Budget in the Crosshairs?Navigating a Challenging Budget Year

Every librarian knows that funding is under threat for libraries in communities of all sizes and all across the nation. Unfortunately, these budget reductions are occurring at a time when customer demand for library services is increasing. Every library is potentially in the crosshairs. As a library director or manager, what can you do about it?

Start here. While every library’s situation has its own complexities, this guide to Navigating a Challenging Budget Year will provide a good foundation to help you navigate your challenging budget year. It will prove especially helpful to library directors and mangers of small-to-medium sized public libraries, if you’re not a public librarian don’t stop reading . Much of the information contained in this guide is applicable to other kinds of libraries too – academic, school and special libraries. 

Above all, remember that you’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure out how to respond to the challenge all by yourself. There are great advocacy ideas everywhere. ALA’s website is rich in resources.

Contents:

1. Understand the Big Picture
        If Your Cuts are Challenging, But Fair
        If Your Cuts are Challenging, and Don’t Feel Fair
    
2. Gear Up for Advocacy: Turn Worry into Action
        Understand Your Timeline
        Take Some Immediate Action
        Seek Advice
        Communicate Change
        Advocate for a Community Survey
    
3. Build the Foundation for Your Library’s Message
        Your Library and Its Community
        Your Data Matters
    
4. Marshall Your Resources: Strength in Numbers
        Build a “Budget Response Team”
    
5. Tell Your Story: Persuading Decision Makers
        Craft Your Message
        Who’s Listening?
        Communicate in Many Ways
        Put People to Work
    
6. Moving Forward: After the Dust Settles
        Communicate
        Say “Thank You”
        Develop an Ongoing Plan for Advocacy