As the current pandemic influences funding decisions and impacts budgets that fund school and public libraries, the importance of library advocacy and funding has increased. To bring together librarians and advocacy and funding experts, EveryLibrary is holding the first-ever Library Advocacy and Funding Conference.
The virtual event, which takes place from September 14-16, 2020, will introduce political experts to librarians and library supporters to provide support and discuss new strategies and tactics to advocate for library funding. Topics will include advocacy outreach, donor research, grants, legislation and more.
LibraryAware, which is a conference sponsor, recently interviewed Patrick Sweeney, Deputy Director at EveryLibrary, to discuss why this event is so essential to libraries and what libraries can expect from the event. LibraryAware provides tools for libraries to promote themselves, including advocacy templates from EveryLibrary.
Over 98% of library funding is decided by voters and politicians, and in the last ten years, libraries have lost nearly 20% of voter and political support for funding and revenue. This support is vital to library funding, and advocacy will be required to rebuild it. Advocacy is also a skill, with known strategies and tactics that can create real, lasting support for library funding.
Over 98% of library funding is decided by voters and politicians, and in the last ten years, libraries have lost nearly 20% of voter and political support for funding and revenue. This support is vital to library funding, and advocacy will be required to rebuild it. Advocacy is also a skill, with known strategies and tactics that can create real, lasting support for library funding.
Sweeney says, “Over 98% of library funding is decided by voters and politicians, and in the last ten years, libraries have lost nearly 20% of voter and political support for funding and revenue. This support is vital to library funding, and advocacy will be required to rebuild it. Advocacy is also a skill, with known strategies and tactics that can create real, lasting support for library funding.”
The conference will look to support libraries as they grapple with these realities and bring together minds from various political and government sectors to discuss real solutions.
