Registration is Open for the Library Advocacy and Funding Conference!

Explore three days worth of content on how to navigate the world of politics and building voter support for library funding.

The library industry is under threat from a number of major simultaneous crises, all leading to a loss of financial and voter support. The COVID-19 crisis has decimated the fundamental municipal tax base that funds school and public libraries. Politically appointed library boards are taking aim at de-funding libraries from the inside. Major scam PACs and political extremists are attempting to dictate what books Americans can and cannot read while working to de-legitimize trust in publicly funded institutions. As a result, many of our traditional philanthropic funders have pulled their support from library activities. This conference will help us address these issues and so much more!

Libraries lost nearly 20% of voter and political support for funding between 2008 and 2018. A seemingly reasonable response to this loss would be to double down on outreach to library users, but according to research from OCLC, library use does not always translate to voter support. We also know that while people like libraries as much as they have before, they are less likely to vote to fund them. It is clear that we need a paradigm shift in the way that we are approaching advocacy and marketing in our communities. Looking outside of the library industry and learning from successful cause-related and fundraising organizations is key if libraries are going to continue to thrive. That's why we built this conference around experts who can help libraries build support for local funding.

Learn New Strategies and Tactics

Join EveryLibrary online from September 26-28, 2022 to meet some of the most talented and experienced political and fundraising strategists and tacticians from within the library industry and beyond. Dive in to three days worth of content on how to effectively navigate the world of politics and build support for library funding.

The unique virtual structure of the conference will allow participants to attend all sessions, dig deep into a particular track, or mix and match a program that meets their needs. Session speakers will be available live throughout the conference via Slack for conversations and interactivity with attendees. Conference topics will include: outreach, donor research, grants, legislation, coalition building, digital tactics, and marketing. This year we're even adding a book banning and censorship track where you'll meet some of the organizations fighting against these unprecedented attacks.

Immediate Support for the Library Industry
In order to build a strong advocacy network, EveryLibrary believes that we need healthy library associations and support organizations. The advocacy strategies learned at this conference will provide tools to support the long-term health of libraries and associations, but short-term financial help is needed too. We will donate $20 of every registration to state library associations (or a national library association if outside the United States) in order to help these associations weather difficult financial times.

Converse, Share, and Prepare for the Future

Conversations and idea exchanges are one of the most vital parts of any conference, and that should not change even in a virtual setting. We will be using a brand new platform for this year's conference to allow our attendees and speakers to talk and share throughout the conference. Those channels will remain active after the conference to allow everyone to keep in touch. We want this conference to provide a dedicated community of colleagues and advocates with the tools you need to take action and make sure that all libraries can thrive and position themselves for stable funding in an uncertain future.

Speakers and other information will be announced soon. Register to keep up with the latest information.

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