News

The library advocacy ecosystem has limited awareness of what Americans think about libraries, librarians, and taxes. With the 2018 release of the From Awareness to Funding study by OCLC, we have received a recent snapshot of voter attitudes. But our industry’s knowledge and understanding of what motivates and influences Americans about library funding is alarmingly limited.

At the EveryLibrary Institute, we understand that every decision to fund or not fund libraries is fundamentally a political act. It is based on how we, as a society, want to raise or allocate taxes.

After a national search, Christopher Stewart will become Series Editor for The Political Librarian to deepen its focus on developing scholarship about public policy and tax policy for libraries.

In 2019 we were excited to launch FundLibraries.org, the first and only crowdfunding platform dedicated solely to innovative library and literacy projects. Fundlibraries.org is a simple to use, a one-stop crowdfunding platform that connects libraries in need of crowdsourced support with tens of thousands of potential donors across the country. We provide the digital tools, fiscal sponsorship, marketing support, and crowdfunding experience that school libraries and public libraries need to succeed.

In 2019 we were thrilled to launch Libraries Deliver, an innovative international partnership with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) to help librarians across the United Kingdom build political support in Parliament and improve future funding for libraries by local councils. This partnership harnesses the skills and networks of both organizations. Together, through the LibrariesDeliver.uk campaign, we work to create real political and funding changes for libraries.

The EveryLibrary Institute and EveryLibrary launched the Libraries 2020 Campaign, a first of its kind nationwide voter engagement campaign for libraries, in December. Using modern, advanced voter engagement strategies, the Libraries 2020 campaign will build political power, lasting public engagement, and true voter support for library funding across the country. The Libraries 2020 campaign brings the skills, competencies, and successes of both the EveryLibrary Institute, a non-profit library think tank focused on the future of library funding, and  EveryLibrary, the only national political action committee for libraries. 

The EveryLibrary Institute is dedicated to building up and supporting the entire library funding ecosystem. From our research agenda and professional trainings to our crowdfunding platform and fiscal sponsorships, we are engaged in envisioning and creating a future where funding for public libraries and school libraries is ensured.

The EveryLibrary Institute was featured in library publications and news outlets from around the world in 2019.

RIVERSIDE, IL (December  3, 2019) -- EveryLibrary, an organization dedicated to building voter support for libraries and advocating in support of public funding for libraries, and the EveryLibrary Institute, a national non-profit focused on the future of library funding, announce a call for donations on December 3, Giving Tuesday. Donations made on this day will help EveryLibrary and the EveryLibrary Institute kick-off the Libraries 2020 campaign, a first of its kind nationwide voter engagement campaign for libraries.

We’re excited to announce that you can now create your own fundraisers on Facebook to the help support libraries. Your donations go to the EveryLibrary Institute (501c3) and help us build the resources and tools that libraries need to fight for funding.