, to assist with similar efforts.  Most of the templates are available in both French and English.

By early January, 2004, it was confirmed that a professional librarian had, in fact, been hired to fill the position, and that the letter-writing campaign had been a success.  PHLNB/BPSNB would like to express its appreciation to all of the professional interests/associations that contributed to the positive outcome of this campaign.

Nancy McAllister
Coordinator of the letter-writing campaign

Templates:

Letters written by PHLNB/BPSNB

• To human resources
• To medical education

Letters written by CHLA/ABSC

• To human resources
• To medical educations

Letters written by MHLA/ABSM

• To human resources

Supporting standards excerpts from CHLA/ABSC and CCHSA