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PHILADELPHIA — Gilmanton (N.H.) Year-Round Library, one of 10 recipients of United for Libraries' 2013 Neal-Schuman Foundation Grants, successfully passed a warrant article requesting $52,000 from the town of Gilmanton on March 11.

In 2013, residents voted down the funding for the library (by 401-322), which was then kept open for the year through fundraising and gifts. If the vote failed again, the library would have been forced to close. This year the warrant article passed 500-483. The library’s association is crafting a plan to make library funding a constant in the town’s budget.

"The Gilmanton Year-Round Library Association Board of Directors is thrilled with the successful vote," says Board President Anne Kirby. "We know we have a lot of work to do to continue to gain support, but keeping the library open was a crucial step!"

The advocacy team for the library launched a major public education and promotion campaign, educating residents about how important the library’s services are to seniors, teens, children and the community as a whole. After recruiting supporters they followed up with a major “vote yes” campaign.

In 2014, as part of the Neal-Schuman Grants, United for Libraries will select another 10 libraries for training that 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. Applications are being accepted through April 15. To apply, 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.