Despite the significance of libraries, however, they are dwindling in numbers. I remember visiting my public school library once a week. When I was in the second grade, I joined a book club to keep me busy. For me, the library was a place to escape some of the normality of life and visit with friends. Now, public school libraries are often operated by volunteers, and the teaching of information literacy seems to be less important than in prior years.

I would argue that the biggest hurdle today for librarians and other information professionals is funding. I believe this issue partly has to do with the way we now view libraries. Something changed. For example, libraries are increasingly becoming digital hubs. “Patrons expect intuitive and user-friendly digital spaces like apps and websites, complemented by in-person branches designed around their needs and safety, not those of the library’s collection. It means flipping a library’s priorities altogether,” Kelly Banks wrote for PressReader in January 2024.

It’s such a shame that libraries can provide patrons with so many resources, and yet many of them are closing their doors due to financial shortcomings. “[W]e are not only [hemorrhaging] libraries but the highly experienced people who work in them. If we lose library workers, we are at risk of completely abandoning those people in our communities who just need someone to talk to, someone non-judgmental who can offer a helping hand, or maybe just a patient ear,” Dawn Finch opined in The Guardian in 2019.

Without libraries, where else can people gather and find reading resources and local community services all in one place? They provide internet and printing services, general computer services, access to phone books, public programs, and more to meet our everyday needs. We often take the available resources for granted, although the services that libraries offer their users are both irreplaceable and invaluable. This is why we all need to recognize what we could potentially lose if sufficient funding is not available. It isn’t until we’ve lost a community service like the library that we realize how important it is—was—in our lives. In a time when underfunding threatens these vital spaces, it’s important to remember the truly useful services they provide.

HELP FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS

While taxpayers need to understand their roles in supporting libraries, librarians need to be diligent in applying for grants and sponsorships. A library will usually either have a library foundation or a Friends of the Library group, which are volunteer organizations. By working together, they may be able to bring in extra money that could help fund one or two improvement projects of moderate size.

Friends of the Library groups can raise money in ways that the libraries they support can’t, and they can also apply for some grants that the libraries themselves don’t have access to.

Library management can be super complex, and it varies from library to library. If you don’t have a relationship with a Friends of the Library group already, do your homework to understand what it takes to develop such a relationship. What if you don’t have sponsors yet? That’s OK. Your first mission is to look beyond the library and to set up relationships with your community partners. Only then can librarians learn about the community services that are available and those that are lacking.

LONG-TERM FINANCIAL TIPS

Here are some tips for librarians and other information professionals who are seeking financial support:

• Do not overlook applying for grants, because they are an important part of library fundraising.
• Learn to use your space wisely. For example, perhaps you could rent conference rooms and other gathering spaces to local businesses and organizations for a small reservation fee. 
• You could host events that have an entry fee if you hold them in a community space.
• It is always important to set up reserve funds by setting aside money during times of economic stability.
• Learn to build partnerships by teaming up with organizations in your community to create book clubs and other events that increase traffic to your library.

SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL TIPS

Here are some short-term tips for getting and using funding wisely:

• Make use of your partnerships. There is no shame in letting them know your library is struggling financially.
• Consider your local Friends of the Library group as a potential partner. It can indirectly raise some funds for small library projects.
• Try contributing to a marketing campaign for or sponsoring a local event. This event could help you reach a wider audience, improve your brand awareness, and build strong customer relationships.
• Save what you can while doing collection development. You may have to take another look at your collection and decide which subject areas you’re going to focus on building out of necessity.
• Don’t overextend yourself—tackle only small capital improvement projects if the need arises.