Publications Available from United for Libraries

You know the value of your library, but elected officials, donors, community leaders, funders, and other important stakeholders may not. How can you make the library a priority for these groups, who may have preconceived notions about what the library does, as you compete with other important community organizations for funding? “Proving Your Library’s Value: Persuasive, Organized, and Memorable Messaging,” published by ALA Editions in collaboration with United for Libraries, will show you how to succeed. In this book by Alan Fishel and Jillian Wentworth, you’ll read about using The E’s of Libraries® (Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Engagement, and Empowerment) to quickly demonstrate why your library is essential and worthy of funding.

This book's innovative framework can be used by any size or type of library, and by any library advocate, including Friends groups, library staff, trustees, and foundations. With the help of worksheets, charts, and prompts, you will learn how to:

• use language designed to win over stakeholders, funders, and partners;
• craft custom messaging in several formats that is easily accessible and memorable, including elevator speeches, budget presentations, and annual appeals; and
• create presentations and other materials tailored to any audience based on the sample documents included.

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According to 2016 Pew Research Center survey data, Millennials are more likely to have visited a public library in the past year than any other adult demographic. But despite being core library users, millennials and other younger generations are often underrepresented on library boards and library advocacy groups, including Friends groups and Foundations. But you can change that, with the help of this planner’s hands-on worksheets, brainstorming activities, checklists, and expert advice.

Using this resource, libraries of all kinds will be empowered to grow and strengthen their recruitment, retention, and training of Trustees, Friends, and Foundation members. Use this toolkit to:

• understand generational differences and commonalities through statistics and analysis of Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z/post-Millennials;
• learn how to navigate the challenges of fundraising with the “debt generations” by persuasively answering the question “what’s in it for me?”;
• master the ABCs of recruitment and retention, tailoring them to fit your library;
• craft several customized pitches, giving you confidence no matter the situation or audience;
• discover how to cement buy-in from two key groups, current organization members and your new recruits, thereby ensuring acceptance and enthusiasm all around;
• work towards defining and managing diversity for your advocacy group; and
• use tried and true methods for successful onboarding of volunteers, including a Board Member Orientation Checklist and guidance on mentoring.
  

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Though written specifically to help public and academic librarians work effectively with their Friends groups, there is much in The Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly to help Friends groups increase their effectiveness as well.

This book is loaded with good ideas for Friends on fundraising, advocacy, membership development, and programs. It also discusses how and whether to consider merging with your Foundation, how to start a Friends group (both public and academic), and how Friends can attract new and active members, along with best practices for getting along well with your library. If you have a group that is divided on how to provide the best support for the library, you’ll find a chapter addressing this as well. Friends groups are essential to their libraries — raising money and their voices when necessary. This book can help you do what you’re doing even better!

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“Once in a very great while, a book about libraries comes along that should be a bestseller. Sally Gardner Reed’s book The Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly: A Librarian’s Guide to Working with Friends Groups ought to be in the professional collection of nearly every library in the country and moreover, the president of every library Friends group should have it as well." -Wayne Hanway, board member, Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO)

"Tailored specifically to librarians' perspective, 'The Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly' will inform and empower libraries to work effectively with Friends groups for greater fundraising, engagement, and advocacy outcomes. An absolutely vital addition to the Library Science college and university collections, as well as the instructional reference collections of all community and academic librarians." -Midwest Book Review

"At a time when it feels like libraries are more needed but less supported than ever, a book about working with library Friends groups makes particular sense... Wherever a library is in its relationship with Friends, 'The Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly' has ideas and examples to share." -VOYA

Give your Trustees the tools needed to translate their experiences and interests into strong results on behalf of their libraries. Author Sally Gardner Reed draws on her years of success as a public library director, leading Friends of Libraries USA, and former United for Libraries executive director to provide Trustees with straightforward, easy-to-read guidance on how to make the most of their vital role. She guides readers through important issues, including sustainable fundraising and advocacy, hiring and evaluating a library director, strategic planning, director-trustee collaboration, and policy development.

Readers of The Complete Library Trustee Handbook will be brought up to speed on optimizing board effectiveness, board ethics issues, conflicts of interests, and efficient meeting management, and a chapter on key issues for libraries addresses intellectual freedom, user privacy, pay equity for library workers, privatization of public libraries, and funding.

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