How to Build and Maintain Library Advocacy

Are you fighting book challenges or other issues at your library that could use advocacy support? We know that libraries need support now more than ever, so we developed a new online course, How to Build and Maintain Library Advocacy, to help.

Join us next month and learn how to address contentious political issues without burning bridges, procure meaningful partnerships, and secure funding to create ongoing support for your library. It all starts May 16!

Featured Sessions

Political Strategy and Organization: How to Apply Effective Methods to Your Library

Libraries often don’t have access to the most effective tools and training for political advocacy. This session will teach you political strategy and organization from outside of a library perspective in order to diversify the strategies that librarians have access to that might help drive support for your organization. Learn what political activists and organizers are doing and how their tactics can be applied to your library. May 16, 2023

Sandy Chung, (she, her) Executive Director at American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon and Jude al-Ghazal Stone, (he, him, his) Lead Administrative Associate at American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon

Jamar Rahming, Executive Director, Wilmington Institute Free Library

How to Build Relationships with Local and State Legislators

Finding allies in your state and local legislators can be instrumental in gaining support for your library. This session will teach you best practices for how to get started by identifying potential allies and scripts for reaching out to them. From there, you will learn how to build and maintain relationships with your allies and ways to seek their support for your library. May 23, 2023

Course Learning Outcomes

When you attend this interactive online course, you’ll gain the tools to:

Discern what lobbying and activism is and isn’t allowed for your type of organization
Organize and lobby for your library with a clear plan and strategy
Craft your library’s story for both funding and advocacy purposes
Navigate contentious political issues with a range of people without burning bridges
Identify and build relationships with municipal offices and legislators
Proactively prepare for grants
Find and apply for grants
Utilize data storytelling and visualization to make your grant applications more compelling
Understand next steps after securing a grant, including how to create compelling reports for your funders