Publications Available from United for Libraries

Proving Your Library’s Value: Persuasive, Organized, and Memorable Messaging

Click here to request more information or an invoice for the Action Planner PLUS+, for Proving Your Library's Value, featuring eBook, eCourse, and ePlan.

You know the value of your library, but elected officials, donors, community leaders, funders, and other important stakeholders may not. How can you make the library a priority for these groups, who may have preconceived notions about what the library does, as you compete with other important community organizations for funding? “Proving Your Library’s Value: Persuasive, Organized, and Memorable Messaging,” published by ALA Editions in collaboration with United for Libraries, will show you how to succeed. In this book by Alan Fishel and Jillian Wentworth, you’ll read about using The E’s of Libraries® (Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Engagement, and Empowerment) to quickly demonstrate why your library is essential and worthy of funding. With the help of worksheets, charts, and prompts, you will learn how to:

  • use language designed to win over stakeholders, funders, and partners;
  • craft custom messaging in several formats that is easily accessible and memorable, including elevator speeches, budget presentations, and annual appeals; and
  • create presentations and other materials tailored to any audience based on the sample documents included.*

Purchase "Proving Your Library's Value" from the ALA Store

Request more information or an invoice for the Action Planner PLUS+, for Proving Your Library's Value, featuring eBook, eCourse, and ePlan.

For bulk purchases and other special purchasing arrangements, please contact us at editionsmarketing@ala.org.


All Ages Welcome: Recruiting and Retaining Younger Generations for Library Boards, Friends Groups, and Foundations

Click here to request more information or an invoice for the Action Planner PLUS+, for All Ages Welcome, featuring eBook, eCourse, and ePlan.

According to 2016 Pew Research Center survey data, Millennials are more likely to have visited a public library in the past year than any other adult demographic. But despite being core library users, millennials and other younger generations are often underrepresented on library boards and library advocacy groups, including Friends groups and Foundations.  But you can change that, with the help of this planner’s hands-on worksheets, brainstorming activities, checklists, and expert advice. Using this toolkit from United for Libraries you will

  • understand generational differences and commonalities through statistics and analysis of Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z/post-Millennials;
  • learn how to navigate the challenges of fundraising with the “debt generations” by persuasively answering the question “what’s in it for me?”;
  • master the ABCs of recruitment and retention, tailoring them to fit your library;
  • craft several customized pitches, giving you confidence no matter the situation or audience;
  • discover how to cement buy-in from two key groups, current organization members and your new recruits, thereby ensuring acceptance and enthusiasm all around;
  • work towards defining and managing diversity for your advocacy group; and
  • use tried and true methods for successful onboarding of volunteers, including a Board Member Orientation Checklist and guidance on mentoring.

Using this resource, libraries of all kinds will be empowered to grow and strengthen their recruitment, retention, and training of Trustees, Friends, and Foundation members.

Purchase "All Ages Welcome" from the ALA Store

Request more information or an invoice for the Action Planner PLUS+, for All Ages Welcome, featuring eBook, eCourse, and ePlan.

For bulk purchases and other special purchasing arrangements, please contact editionsmarketing@ala.org.


The Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly: A Librarian's Guide to Working with Friends Groups

The Good, The Great, and the Unfriendly book cover imageThough written specifically to help public and academic librarians work effectively with their Friends groups, there is much in The Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly to help Friends groups increase their effectiveness as well.

Written by United for Libraries Executive Director Sally Gardner Reed, the book is loaded with good ideas for Friends on fundraising, advocacy, membership development, and programs. It also discusses how and whether to consider merging with your Foundation, how to start a Friends group (both public and academic), and how Friends can attract new and active members, along with best practices for getting along well with your library. If you have a group that is divided on how to provide the best support for the library, you’ll find a chapter addressing this as well. Friends groups are essential to their libraries — raising money and their voices when necessary. This book can help you do what you’re doing even better!

“Once in a very great while, a book about libraries comes along that should be a bestseller. Sally Gardner Reed’s book The Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly: A Librarian’s Guide to Working with Friends Groups ought to be in the professional collection of nearly every library in the country and moreover, the president of every library Friends group should have it as well." -Wayne Hanway, board member, Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO)

"Tailored specifically to librarians' perspective, 'The Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly' will inform and empower libraries to work effectively with Friends groups for greater fundraising, engagement, and advocacy outcomes. An absolutely vital addition to the Library Science college and university collections, as well as the instructional reference collections of all community and academic librarians." -Midwest Book Review

"At a time when it feels like libraries are more needed but less supported than ever, a book about working with library Friends groups makes particular sense... Wherever a library is in its relationship with Friends, 'The Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly' has ideas and examples to share." -VOYA

Prior to accepting the position of executive director of United for Libraries in 2002, Reed spent nearly 20 years in library administration. She is the author of nine books on library management, advocacy, volunteering, and fundraising, as well as numerous articles for professional library journals. She has presented programs and workshops to hundreds of Friends of Library groups, library boards, and librarian groups, nationally and internationally.

To purchase, visit the ALA online store, where you can read an excerpt from the book (ALA Editions; 978-0-8389-1498-4; $57). Download a coupon to save $5.

  • Personal and organizational members of United for Libraries will automatically receive their 10% member discount when purchasing the book online. Enter the coupon code GGTU17 to receive the $5 coupon discount as well.
     
