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Trustees, Friends, & Foundations |
November 2025 |  |
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Welcome to the Trustees, Friends, & Foundations Newsletter!
A monthly update on items relevant to those
who work as or with Library Trustees, Friends, and Foundations. | |
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| September / October 2025
"In 2022, the Library Development Division at the Library of Virginia received a unique opportunity to assist public libraries in the state in reaching an often-underserved segment of their communities—military families. A member of the Library of Virginia Board put us in touch with Blue Star Families, an organization founded by military families in 2009 that is committed to “strengthening military families by
connecting them with their neighbors—individuals, and organizations—to create vibrant communities of mutual support.” Our initial discussions with Blue Star Families have evolved into a fruitful partnership, enabling us to provide ideas for supporting military families and connecting them with public libraries
throughout the Commonwealth..." |
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| November 3, 2025
"Traditional professional development plans in libraries may satisfy organizational or certification needs but do not necessarily satisfy employees’ needs, wants, and interests. What if we put employees’ needs and wants center stage by looking at professional development through the lens of an employee well-being program? A well-being program is an investment in the whole person, not just the part that is an employee, and therefore the concept of professional development can easily be built into a well-being program..." |
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Sign Up with the Virginia Library Association as an Advocate!
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Click HERE and sign up for the VLA Advocacy Center Mailing List to make sure you're receiving Virginia action alerts and updates on policy issues related to the library field. This will help you keep abreast of legislation that could affect your local library and community.
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Federal Funding & Virginia Libraries (Status - As of the publication of this newsletter on 11/19/25)
Regarding the federal funding as it applies to Virginia public libraries and Executive Order 14238 in the reduction of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
New News: Remains the Same:
All states that receive an annual allotment from the IMLS Grants to States program have now been awarded a full allotment for the next fiscal year. This means that Virginia LSTA funding, approximately $4.3 million per year, will continue through September 30, 2026. There are no anticipated changes in funding. This is primarily due to the preliminary injunction in Rhode Island v. Trump, which prohibits the continued dismantling of IMLS until the case is resolved. This means that initiatives that impact your public libraries, such as the Find It Virginia databases, library consulting, Niche Academy, and other resources, will remain in place for the same period. The Library of Virginia will continue to move forward on the various projects funded by LSTA. Federal funding levels for beyond the above are still unknown. The original budget had only $6 million allocated to "close out" IMLS as an agency. The Senate Report 119-55 for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2026, includes $291,800,000 in appropriations for IMLS in 2026, with the LSTA Grants to States being funded at $183,000,000. This latter amount is what funds the work of the Library Development division of the Library of Virginia in support of public libraries across the Commonwealth. The House Report for the Departments of Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2026, was released on September 1, 2025. It included $291,800,000 in its appropriations for IMLS for 2026, though it doesn't list any further breakdowns. The good news is that both the House and Senate versions match, but we still have to await the final passage of these measures. |
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UNITED FOR LIBRARIES RESOURCES |
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Virginia library staff and stakeholders (folks like
you!) have access to a whole host of resources from United for Libraries.
Click to get the CHEAT SHEET signed up and in.
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Already signed up? Click HERE to access everything through the ALA eLearning Platform! |
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Ask the Experts: Boards of Trustees, Friends Groups, and Foundations
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 -- 2:00p-3:00p -- No Cost to Register for VA Libraries!
A panel of experts will address common issues that arise among library Boards, Friends groups, and Foundations, and how to solve them. Panelists will address questions and topics submitted by registrants, and will field questions from attendees during a "lightning round" session. [Speakers to be announced.]
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| Translating Finance in the Nonprofit World: Telling the Right Financial Story to the Right Audience |
Whether you're speaking to your board, funders, program staff, or community stakeholders, how you present your financials can make the difference between confusion and clarity, hesitation and support. In this webinar, we explore how to tailor your financial messaging to different audiences so you can build trust, inspire action, and get the resources you need. Perfect for nonprofit finance leaders, executive directors, and development professionals who want to communicate financials with confidence and impact.
(Occurs: 11.19.25 - 1p) |
| Register Here
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Simplified Fundraising Planning for Small Nonprofits |
Join fundraising master trainer, Chad Barger, CFRE, for a fundraising webinar, where he will provide actionable steps to take to improve your nonprofit’s fundraising campaigns. These fundraising webinars cover topics running from donor cultivation and stewardship to board fundraising engagement and so much more. And best of all, they’re FREE! Check out the list of upcoming webinars and sign up today.
(Occurs: 11.25.25 - 3p) |
| Register Here
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| Navigating New Building Projects |
Public library building and renovation projects are often once-in-a-generation events. Staff and leaders may never have done a similar project and may never do one again, making it imperative for libraries to learn from one another. Newton Public Library opened the doors to its new building on April 1, 2024, after raising more than $3.3 million to help fund construction. After a brief overview of design goals and features of the new library, this webinar will focus on lessons learned through a successful fundraising campaign and practical suggestions for how to manage input and expectations during the building process.
(Occurs: 12.9.25 - 3p) |
| Register Here
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Trustee, Friends, and Foundation members have access to the Library of Virginia's Niche Academy, a place for online learning.
Please note, if you register with a non-library issued e-mail address, someone from the Library of Virginia will follow up with you to confirm that you are affiliated with a Virginia library before you can access the content. |
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Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities Grant - 2026
Up to $3.5 million in grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities, via the American Library Association (ALA). ALA will award up to 250 libraries with $10,000, and 50 libraries $20,000 in this round.
To be eligible, a library must have a legal service population of 25,000 or less and be located at least five miles from an urbanized area, in keeping with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definitions.
Application Open: September 11, 2025 - December 11, 2025
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Grants for Friends Groups in Small and Rural Libraries- 2026
$500 - $1000 grants, along with book donations and free virtual training, will be awarded to small and rural libraries across the U.S. Provided via a partnership between National Friends of Libraries Week, Penguin Random House, and United for Libraries.
Application Open: December 17, 2025 - January 21, 2026 Notification: By March 30, 2026 |
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Click on the image to learn more about each title, and then use your local library to request them from the Library of Virginia.
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"A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life-raft and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination. On a cold rainy island, they are the only sheltered public spaces where you are not a consumer, but a citizen instead."
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- Caitlan Moran, Author and Journalist |
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This newsletter is brought to you by the Library Development division of the Library of Virginia. Funding for this is provided through the Virginia General Assembly and the Institute for Museum and Library Studies (IMLS).
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