Keynotes announced for ‘United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees – Friends – Foundations’ Aug. 4-6

EXTON, Pennsylvania — “United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees – Friends – Foundations,” to be held Aug. 4-6, 2020, will feature three keynote sessions; topics will be focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion; how groups can plan for an uncertain future, and the changing role of the library in the community.

• On Tuesday, Aug. 4, 1:15 p.m. Eastern, Jim Taylor, Vice President of Leadership Initiatives and Education of BoardSource, will speak on “Integrating Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity into Your Board Culture.” Given this moment of focus on racial equity in our society, many boards are becoming more interested in diversity, inclusion, and equity but aren’t sure where to begin. In this session, you will hear why this work is so important to the mission of the nonprofit sector, current national data on nonprofit board diversity, and steps your board can take to make progress on these issues.
  
  
• On Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1:15 p.m. Eastern, Jan Masaoka, CEO of California Association of Nonprofits, will speak on “Libraries, Friends and Foundations: At an Unexpected Crossroads.” Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the world of libraries was changing fast. Today, friends and foundations are at the intersection of government, volunteerism, aging, homelessness, and the digital information revolution. How are Friends and Foundations serving as role models for other government agencies seeking the help of private donations and volunteers? How do we think about strategic goals and long-term visions in a world where everything seems to change every week? Jan Masaoka brings a provocative, unconventional approach to these questions.
  
  
• On Thurs., Aug. 6, 12:15 p.m. Eastern, Beth Burns, President of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, and Ted Davis, Advocacy Chair/Trustee of The Friends, will be in conversation with ALA Executive Director Tracie Hall for “Heal, Recover, Grow: Re-Framing Library Advocacy to Meet Our Community’s Greatest Needs.” Everything is different than a year ago, so why would library advocacy remain unchanged? In Saint Paul, Minn. against the backdrop of pandemic, George Floyd’s murder, the destruction of neighborhoods and businesses, and economic recession – The Friends’ board and staff have stepped back from a long history of successful political advocacy to create space for a new and very different conversation about the library’s role in its community. The Friends believes the public library is poised to make substantial contributions to the larger needs of the City and are pivoting their advocacy approach accordingly, reckoning with their own need for a more inclusive, community-centered approach to advocacy.

In addition, this interactive virtual event will also feature expert speakers on current topics facing library Trustees, Friends, Foundations, and staff who work with them, including engaged planning for boards and library leaders, understanding donor data analytics, library Foundation support for equity-based initiatives, Friends and Foundations working together, and more. For a complete schedule visit www.ala.org/united/events_conferences/virtual/schedule.

Registration is at no cost to United for Libraries members and those in MA, MD, MI, MT, NE, OR, SC, SD, TX. For details and to register, or for information on joining United for Libraries, visit www.ala.org/united/virtual. Information is also available by emailing united@ala.org or calling (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.