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PHILADELPHIA — Clarkston (Mich.) Independence District Library, a recipient of United for Libraries' 2013 Neal-Schuman Foundation Grants, successfully staved off closure by passing a millage of 1.25 for the library on Aug. 5. The millage, which was proposed but not passed in 2012, passed this time with more than 68 percent of the vote.

Not only does the millage provide the library with stable funding for the next eight years, it also completes the final step in re-establishing Clarkston as a district library, thus finally releasing it from the complicated legal ramifications of a law that was repealed in 1976.

As part of the Neal-Schuman Foundation Grants program, the library’s advocates received expert training and tools for their campaign by United for Libraries. The training for this campaign was provided by Libby Post of .

"The campaign team at Clarkston Independence District Library had two goals to achieve -- to solidify their status as a district library and to increase their funding," said Post. "They were successful on both counts. Before the United for Libraries training I conducted, they had the commitment. After the training, they had the tools and strategies to get it done."

United for Libraries has selected a total of 20 libraries for advocacy training through the Neal-Schuman Foundation Grants. The expert training will help friends of the library groups, library directors and trustees develop individual blueprints for advocacy campaigns to restore, increase or save threatened library budgets. For more information, visit .

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the 91´«Ã½ that supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends, and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information or to join United for Libraries, visit the or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.