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Trustees, Friends, & Foundations |
December 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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| December 8, 2025
"The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge against a small Central Texas county’s removal of 17 books from its public libraries, including some that focus on race and gender.
The Monday move by the high court lets stand the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling that says the First Amendment doesn’t acknowledge a right to receive information. It is also a major blow to the years-long legal fight led by seven Llano County residents against what they have called a coordinated censorship campaign by the county government, amid a broader wave of book bans in Texas..." |
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| December 4, 2025
"The federal agency responsible for supporting the nation’s libraries and museums has reinstated all grants terminated by President Donald Trump, complying with a federal court ruling that found the executive order mandating the cuts to have been unlawful.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the only federal agency responsible for funding libraries. This year, the White House ordered it to scale down to a “minimum presence,” forcing it to slash its spending by millions.
But in a November ruling, the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island found that the Trump administration’s effort to dismantle the IMLS was unlawful..." |
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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 12/17/25)
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: The government shutdown ended on November 12, 2025. They have until the end of January 2026 to pass a new budget. 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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Kickstart Summer Reading with a Festival!
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 -- 2:00p-3:00p -- No Cost to Register for VA Libraries!
Fairfax Library Foundation (FLF) was seeking new fundraising and outreach opportunities to expand upon its longtime support for children’s literacy programming at Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL). This led to the creation of a new community event: a free annual Children’s Summer Reading Festival designed to promote the library’s existing Summer Reading Program and to combat learning loss during summer vacation. The Foundation has since held five such festivals on the grounds of various libraries in Fairfax County.
The festivals have been extremely well received, attracting nearly 8,000 total attendees to date, with a record number of new Summer Reading Program sign-ups as a result. The festival features dozens of child-friendly activities, including face painting, live entertainment, moon bounces, petting zoos, and games and crafts, along with booths for the Foundation, Fairfax County Public Library, and other community partners—and, of course, free book giveaways, which are always a favorite with attendees. The Foundation has used the festival as a central fundraising theme ever since, and has attracted many new sponsors and individual donors eager to be a part of this effort.
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| Meaningful Library Gatherings: Bringing Purpose to Every Meeting and Event |
Libraries host countless gatherings—staff and board meetings, community events, public programs. Each is an opportunity to foster connection and spark curiosity. Many of us already strive to make our gatherings purposeful and engaging. This session invites us to go deeper, exploring how intentional design can transform routine meetings and events into effective and meaningful experiences. Drawing inspiration from The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker and highlighting real-world examples from settings both within the library and outside of it, we’ll share practical strategies for creating events that resonate, whether they’re internal meetings or public-facing programs.
(Recorded: 9.30.25) |
| View Here
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10 Things Every Library Friend or Trustee Should Know |
Library Friends and Trustees fall into two camps: 1) Those who have served on a nonprofit board 2) Those who have not. But – nonprofit board experience is not the same as library board experience, especially one that is a governmental entity! Members who do not adequately understand their roles are more likely to venture into areas that are not their responsibility. Join us for a fast-paced and informative session that is sure to surprise you!
(Recorded: 10.28.25) |
| View Here
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| More Than Your Voice: Practical Strategies for Speaking to Power |
What if speaking to power felt less like a risk and more like a skill you could grow? ...The session begins by exploring how awareness is a strategic advantage and how successful conversations start with intention. You will discover how to “plate” a message, whether you are addressing problems or complaints, sharing updates or information, pitching new ideas or proposals, or raising concerns. This approach helps build trust, highlights credibility, and positions you as a thoughtful, solution-oriented leader.
(Occurs: 12.17.25 - 2p) |
| 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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Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries
Two grants available for $4000 to support initiatives for graphic novel collection development, hosting a graphic novel-themed event, and funding towards attending the ALA Annual Conference to receive the grant money. An additional $3000 of graphic novel materials will also be awarded.
Application Open: Now through January 11, 2026 Notification: Not stated |
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National Endowment for The Arts (NEA) Big Read
Matching grants from $5000 to $20,000 for reading programs that bring communities together around the central theme America250 using one of the 24 available books as inspiration
Mandatory Intent to Apply Due: January 15, 2026
Application Open: Now through January 29, 2026 Notification: April 2026 Programming to Take Place Between: September 2026 - June 2027 |
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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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Walmart Spark Good Local Grants [Quarterly]
Grants from $250 to $5000 awarded to address specific community needs. Projects must align with focus areas of Creating Opportunity, Advancing Sustainability, Strengthening Community, and/or Centering Racial Equity. Applicants must be within the service area of a Walmart store, Sam's Club, or distribution center.
Application Open: Runs on a quarterly basis Notification: Not stated |
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T-Mobile Hometown Grants [Quarterly]
Up to $50,000 for shovel-ready, physical builds or improvements that can be completed within 12 months of receiving grant funds. For communities with a population of 50,000 or less.
Application Open: Runs on a quarterly basis; portal closes on the last day of each quarter and reopens on the first of the month of the new quarter Notification: Within 60 days after entries have closed for the quarter |
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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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"The reality is that suggesting books is just a small part of what I do. I've helped people set up hearing aids, cancel an $80-a-month Hulu subscription that their husband with dementia had accidentally signed up for, and apply to work at Taco Bell."
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- Katie Walsh, Boston-area public librarian, "I'm a Librarian, Therapist, Personal Assistant, and First Responder. Moments like This Make It All Worth It," Slate, September 14, 2025
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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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