Join John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary, for an engaging webinar designed to help library leaders and advocates effectively communicate with taxpayers about libraries' vital role in their communities. In today’s climate of increasing scrutiny on public funding and anti-access movements, it's more important than ever to articulate the value that libraries bring to local economies, education systems, and the overall well-being of residents.
John will share insights and strategies for addressing taxpayer concerns, framing discussions around return on investment, and highlighting how libraries use tax dollars efficiently to meet the needs of everyone. Whether you’re preparing for a funding referendum, a bond initiative, or simply want to improve public perceptions of your library's impact, this webinar will provide you with the tools to build stronger relationships with your local taxpaying community.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this class, students will be able to:
Describe return on investment and how to frame a conversation around it
Explain concrete benefits the library provides to taxpayers
Instructor
John Chrastka is the Founder and Executive Director of EveryLibrary, the national political action committee (PAC) for libraries. He is a former partner in AssociaDirect, a Chicago-based consultancy focused on supporting associations in membership recruitment, conference, and governance activities. He is a former President and member of the Board of Trustees for the Berwyn (Ill.) Public Library (2006–2015) and is a former President of the Reaching Across Illinois Libraries System (RAILS) multi-type library system.
Intended Audience
State library and/or archives agency; Public library; K-12 library
Lyrasis Learning events are delivered using the Zoom videoconferencing platform and will have AI-generated captions available. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available upon request. If you need ASL or other accommodations to support your participation in the course, please contact us at es@lyrasis.org at least 2 weeks in advance of the event or as soon as possible.