The Power of Friends: A special preconference aimed at those great volunteer supporters of libraries!

We all know that $100,000s of dollars and 100,000s of hours are donated each year through Friends groups in New Jersey’s libraries. Be it in public, academia, or schools, these selfless individuals, working together and with library staff, supply the extras – and in some cases the necessities – of library service. 

So: how can we help all these Friends be even better? Well, we can start with encouragement, new ideas, and support.  

This year, NJLA is offering a special preconference program targeted at Friends members, library administration and Library Trustees, to begin a concerted effort to engage and support all different types of Friends of the Library groups. The program will begin at 1:00pm on Monday, April 20 at the Ocean Place Resort and Spa with an introduction from NJLA President-elect James Keehbler, Director of Piscataway Public Library, and continues with a keynote address from Leslie Burger, Executive Director of Princeton Public Library and past president of both NJLA and ALA. 

Following the welcome address, attendees will break up into specific groups to talk about what works in the areas of book sales, memberships, fund-raising, and programming. After a break, Keith McCoy, Assistant Director of the Somerset County Library System, will coordinate the reporting from the breakout groups and then facilitate discussion around the question "What would state-wide support for New Jersey Friends’ groups look like?" At 4:00pm, we will wrap up the preconference with a summary and a call for volunteers to take whatever next steps seem appropriate.

To support and encourage participation among our Friends groups, a special rate of just $25 per person is available to Friends for this preconference. (Please note that library staff and trustees pay the standard NJLA member or non-member rates to attend.)

Take an afternoon at the ocean and get invigorated with The Power of Friends. Register today, right here -- or print this form!