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| Friends of Libraries USA | |
|---|---|
| Name | Friends of Libraries USA |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Type | Nonprofit association |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Purpose | Support and advocacy for libraries |
Friends of Libraries USA
Friends of Libraries USA is a national nonprofit association founded to support public, school, academic, and special libraries across the United States. The organization advocates for funding, volunteers, and public awareness while coordinating with national institutions such as the American Library Association, state library agencies, and local library boards. It partners with civic groups, educational institutions, and cultural organizations to mobilize community support for library services, collections, and facilities.
Founded in 1979 amid budget pressures affecting public services, the organization emerged as part of a broader movement that included groups such as the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and statewide friends networks in California, New York, and Texas. Early interactions involved collaborations with the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Over decades the association engaged with policy developments during administrations from Jimmy Carter through Joe Biden, intersecting with legislative debates tied to acts like the Library Services and Construction Act and later federal appropriations processes. Prominent library advocates such as Eleanor Roosevelt-era figures indirectly influenced the civic model that the association adopted, while contemporary leaders partnered with foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to expand digital inclusion. The group has responded to crises like damage to cultural heritage after events including Hurricane Katrina and policy shifts following decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court affecting intellectual property and privacy.
The association’s mission emphasizes support for library collections, staff, and programs and aligns with national standards promoted by the American Library Association, the Public Library Association, and the Special Libraries Association. Activities include fundraising drives connected to philanthropic entities like the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and volunteer mobilization in partnership with organizations such as United Way and AmeriCorps. It promotes outreach modeled on initiatives from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and curricular collaborations with the National Writing Project and the Smithsonian Institution. The organization also fosters literacy campaigns that echo work by the Library of Congress Center for the Book, and partners with community stakeholders including Rotary International, the Kiwanis International, and municipal entities such as New York City Department of Education or county library systems.
Governance follows a nonprofit board model comparable to the American Library Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with bylaws, elected officers, and committees addressing finance, advocacy, and membership. The leadership interacts with state library agencies like the California State Library and university libraries at institutions such as Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Michigan. Annual meetings have featured speakers from cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Archives and Records Administration. Audit practices and charitable compliance mirror standards advised by the Philanthropy Roundtable and reporting practices used by Independent Sector.
Programs include book sale guidance inspired by models used at the New York Public Library, volunteer training similar to programs at the Boston Public Library, and technical assistance for digitization projects referenced by the Digital Public Library of America. Initiatives have supported makerspace development following examples at the Smithsonian Institution and digital literacy efforts modeled on partnerships with the Gates Foundation and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The association has promoted disaster preparedness strategies akin to those advocated after Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts and supported archival projects linked to the National Archives. Youth engagement programs echo collaborations with the Pew Research Center on youth digital habits and with the National Endowment for the Arts on community reading.
Advocacy efforts align with campaigns from the American Library Association and coordinates lobbying around federal appropriations that affect the Institute of Museum and Library Services and national grant programs. The association counsels local chapters on ballot measures resembling those seen in Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, and engages with lawmakers in the United States Congress as well as state legislatures such as the California State Legislature and the Texas Legislature. It has submitted testimonies in hearings and collaborated with coalitions that include groups like the National PTA and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights when issues overlap with intellectual freedom or privacy matters before the U.S. Supreme Court or federal agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission.
Membership comprises individual supporters, friends groups associated with municipal library systems (for example, chapters linked to the Los Angeles Public Library or the Chicago Public Library), student affiliates at universities such as Columbia University and Stanford University, and partnerships with library foundations like the Boston Public Library Foundation. Local chapters operate in states including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington (state), coordinating book sales, volunteer rosters, and advocacy days modeled after civic campaigns in cities like Detroit and Cleveland. Conferences and webinars feature collaborations with professional groups such as the Public Library Association and scholarly centers like the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
Funding sources include membership dues, proceeds from book sales reminiscent of fundraising at the New York Public Library, grants from philanthropic institutions like the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, corporate partnerships with companies such as Microsoft and Google, and small business sponsorships similar to those arranged through local chambers like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Financial oversight follows nonprofit best practices promoted by entities such as GuideStar and the National Council of Nonprofits, and grant reporting aligns with standards of federal funders including the Institute of Museum and Library Services and private funders including the Carnegie Corporation of New York.