Library Advocacy and Funding Conference (LAFCON)

The library industry is under threat from a number of major crises simultaneously during these uncertain times, particularly the loss of financial and voter support. The COVID-19 crisis has decimated the fundamental municipal tax base that funds school and public libraries. Even libraries that were doing well before the crisis may be facing new challenges. Without community support, libraries will continue to drastically lose funding in the coming years.

Unfortunately, libraries have lost nearly 20% of voter and political support for funding and revenue in the last 10 years. A reasonable response to this loss would be to double down on outreach to library users, but according to research from OCLC, library use does not always translate to voter support. We also know that while people like libraries as much as they have before, they are less likely to vote for them. This means that we need a paradigm shift in the way that we are doing our advocacy and marketing in our communities. We need to learn from some of the largest and most successful cause-related and fundraising organizations if we want libraries to continue to thrive. That's why we built this conference around experts who can help libraries build support for local funding.

Learn New Strategies and Tactics

Join EveryLibrary online from September 14-16, 2020 to meet some of the most advanced political strategists and tacticians from within the library industry and beyond. Explore three days worth of content on how to navigate the world of politics and build voter support for library funding.

The unique virtual structure of the conference will allow participants to attend all sessions, dig deep into a particular track or mix-and-match a program that meets their needs. Session speakers will be available live throughout the conference via Slack for conversations and interactivity with attendees. Conference topics will include: outreach, donor research, grants, legislation, coalition building, digital tactics, and marketing.

Immediate Support for the Library Industry

In order to build a strong advocacy network, Everylibrary believes that we need healthy library associations and support organizations. The advocacy strategies learned at this conference will provide tools to support the long-term health of libraries and associations, but short-term financial help is needed too. We will donate 25% of every registration to state library associations (or a national library association if outside the United States) in order to help these associations weather difficult financial times.

Converse, Share, and Prepare for the Future

Conversations and idea exchanges are one of the most vital parts of any conference, and that should not change even in a virtual setting. We will be using dedicated Slack channels to allow our attendees and speakers to talk and share throughout the conference. Those channels will remain active after the conference to allow everyone to keep in touch. We want this conference to provide a dedicated community of colleagues and advocates with the tools to take action and make sure that all libraries come out of the current crisis stronger and more prepared for the future.

Speakers and other information will be announced soon. Register to keep up with the latest information.