Discussion Groups | Author Events | Programs
Preconference: Engaging Friends, Foundations, Trustees, and the Community: Collaborating for Impact
Fri., June 28 | 1-4 p.m.
Ticketed Event Code: UNI1
This two-part preconference is for library Trustees, Friends, Foundations, and those who work with them.
Part 1, "Joint Impact: Libraries, Foundations, and Friends Building Collaboration Capacity," will feature a panel discussion on building collaboration capacity with Trustees, Friends, and Foundations, by engaging in a collaborative planning process that puts everyone on the same page. For libraries, Friends groups, and Foundations, collaboration is essential! However, when there's no agreement about what constitutes collaboration, tensions can rise. This session will explore how libraries, Friends groups, and Foundations can build collaboration capacity by working together to bring clarity to the roles and responsibilities of each entity and to strategically align joint efforts. The result: A shared vision and strong team dynamics!
Part 2, "An Extravaganza of Literary Events for Your Library," will introduce and educate Friends and Foundations on how they can successfully organize various author events to meet their library and community needs. From a single/solo author speaking event to an event featuring a panel of authors to a one-day multi-author festival and then to a multi-author weekend festival. These events can also raise much-needed funds or can be a community service to a library community. Attendees will also learn about best practices on how to create successful and engaging public relations for these events and how to market them for optimum interest.
This event is complimentary but a ticket is required.
Discussion Groups
Friends of the Library / Foundations / Fundraising Discussion Group
Sat., June 29 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Ticketed Event
Friends of the Library, library Foundation board members, and library staff who work with them are invited to participate in idea-sharing, networking, and roundtable discussions. Learn and connect with colleagues from across the country.
Library Boards & Trustees Discussion Group
Sun., June 30 | 1-2 p.m.
Ticketed Event
Library Trustees/board members and library staff who work with them are invited to participate in idea-sharing, networking, and roundtable discussions. Learn and connect with colleagues from across the country.
Author Events
The Laugh's On Us sponsored by Data Axle Reference Solutions
Sat., June 29 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Ticketed Event Code: UNI2
Laugh out loud at this wine-and-cheese event featuring headliner and United for Libraries spokesperson Paula Poundstone, along with several humor writers/comedians. A book signing will follow, with free books/advance copies for attendees (subject to availability).
Gala Author Tea
Mon., July 1 | 2-4 p.m.
Ticketed Event Code: UNI3
Enjoy tea and treats while hearing from bestselling writers about their forthcoming titles. Attendees will receive advance copies and have the opportunity to have them signed by authors (subject to availability).
Love Stories: An Author Panel
Sat., June 29 | 9-10 a.m
Meet bestselling romance authors at this popular program. A book signing will follow.
First Novels: An Author Panel
Sat., June 29 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Preview the season's most anticipated debut novels during this conference favorite. Advance copies will be provided to attendees (subject to availability). A book signing will follow.
Nonfiction You Can't Put Down: An Author Panel
Sat., June 29 | 4-5 p.m.
This panel will focus on compelling stories about real-life events. Advance copies will be provided to attendees (subject to availability). A book signing will follow.
Thrills & Chills: An Author Panel
Sun., June 30 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Bestselling authors will discuss their latest mystery or horror titles. Advance copies will be provided to attendees (subject to availability). A book signing will follow.
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Discussion Groups | Author Events | Programs
Programs for Trustees, Friends, and Foundations
Using Collaborative Leadership to Build Greater Agility and Resilience in Friends' Organisations
Sat., June 29 | 9:00 am-10:00 am
Library Friends' organizations provide valuable funding to libraries and help build community engagement and support for the library. The organization's success in achieving these goals depends on its agility and resilience. Motivating volunteers to shoulder team and leadership roles that are key to a strong organization can be challenging. Particularly when roles are outsized, outdated, poorly defined, or lack sufficient decision-making autonomy or impact. A lack of transparency and communication between different teams and levels of leadership can compound the problem. An experiment with collaborative team leadership in a large Friends' association has proven successful and resulted in the creation of new and interesting roles and opportunities for volunteers to contribute more fully to the organization, clearer understanding about strategy and goals, and increased the flow of ideas and innovation that has helped the organization to grow. The presentation will outline the transition from a more hierarchical leadership and operating model to one in which volunteers have taken the lead in defining new and adaptive roles and structures for their work, which in turn has driven increased community engagement and revenues. This shift has created better organizational resilience and agility in face of a changing volunteering environment and evolving expectations of what constitutes a rewarding volunteering experience.
Building a Strong Foundation for Future Success
Sat., June 29 | 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Faced with daunting new times challenging libraries' traditional reliance on public sector sources, such as sales and property taxes, bonds, grants and contracts, city/county budgets, etc. participants will learn how to augment these funds with previously lesser known or overlooked opportunities in the private sector. This presentation will provide an empowering tool kit of the latest proven "best practice" strategies and techniques designed to unlock new revenue streams to close the income gap in operations, or provide capital funding needed to maintain a modern library system. A prime vehicle for this can be establishing or growing a non-profit fundraising foundation solely committed to supporting its library's mission. You'll learn basic principles of - building a foundation board that's representative of the communities served - working in collaboration with the library, its various volunteer groups, and agencies that complement its programming and resources - creating and sustaining a successful fundraising plan - building a diverse donor family of individuals and institutions looking for ways to support their communities, and - overcoming perceptions that often stifle interest in fundraising and actually discovering how mutually rewarding fundraising can be for both foundation members as well as the donors.
