Budgets & funding
The budget is the backbone of library operations, pulling together short-, medium-, and long-range goals, all of which help to fulfill the organization's vision and mission. This section is dedicated to helping you find funding resources and work to secure a stable and sufficient budget, including how to work with local officials and make a clear case for funding needs.
Self-paced courses and webinar recordings on this topic are available for free in the WebJunction Course Catalog.
Most recently added
5 Things You Need to Know About Grant Writing for School Libraries
Publish Date: News / 26 September 2023
Have you ever thought about applying for a grant to support your school library? It can be a great way to expand your programs, strengthen your resources, and even build new relationships and partnerships. Check out these approachable resources and s...
Grantseeking for Libraries: Strategies and Tips
Publish Date: Webinar / 27 October 2022
This webinar presents grantseeking strategies for success that can benefit libraries of all sizes.
Eliminating Library Fines: Improving Community Access, Equity and Usage
Publish Date: Webinar / 15 June 2021
This webinar shares how going fine-free eliminates barriers and improves access to your library’s materials and services.
Getting Unstuck: Help Your Board, Staff, and Town Talk about Library Funding
Publish Date: Webinar / 22 August 2018
A webinar hosted in collaboration with ARSL and EveryLibrary to grow skills for talking about library budgets with staff, boards, and other stakeholders in your community and to secure funding.
From Awareness to Funding: 5 Probable Supporters and How to Reach Them
Publish Date: News / 16 August 2018
If you work or volunteer in a library, you may have heard about the report, From Awareness to Funding: Voter Perceptions and Support of Public Libraries in 2018. If you haven’t read it, here’s the good news: compared to 2008, more voters thi...
Grant Opportunities for Reading Programs
Publish Date: News / 9 May 2018
For many public libraries in cities and towns across the country, literacy programs are a key part of their public programming. These often go beyond involvement in summer reading activities, and could include year round efforts that support readers ...
Voter Perceptions of Libraries: Getting From Awareness to Funding in 2018
Publish Date: Webinar / 17 April 2018
A webinar presenting the results of a new study investigating voter perceptions and support for public libraries, with comparisons to similar research conducted 10 years ago.
Build Your Political Literacy Skills for Advocacy
Publish Date: Webinar / 25 April 2017
In this webinar, presented in collaboration with ARSL, learn how to successfully engage and activate library advocates to sustain funding.
Innovation in Libraries Micro-grants from the Awesome Foundation
Publish Date: News / 6 March 2017
The Awesome Foundation is an ever-growing worldwide community devoted to "forwarding the interest of awesome in the universe." Created in 2009, the Foundation distributes $1,000 grants, no strings attached, to projects and their creators. <> ...
The Small Community Advantage in Library Fundraising
Publish Date: News / 19 August 2015
Through the WebJunction webinar, Beyond Book Sales: Practical Ideas for Raising Funds for Your Library, Sue Hall, Director of Library Strategies, reminds us that small libraries can benefit from the "small community advantage" where persona...
