Guest speaker sessions via Zoom:
Tuesdays, May 16, 23, and 30, from 2:00-3:45 pm ET (recordings available)
Workshop:
Asynchronous, facilitator-led workshop over 3 weeks
Between budget cuts, staffing shortages, defunding efforts, and censorship challenges, many libraries are facing unprecedented challenges. This course will teach you the foundations of library advocacy, including finding and applying for grants, building relationships with municipal offices and legislators, lobbying and political organizing, and uniting data and storytelling to advocate for libraries. You will learn tangible strategies to add to your advocacy toolkit and have the opportunity to find solidarity and build meaningful relationships with other librarians.
You’ll complete assignments over 3+ weeks in an interactive online classroom environment with personal coaching from an expert in the field. In addition, you’ll have access to our foundational bonus content—rich supporting materials you can explore at your own pace, including a series of webinars from Library Journal and School Library Journal contributors, readings, activities, and videos.
The transformational speaker program has given thousands of librarians the tools and vision for meaningful change. The live sessions run on Tuesdays, May 16, 23, and 30 from 2:00-3:45 pm ET (recordings available) with an ongoing facilitator-led workshop over 3 weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity!
When you sign up early, you’ll have immediate access to our Early Access On Demand Resources—a series of webinars from Library Journal and School Library Journal contributors along with rich, supporting materials in the form of readings, activities, and videos—to explore at your own pace.
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
Any librarian who wants to learn how to take a more active role in library advocacy. This course is for all levels of library staff, from frontline workers to directors.
Can’t make a live session? All guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on demand for six months following the initial broadcast. Asynchronous workshops allow you to complete assignments and receive feedback from experts.
15 professional development credits are available
For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co
All guest speaker sessions feature live captioning and are made available on demand after the initial broadcast. Please email libraryjournal@edmaker.co upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.
Lance Werner, Director, Kent District Library
Lance is an attorney and librarian. He has worked in academic, public, and government libraries in a variety of capacities and leadership roles. Lance has been the Executive Director at the Kent District Library (KDL) in Kent County, Michigan for more than 12 years. He is a former president of the Michigan Library Association (MLA), Chair of the MLA Legislative Committee, Advisory Board member of the Wayne State School of Information Science, and Chair of the Lakeland Library Cooperative Board. He was the Michigan Librarian of the Year and Library Journal Librarian of the Year. He was also recognized as a Mover and Shaker by the Library Journal and was recognized as WSU's Distinguished Alumni. For two years in a row, he has been named Grand Rapids Business Journal's "Grand Rapids 200", The most powerful business leaders in West Michigan. Lance is a former registered lobbyist. He is also a member of the Everylibrary Institute Board, the Library of Michigan Board and OCLC Global Council.
Discounted registration fees are available for groups of 3 or more. When you register your team for our online courses, they will be placed in the same small workshop group, where discussions and project-based assignments receive feedback from an experienced librarian.
Send us a request for a quote.
If your group prefers to work separately, just let us know.
By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.
For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.
Session 1 | 2:00-2:45 pm ET
So you want to get involved in advocacy for your library - but where do you start? This session will begin by briefly explaining the legislative process as well as what lobbying practices libraries are and are not allowed to participate in. From there, you will learn the foundations of how to lobby, including the resources you’ll need and the roles and responsibilities everyone should take.
Speaker:
Bob DeVries, Governmental Consultant Services, Inc. (GCSI) |
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Session 2 | 3:00-3:45 pm ET
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.
Speaker:
Sandy Chung, (she, her) Executive Director at American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon |
Jude al-Ghazal Stone, (he, him, his) Lead Administrative Associate at American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon |
Session 1 | 2:00-2:45 pm ET
Storytelling is at the heart of all effective advocacy efforts. This session will teach you tangible tools for how to construct and communicate your library’s story. You’ll learn what appeals to funders and legislators, how to narrativize your data, and how to tell your story in concise and engaging ways.
Speaker:
Lance Werner, KDL Executive Director |
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Session 2 | 3:00-3:45 pm ET
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.
Speaker:
Jamar Rahming, Executive Director, Wilmington Institute Free Library |
Session 1 | 2:00-2:45 pm ET
Applying for grants can seem daunting, but the process is much easier if you stay ahead by preparing proactively. This session will teach you methods for anticipating the information grants ask for and creating an organized system for continuously collecting that information in order to streamline your application process and save you from scrambling at the last minute. You will learn the foundations of data visualization and storytelling so that you stay ready to apply any time a grant opportunity arises.
Speaker:
Kristin Gootjes, Senior Fundraising Consultant, The Breton Group |
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Session 2 | 3:00-3:45 pm ET
This nuts and bolts session will teach you how to find and apply for grants for your library. Learn tips for making this process as light a lift as possible while still increasing your chances of receiving the grant. This session will also teach you strategies for reporting on grants once you have them. Leave this session confident in your ability to gain financial support for your library.
Speaker:
Patricia Hswe, Program Officer for Public Knowledge at the Mellon Foundation. |
For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.
DAYS 1-2 On Demand |
DAY 3 2.5 hours |
DAYS 4-7 1-2 hours (optional) |
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PRE-LIVE SESSION - Resources - Discussions - Bonus Content |
LIVE SESSIONS - Guest speakers via webcast - Q&A via chat - Recordings available on demand |
ASYNCHRONOUS WORKSHOP - Project-based homework, applied to your job - Personalized feedback from a facilitator - Group discussion in an asynchronous workshop setting via discussion forum |
3-WEEK WORKSHOP - Facilitator-led feedback WEEK 1 Establish goals and priorities WEEK 2 Prepare for your collection assessment WEEK 3 Begin audit or select materials for a collection |
Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace |
Live Guest Speakers Each Week
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Recordings of guest speakers |
Recordings Available After The Live Session
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Facilitator-led workshop |
Online Classroom Organizes All Materials
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Early Access On Demand Resources |
Early Access and Ongoing Resources To Support Learning
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