91´«Ã½

BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania -- United for Libraries has awarded the 2018 United for Libraries/SAGE Academic Friend Conference Grant to Dyanna Black of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Friends of the Library.

Black will receive $850 plus full conference registration to attend the 2018 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference in New Orleans. A formal presentation to the grant winner will be made at the conference.

Black is vice president of the UMKC Friends board, as well as chair of its fundraising committee.

A business intelligence professional with 16 years of experience in finance, legal and consumer services, Black has bought and sold companies, owned a hotel in Morocco, developed multi-year product pipelines, and managed large organizational roll-outs. In each phase of her career, she has focused on identifying growth opportunities and helping organizations achieve their full potential. She brings this same vision to her role on the UMKC Friends of the Library Board, where she has served for three years.

“I am thrilled to have been selected, and excited to attend the 2018 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference,” says Black. “I look forward to learning more about library development and fundraising, meeting colleagues from other libraries and Friends groups, and bringing back new ideas. Our Friends board is dedicated and energetic in its support of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Libraries, and our presence at 91´«Ã½ will help us become even stronger partners and supporters.”

The United for Libraries/SAGE Academic Friend Conference Grant enables a person who is active in his or her college or university Friends of the Library group, or a college/university library staff member who works in development, to attend the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference for the first time. The Conference Grant, made possible by a gift from SAGE, is administered by United for Libraries. Recipients are selected by the United for Libraries Awards Committee. For more information about the United for Libraries/SAGE Academic Friend Conference Grant, visit

The United for Libraries/SAGE Academic Friend Conference Grant enables a person who is active in his or her college or university Friends of the Library group, or a college/university library staff member who works in development, to attend the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference for the first time. The Conference Grant, made possible by a gift from SAGE, is administered by United for Libraries. For more information about the United for Libraries/SAGE Academic Friend Conference Grant, visit

Sara Miller McCune founded SAGE Publishing in 1965 to support the dissemination of usable knowledge and educate a global community. SAGE is a leading international provider of innovative, high-quality content publishing more than 1,000 journals and over 800 new books each year, spanning a wide range of subject areas. Its growing selection of library products includes archives, data, case studies and video. SAGE remains majority owned by its founder and after her lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures the company’s continued independence. Principal offices are located in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington, D.C., and Melbourne.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the 91´«Ã½ 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 or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.