ALTAFF members vote to change organization’s title to ‘United for Libraries’

PHILADELPHIA —  As part of the recent American Library Association (ALA) election, the majority of voting members of the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) voted to change the organization’s title to “United for Libraries: the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations.”

The name change will become official on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012. In the coming months, the new “United for Libraries” name and logo will be featured on the organization’s website and materials. United for Libraries will continue to provide its members, which include friends of the library, trustees, foundations and library advocates, with the best possible specialized resources that will empower them to support and advocate for their libraries.

 “We are so fortunate to have library advocates – trustees, friends and others – speaking out to support libraries of all types,” said ALA President Molly Raphael. “My presidential advocacy initiative, ‘Empowering Voices, Transforming Communities,’ focuses on the transformative power of communities making the case for the value of libraries of all types. We are so appreciative of library advocates’ efforts on behalf of libraries to mobilize communities to make their libraries even better. ‘United for Libraries’ says it all – together, we can make a difference!”

 “Those who support, govern and raise money for libraries many times work independently, often reinventing the wheel in every city and town,” said ALTAFF President Donna McDonald. “Our name change mirrors the work this important division of ALA does – that is, uniting the voices of library lovers everywhere to strengthen, support, share best practices and to ensure that libraries of all types thrive.”

ALTAFF is a division of the American Library Association that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. ALTAFF 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, visit www.ala.org/altaff, or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.  

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