Libraries Should Be Neutral?

That's a hard argument to make!

Libraries are absolutely non-partisan and that's what many people mean when they say that libraries should be neutral.

But, libraries are political when they take a stand to support issues such as first amendment rights, information access, the freedom to read and so much more.

It’s also true that 98% of library funding is driven by the will of voters and legislators.

That means that if we want to see libraries funded and supported into the future then we need to understand how to navigate this world of politics.

That’s why we launched the Library Advocacy and Funding Conference!

We want to teach you the skills and strategies you need to increase the political will of your community to fund your library. These advanced sessions will show you how you can be more skilled at navigating politics in your community and at the state and federal levels.

At LAFCON you’ll be learning from some of the world’s most experienced political operatives, international advocacy organizations, fundraising experts, business leaders, and highly skilled campaigners. For example, many of our presenters have worked presidential campaigns, international fundraising efforts, as well as state, local, and national advocacy campaigns for some of the world’s biggest organizations. You can see the current list of sessions here but check back often as we're adding more sessions all the time.

Register today for the virtual Library Advocacy and Funding Conference from July 24-26th.

You simply won’t find another conference bringing you this level of expertise, skills, tools, and strategies to move your library forward.

Here are five more sessions that we're excited about at the Library advocacy and Funding Conference:

Be FOIA Smart

What the heck is FOIA and why should you care? This session will offer a look at the Freedom of Information Act, including how you can use it to uncover book challenges and where and how you can protect yourself from being a victim of targeted FOI... LEARN MORE

National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) + Libraries

National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy. According to U.S. Census data from 2020, as many as 1 in 4 eligible Americans are not registered to vote. Every year, millions of Americans find themselves ... LEARN MORE

Fighting Back against Censorship: One Librarian’s Story

After being fired by the High Plains Library District in retaliation for opposing their discriminatory program policy and speaking out to my community about being told to cancel my programs for LGBTQIA+ teens and youth of color, I embarked upon (a... LEARN MORE

What to expect when you're expecting (to sue your state over censorship laws)

When advocacy fails to change the minds of lawmakers, libraries and librarians must turn to the courts to protect the First Amendment rights of their patrons. That is easier said than done. Join Library Director and advocate Adam Webb as he discus... LEARN MORE

The Convergence of Censorship Trends in US and Canadian Libraries

An analysis of library censorship data since 2015 shows that there have been stark differences between the book-banning cultures in the US and Canada. However, recent data shows that a nascent wave of reactionary sentiment has spearhead an unprece... LEARN MORE