  • Group members wishing to purchase this title must place the order by phone through the ALA Store (1-866-Shop ALA) to receive both discounts. Visit the Friends & Foundations Zone (login required) or Trustee Zone (login required) for the group member discount code to receive 10% off your store order. Mention this code and GGTU17 to receive both the 10% member discount and the $5 coupon discount as well.

The Complete Library Trustee Handbook

the complete library trustee handbook United for Libraries Executive Director Sally Gardner Reed draws on her years of success as a library director and executive director of Friends of Libraries U.S.A. to provide Trustees with straightforward, easy-to-read guidance on how to make the most of their vital role. She guides readers through important issues such as sustainable fundraising and advocacy, strategic planning, director-Trustee collaboration, and policy development. Readers of The Complete Library Trustee Handbook will be brought up to speed on board effectiveness, board ethics issues, conflicts of interest, and efficient meeting management. A chapter on key issues for libraries addresses intellectual freedom, user privacy, pay equity for library workers, privatization of public libraries, and funding.

Purchase "The Complete Trustee Handbook" from the ALA Store

 


Even More Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends

book cover for even more great ideas for libraries and friends

The first edition of this breakthrough book was a huge success, so FOLUSA (Friends of Libraries U.S.A.) collected 101+ more terrific ideas and best practices to help you and your team connect with your community with Even More Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends. Following an introduction which sets the stage for effective library/community partnerships, you’ll discover ideas for innovative programs, successful fundraising, strategic advocacy, powerful public relations, memorable membership campaigns and more. As in the first book, each idea is presented with practical instructions, graphics, and implementation tools so you can adapt these programs successfully and creatively to match your library’s specific needs and opportunities.

Purchase from the ALA Store at the list price of $77 plus shipping and handling.

 


A Library Board’s Practical Guide To Self-Evaluation

by Nicholas Spillios (Lifetime Member, Alberta Library Trustees, Canada) and Sally G. Reed (Executive Director, United for Libraries). Committee members included; Donna McDonald (Library Director, Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System) and Alan Smith (Trustee, Contra Costa County Library).

Trustees and Library Commissioners make important fiscal and administrative decisions critical to the functioning of their library. Board members commit their time and skills for effective governing. It is important that they understand their roles and responsibilities and possess the information necessary to make wise decisions as a Board. This annual self-evaluation tool can assist Trustees to assess the competencies essential to their performance as Board members. Further, it will assist them in seeking opportunities for training and continuing education and adjust individual perception of operation and gaps in information. Trustee section personal members and Board of Trustees group members can access this publication free of charge as a PDF. Log in to the Trustee Zone to access.


A Library Board’s Practical Guide To Hiring Outside Experts

by Christine Lind Hage, Rochester  Hills (MI) Public Library; Mary Pergander, Deerfield (IL) Public Library; and Jean Tabor, Canton (MI) Public Library

Library boards are volunteer organizations made up of individual trustees with myriad skills and expertise. During their tenure on the board, trustees are often faced with difficult, complex issues outside the realm of their experience. Undertaking a feasibility study, passing a millage/levy, and evaluating compensation packages for staff are but a few of the challenges that boards face. Based on individual skill levels as well as their time to devote to the library, some boards will choose to undertake these issues on their own using subcommittees or the board as a committee of the whole. Others will decide to invest in hiring a consultant to assist in these endeavors. This guide, part of a series written by United for Libraries Trustee members, provides a practical approach for boards to follow when they choose to hire a consultant. Trustee section personal members and Board of Trustees group members can access this publication free of charge as a PDF. Log in to the Trustee Zone to access.


Getting Grants in Your Community

by Sally Gardner Reed and Beth Nawalinski

This step-by-step guide will show you how to find and apply for grants in your community -- no matter how large or small. The accompanying CD-ROM includes sample grants and cover letters along with a fill-in-the-blank template so that even first time grant writers can develop a professional proposal. Using MS-Word format, simply fill in the template, cut and paste verbiage from sample grants included as needed, and print! Everything you need in one complete toolkit to start bringing local grant money into your library! United for Libraries personal and group members may receive a downloadable version of this publication free of charge by accessing the Friends & Foundations Zone or the Trustee Zone. A limited supply of hard copies is available for purchase. The member price to purchase is $25 plus $2 shipping. The non-member price is $40 plus $2 shipping. Please contact the United for Libraries office at (800) 545-2433, ext 2161 or by e-mail at united@ala.org to order.


Making Our Voices Heard: Citizens Speak Out for Libraries

by Sally Gardner Reed and Beth Nawalinski

Thanks to a grant from the American Library Association, FOLUSA published a highly usable how-to-do-it guide on library advocacy for Friends called Making Our Voices Heard: Citizens Speak Out for Libraries. Published in CD-ROM format with an accompanying workbook, this guide will take you and your group through the advocacy process step-by-step. The CD-ROM will tell you how to engage in advocacy for your local library and the workbook will allow you to design your own plan for action. United for Libraries personal and group members may receive a downloadable version of this publication free of charge by accessing the Friends & Foundations Zone or the Trustee Zone. A limited supply of hard copies is available for purchase. The member price to purchase is $20 plus $2 shipping. The non-member price is $30 plus $2 shipping. Please contact the United for Libraries office at (800) 545-2433, ext 2161 or by e-mail at united@ala.org to order.