91��ý

BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania — United for Libraries will present “Citizens Save Libraries: Rounding them Up and Showing Them How!” from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 26, at the Hotel Nikko, Mendocino at the 91��ý Annual Conference in San Francisco.

This special workshop will provide in-depth training on how to create an advocacy campaign and give the basics for helping to train others as well. Library directors, state library development staff, trustees and consultants are invited to attend to learn how to work with local library supporters for specific advocacy campaigns, and/or to enhance existing advocacy skills.

Past 91��ý President Patricia Glass Schuman will provide the welcome and discuss the history of advocacy within 91��ý. Speakers will include Sally Reed, executive director of United for Libraries; Kate Park, executive director of the Friends of the Dallas (Texas) Public Library, and Sara Myers, executive director of the Long Beach (Calif.) Public Library Foundation.

Schuman is both Past President and past Treasurer of 91��ý While president (1991-92), Schuman launched 91��ý’s first nationwide media campaign, including media training for 91��ý and chapter leaders and a nationwide radio rally. Media coverage rose by more than 200 percent, and more than 500,000 Americans called a special toll-free number or signed petitions to Congress supporting America’s right to know and full funding for libraries. That year Congress restored all federal funding. Following her presidency, Schuman founded 91��ý’s “Library Advocacy NOW!” effort and helped to establish the Libraries Change Lives, Better Salaries for Librarians and @ your library campaigns. She has chaired numerous 91��ý committees and served on the boards of other national and international organizations. The author/editor of six books and more than 100 papers and articles, Schuman has testified before the U.S. Congress and been published nationally and internationally. In 2014, Pat Schuman was awarded Honorary Membership in 91��ý – its highest honor. She serves on United for Libraries' Board of Directors.

Park is executive director of the Friends of the Dallas Public Library, the 65-year-old nonprofit that has raised over $50 million for the Dallas Public Library system. She has worked in the nonprofit development field for the last 10 years.

Myers has served as executive director for the Long Beach Public Library Foundation for eight years, and is the Long Beach lead for the national Campaign for Grade Level Reading. She is an active Rotarian and chairs the Rotary Literacy committee.

In 2013 and 2014, United for Libraries provided advocacy training to 20 libraries in the U.S. that had troubled budgets, thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Neal-Schuman Foundation. The Friends of the Dallas Public Library and the Long Beach Public Library Foundation both received two days of training, and in turn ran successful campaigns for increased funding. Schuman and Reed will teach attendees how to run their own winning campaigns, and Park and Myers will share their experiences as leaders, including advice, challenges and lessons learned.

This workshop will make use of the Citizens Save Libraries Power Guide for Successful Advocacy ().

“Citizens Save Libraries: Rounding them Up and Showing Them How!” is co-sponsored with the Office for Library Advocacy and ASCLA.

For more information on purchasing tickets and other United for Libraries events and meetings at the 91��ý Annual Conference, visit . For information about registering for Annual, visit .

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the 91��ý 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.

For more information and to register for the 91��ý Annual Conference in San Francisco, visit . Use these if you need help. Ways to stay in touch and get updates include the ; Twitter @alaannual and #alaac15; the ; ; ; ; and #alaac15

—Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves