Initiatives
Frontline Fundraising
Responding to the reduced resources at libraries throughout the nation, the Frontline Fundraising initiative will provide tools that can be used by everyone, regardless of the size and type of library, who needs to supplement the budget from their jurisdiction or institution with additional support. Building on the the work of Frontline Advocacy, this initiative will help members develop and utilize the tools and skills needed at the local level. The primary focus will be on the development of an online toolkit and webinars that can be broadly accessed by ALAs members. President's programs at the 2011 Midwinter Meeting on frontline fundraising and at the Annual Conference featuring a panel of top donors who give their views on what makes a successful request for support are also planned. These programs will be taped and made available to members on the ALA website.
Our Authors, Our Advocates
Authors are not only the natural allies of libraries, but often celebrities in their own right. This initiative will focus on using these well-known, articulate and impassioned spokespeople to highlight the key role libraries and library staff play in the economic, social and educational fabric of our nation. This initiative will highlight these individuals in support of libraries through interviews, posters, podcasts, publications, and other media support. These materials will be made available to the membership for use at the local level. Much like the READ posters, such an initiative can build a broad base of support for libraries over time. Additionally, “Our Authors, Our Advocates” will be used as a model for creating advocates for libraries at the community level through the toolkit "Cultivating Your Local Notables.” The toolkit will provide guidance on identifying and enlisting local "celebrities" as your library's advocate.
“Why I Need My Library” Contest
At the 2010 Midwinter Meeting, I talked with members, especially in AASL and YALSA, about an idea for using young people to communicate why libraries are needed now more than ever. This initiative takes Camila Alire's member-driven, grassroots advocacy and Jim Rettig's experimentation with social networking a step further with the aim of adding to the arsenal of techniques for frontline advocacy and engaging a new constituency in supporting libraries. The products will be short videos by children and young adults made available on YouTube and the ilovelibraries and @yourlibrary websites. The winners will identify either their school or local public library as the beneficiary of cash prizes for the best videos in the contest.