Mohawk Valley Library System

Category: Trustees

  • Free Mini-Conference – Fundraising for Friends and Foundation Groups

    Date: Wednesday, June 09, 2021
    Time: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/18804361522
    Cost: Free

    COVID-19 caused many of us to have dramatic decreases in our fundraising efforts over the course of 2020 but it also provided an opportunity for most Friends and Foundation groups to pivot and completely revisit their fundraising and development strategies.  Join us for this virtual mini-con to hear about some of these strategies and programs.  It is our hope that you will be inspired to replicate an idea or two from our mini-con and build those budgets back up.  And the mini-conference is free!

    As an added bonus, New York Times Best-Selling author of “The Paris Library” Janet Skelsien Charles will be joining us live all the way from Paris, France!

    Registration is required, deadline to register is June 01.

  • Free Webinar – Cultivating Community Support for Library Funding

    Date: Tuesday, February 09, 2021
    Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    Place: Online at tinyurl.com/yxmpu9dg
    Presenter: Patrick Sweeney, EveryLibrary Political Director
    Cost: Free

    Political power and influence comes from only two resources: people and money. Without at least one of these, your library will not have the influence it needs in the community to encourage local legislators to support your library. And when the time comes, you’ll lack the community support needed to advocate for your library.

    In this webinar session we’ll focus on the strategies and tactics that you can use to increase the number of library supporters in your community. We’ll talk about tools you can use to reach library supporters and non-users in order to encourage them to take action for your library. Many of these tools are either free or inexpensive and the underlying strategies that we use can be applied to libraries of all sizes and budgets. At the end of this session, you’ll be able to increase your email list, make meaningful contact with non-users, and cultivate potential supporters into action.

    Please register for this event at the link above.

    Also check out the two titles in the MVLS professional collection that Patrick has authored – Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding, and Before the Ballot : Building Political Support for Library Funding, co-authored with John Chrastka.

  • Free Webinar – How Foundations and Friends Can Support Their Libraries During COVID-19

    Date: Thursday, May 07, 2020
    Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/4715863641127/WN_FMuwzLQPRi2YE-TRgPzcwQ.
    Presenters: Jonna Ward, Michelle Jeske, Nanci Morrison, Karen Pierce
    Cost: Free

    The COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on public library budgets and spending. How can library Foundations and Friends of the Library groups best support their libraries during this time? Hear from library directors, a library Foundation director, and a Friends Board President on how their organization’s priorities are shifting, and what initiatives they are planning to meet their library’s changing needs.

    Registration is open and free to all regardless of United for Libraries membership. Register for the webinar at https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/4715863641127/WN_FMuwzLQPRi2YE-TRgPzcwQ. Can’t join live? Register anyway and you will receive a link to the recording.

    Jonna Ward joined the Seattle Public Library Foundation in 2001 and is the CEO. During her leadership, the Foundation has grown to be the largest public library foundation in the country based on assets under management. She is the co-founder of the International Public Library Fundraising Conference and creator of the #LibraryGivingDay concept.

    Michelle Jeske is the Denver City Librarian, head of the 26-location urban library system with more than 4.4 million annual visitors. Prior to the Denver Public Library, Jeske worked for the TLC CARL Corporation, San Antonio Public Library and New York Public Library. Michelle serves on the Public Library Association (PLA) Board of Directors and is currently the PLA President-Elect.

    Nanci Morrison is President of the Board of the Friends of the Palm Springs (Calif.) Library. She joined the Board in 2012, became Secretary in 2014, added Vice president in 2016, and became President in 2018. 

    Karen Pierce is Director of Slippery Rock (Pa.) Community Library and has more than 13 years of experience in rural and small library development. The Slippery Rock Community Library Friends Group has twice won the Friends Group of the Year award from Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries.

    United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.