United for Libraries and ALA welcome Texas public library groups as members

For Immediate Release
Tue, 04/14/2015

Contact:

Jillian Kalonick

Marketing/Public Relations Specialist

United for Libraries

jkalonick@ala.org

PHILADELPHIA — Hundreds of Friends of the Library groups, Foundations and Boards of Trustees in Texas are group members of United for Libraries and the American Library Association (ALA), thanks to a statewide membership purchase by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Texas joins Nebraska and Kansas in purchasing memberships for the libraries in their states.

“We are excited that through our partnership with United for Libraries, Texas libraries will have access to the rich resources developed by United for Libraries for library advocacy, volunteer development, and much more,” said Texas State Librarian Mark Smith. “This is a big win for Texas public library staff, Trustees, Friends, and Foundations.”

Public libraries in Texas receive membership for their Board of Trustees, Friends group and/or Foundation and library staff members. Membership includes the bimonthly newsletter The Voice for America’s Libraries; access to the Friends & Foundations Zone and Trustee Zone, which include toolkits, publications, archived issues of The Voice, webinars and more; and other benefits such as award eligibility and deep discounts on publications.

In addition to the standard United for Libraries membership benefits, statewide purchases include full access to:

  • the Trustee Academy, a series of online courses to help library Trustees become exceptionally proficient in their roles on behalf of their libraries;
  • Short Takes for Trustees, a series of 10 short videos  that can be shown during Trustee meetings to stimulate discussion about the important role that Trustees play in the governance of their libraries,
  • and the webcast series Engaging Volunteers for Libraries and Friends, a three-part series of webcasts is designed to inform library Friends, Trustees and staff about the new generation of volunteers — what they want from service opportunities, and how libraries and Friends can attract them.

For a complete list of United for Libraries membership benefits, and to join as an individual, group or library, visit www.ala.org/united/membership/mbrbenefits.United for Libraries offers discounted pricing for states or regions that want to purchase membership for their libraries. Discounted pricing is also available for states or regions that purchase the Trustee Academy, Short Takes for Trustees, and/or the “Engaging Volunteers” webinar series.

For information about purchasing United for Libraries membership for a state or region, please contact United for Libraries’ Director of Marketing & Communications Beth Nawalinski at (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161, or bnawalinski@ala.org.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association that supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends, and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information or to join United for Libraries, visit the United for Libraries website or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.