|
Trustees, Friends, & Foundations |
June 2025 |  |
|
|
|
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.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| June 11, 2025
"Last month, the Digital Equity Act grant programs were cancelled by the Trump Administration. This abrupt cancellation of a congressionally authorized program sent shock waves out to community anchor institutions, including libraries, across the country. “ALA is gravely concerned about the abrupt and illegal end of Digital Equity Act programs and funding. Broadband is a human right, and broadband access is core to modern life and success for school, work, healthcare, civic participation and social connections,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. Read ALA’s full statement.
The $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act was a part of a coordinated effort to provide high-speed broadband, along with the necessary skills and technology, that communities across the U.S. need to succeed and thrive in our increasingly digital world..."
|
|
|
| June 18, 2025
"Two lawsuits to prevent the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services have met with mixed results in the courts. However, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office quoted at length from both cases in a new report that finds the gutting of the IMLS to be unlawful.
In Rhode Island v. Trump et al., 21 states’ attorneys general can claim a measure of victory, thanks to a preliminary injunction in the District Court of Rhode Island. Meanwhile, in American Library Association v. Keith Sonderling et al., a disappointed ALA and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees are rethinking their strategy after a federal judge in the District of Columbia denied their request for a preliminary injunction and questioned whether the case’s grant-related matters belong not in district court but in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims..."
|
|
|
|
|
Sign Up with the Virginia Library Association as an Advocate! |
|
|
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.
| | Update: Federal Funding & Virginia Libraries
Some good news 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).
All states which receive an annual allotment from the IMLS Grants to States program have now been awarded a full allotment for next fiscal year. What this means is that Virginia LSTA funding, which is about $4.3M per year, will continue through September 30, 2026. There are no anticipated changes in funding for at least the next 15+ months. This is largely due to the preliminary injunction in Rhode Island v. Trump that prohibits the continued dismantling of IMLS until that case is resolved.
This means that things that impact your public libraries like the Find It Virginia databases, library consulting, Niche Academy, and other resources will remain in place for this same time period. The Library of Virginia will continue to move forward on the various projects funded by LSTA.
However, funding beyond the above date is still unknown. The current federal budget that's making it's way through the process only includes enough funding to "closeout" IMLS as an agency. This budget was passed by the House and is currently under consideration by the Senate. As of the publication of this newsletter, no further news is known. You can tell Congress to invest in libraries via this tool -- Fund Libraries.
|
|
|
| |
UNITED FOR LIBRARIES RESOURCES |
|
|
|
 |
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.
| Already signed up? Click HERE to access everything through the ALA eLearning Platform! |
|
|
|  |
Fall Celebrations: Library Card Sign-Up Month, Banned Books Week, and National Friends of the Library Week
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 -- 2:00p-3:00p
Now is the time for Friends of Libraries, library Foundations, and other groups to plan for fall events – Library Card Sign-Up Month in September, Banned Books Week Oct. 5-11, and National Friends of Libraries Week Oct. 19-25 (the 20th anniversary celebration!). Learn innovative ideas for how to use these events to promote your library and group, and about new graphics and promotional items that will be available. Find out how groups across the country have celebrated these events, and new ideas for 2025. |
|
|
|  |
Registration Now Open: July 29-31, 2025
This interactive three-day virtual event will feature expert speakers on current topics facing library Trustees, Friends, Foundations, and staff who work with them. - Participate in live Q&A sessions with presenters.
- Enjoy exclusive access to keynote speakers and authors.
- Receive a certificate of attendance (for live participation or on-demand viewing).
Free registration for Virginia library stakeholders
courtesy of the Library of Virginia! -- Click HERE to register |
|
|
|
|
| Libraries and AI: Building a Framework for Evaluation and Integration |
...This 90-minute online event is designed for library management and staff seeking to explore the challenges and opportunities AI presents, highlighting critical areas for consideration, and outlining strategies for informed decision-making while navigating the transformative potential of AI in libraries. We will explore a foundational understanding of the key questions to ask and the range of possible answers when considering AI adoption. Rather than prescribing specific solutions, this event will equip attendees with the tools to develop their own AI integration frameworks tailored to their library’s unique needs. We anticipate an active chat dialog and sharing between participants, and the chat log will be included with the recording following the event...
(Occurs: 6.20.25 - 2p) |
| Register Here
|
| |
|
Cultivating Influence: How to Scale Your Impact Through Influencing Others |
You’ve developed a great idea for a new project, initiative or program that you know will deliver impact – how do you ensure that your voice gets heard, your project gets buy in, and your teammates and peers will support your initiative? It all comes back understanding influence and credibility, and how to gain and use it to get others to support your cause.
This keynote covers the principles of influence without authority and cultivating credibility to get others to support your ideas and initiatives. You’ll learn about how you can influence others, and get actionable tips and tactical advice that you can apply to right away to gaining the support and buy-in of your peers, leaders and colleagues for your next great project, idea, or initiative.
(Occurs: 6.26.25 - 3p) |
| Register Here
| |
|
| Recalibrate Your Events to Fuel Year-round Fundraising |
Join fundraising master trainer, Chad Barger, ACFRE, ACNP for a workshop focused on getting the most out of your organization’s special events. Chad will review the true purpose and ideal revenue model for events and how to make them even more worthwhile by converting event attendees to annual donors. He will also provide some real world examples of unique fundraising events that have broken the mold and became donor favorites (as well as some tips for virtual/hybrid events). It’s an “all things events” presentation and everything is on the table.
(Occurs: 6.30.25 - 1p) |
| Register Here
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Click on the image to learn more about each title, and then use your local library to request them from the Library of Virginia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Librarians should not have to save us, but quite often they do." |
|
|
- Comic book artist Ryan Estrada (@ryanestrada.com) on BlueSky, April 7, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
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).
|
|
|
|
