91´«Ã½

PHILADELPHIA — At the 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting, the 91´«Ã½ Council passed a resolution urging all library directors to encourage and support memberships for each of their trustees. The resolution was supported by the Public Library Association (PLA), the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) and United for Libraries.

“A strong, informed board is essential during this time of rapid change and transformation in public libraries,” said Larry Neal, PLA president and director of the Clinton (Michigan)-Macomb Public Library. “Every trustee can benefit from the wealth of high quality resources and programming available through membership in United for Libraries.”

“The need for advocacy for libraries is a constant, and library trustees can be great advocates for our libraries, but many find the role to be overwhelming and need support,” said Diane Bruxvoort, LLAMA president and university librarian/director of library, special collections and museums of the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. “United for Libraries can help, providing training and networking to support our trustees as they support us.”

The resolution can be found at . United for Libraries personal members receive a subscription to the bimonthly newsletter The Voice; discounted access to the and ; access to in-depth toolkits on effective board meetings, insurance, etc.; digital publications, including practical guides on such topics as hiring outside experts, board self evaluation, and insurance for libraries; grant and award eligibility; free webinars, and much more. To join, visit , call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161, or email united@ala.org.

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.