Library Friends, Foundations, & Trusts--Ideas and Tips for the Heart of Nonprofit Library Support
Sat., June 29 | 1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Are you planning to start a new library support group? Do you have a recently-formed group and wish to build more momentum? Is your group one that has been around for some time, but some revitalizing is in order? Then this program will help, whether your interest is focused upon a public, school, or college/university organizations. It will focus upon developing new library support nonprofits; merging existing groups for better effectiveness when needed; unique fundraising ideas; building and maintaining membership; providing library advocacy; offering programs and outreach activities; and developing effective websites and social media. These topics will mesh with a bit of pertinent history; board leadership roles; dealing with challenging issues; inviting younger members to partake--including youth; and how membership in United for Libraries and access to United for Libraries online resources can be of great assistance.
United for Libraries President's Program - Connie Chung
Sat., June 29 | 2:30 pm-3:30 pm
American journalist Connie Chung will speak at the United for Libraries President's Program.
Current Topics for Library Boards/Trustees
Sat., June 29 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
United for Libraries Board Meeting
Sunday, June 30, 2023 | 8:00 am-10:00 am
Summer meeting of the United for Libraries Board of Directors.
Lead Your Friends Organization Through Transformation
Sun., June 30 | 9:00 am-10:00 am
Is your friends organization stuck? Learn to love change for the strength it brings. Our libraries need strong support arms more than ever: let's come together to discuss ways to build momentum - even excitement - and move forward in the ways we are most needed. If the idea of leading people through change feels a bit uncomfortable, this is the perfect program for you! In this program, you will learn ways to embrace change and let go of legacy processes that no longer serve you. You will be energized to pull at threads with curiosity and seek out ways to be better.
Top 10 Things Every Library Board Member Should Know - But Often Don't
Sun., June 30 | 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Library board members (or trustees) usually fall into two camps: 1) Those who have served on a nonprofit board previously. 2) Those who have not. But there is one more wrinkle - even if your board has experience serving on the board of a local nonprofit that is not the same as serving on a library board, especially one that is a governmental entity! The surprising thing is all these groups usually have the same level of understanding of the roles and responsibilities of an effective nonprofit board! According to Leading with Intent: A National Index of Nonprofit Board Practices 2015, nonprofit boards across the country are earning B-minuses for their performance. Of course, you want your organization to have an A+ board but what does an A+ board look like? Too often board members think that their experience on one nonprofit board adequately prepares them to be on the board of your library so they resist any board training. Board members who do not adequately understand their role are more likely to venture into areas that are not their responsibility. Right now, especially in libraries, we are seeing a surge in board members who are venturing into areas of staff supervision and evaluation which is forbidden territory. Join us to discuss the 10 things that every board member should know, but often does not and more importantly, how to get your board members to be more open to the idea of hosting a board training. Oh, and the answer to what an A+ board looks like? I always say the board that has a waiting list of folks who want to join!
What about your friends? Strengthening relationships with your Friend of the Library groups
Sun., June 30 | 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
This workshop discusses the importance of building strong relationships with Friend of the Library groups to support and enhance library resources and services. It emphasizes the need for libraries to actively engage with these groups and highlights various strategies to strengthen these relationships. These strategies include effective communication, collaboration on projects and events, recognizing and appreciating the contributions of Friend groups, and providing opportunities for Friend group members to actively participate in decision-making processes. This workshop will emphasize that by fostering strong relationships with Friend of the Library groups, libraries can benefit from increased community support, volunteerism, and financial assistance.
The Battle for the First Amendment: Why You Can’t Afford to Remain Neutral (United's Intellectual Freedom and Public Policy Program)
Sun., June 30 | 2:30 pm-3:30 pm
Organizations like the Freedom to Read Foundation help libraries and librarians educate themselves and their community about how the First Amendment protects everyone’s right to read, think and write. No one can remain passive in the face of these attacks on the freedom of speech; not publishers, authors, librarians, or our patrons.
Supercharge Your Fundraising with... Advocacy!
Mon, July 1 | 9:00 am-10:00 am
From the creation of a speaker series to the construction of a state-of-the-art facility, every fundraising cause needs a champion in order to get off the ground. In this panel discussion, experienced fundraisers and library advocates will discuss how they empowered their local leadership to champion their initiatives needing financial support. The program will begin with audience members sharing their experiences with advocacy-based fundraising. Then panelists from a variety of different types of libraries will share their perspectives on how to build a compelling case for government, campus, and community support. The session continues with questions from the moderator about the challenges that come with blending advocacy and fundraising, and then concludes with questions from the audience.
READCON: A Curriculum for Library Readiness, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment During Challenging Conditions
Mon., July 1 | 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Join us as we discuss ways to proactively build relationships with your community. Building on the Get Ready Stay Ready Toolkit, the IMLS-funded READCON project is a curriculum equipping library workers, Trustees, and Friends of the Library groups with skills to partner with their communities more effectively for advocacy. Learn about this highly adaptable, open-source learning tool developed by experts in academic, public, and school librarianship, education and family law, crisis communications, community advocacy and relations, and youth leadership. Find out how the curriculum can help library workers, Trustees, and Friends engage in constructive dialogue on potentially divisive aspects of library programming, service, and material challenges.
Discussion Groups | Author Events | Programs