Trustees, Friends, & Foundations
Trustees in Virginia:
- Virginia Public Libraries Trustee Handbooks – a comprehensive look into Trustee roles and responsibilities
- Advisory Boards
- Governing Boards
- Request a physical copy of either one of the Board Handbooks with this Form.
- Planning for Library Excellence: Standards for Virginia Public Libraries | Preface
- Updated in 2023, these serve as benchmarks for direction and aspiration for Virginia public libraries.
- Checklists for each of the 16 Standards sections – download and use to assist you in your library’s assessment.
- Strategic Planning Workbook for Virginia Public Libraries – Built in 2023 - provides a methodology for completing a strategic plan.
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United for Libraries – Statewide Membership:
- United for Libraries is a division of the American Library Association dedicated to the advancement of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends Groups, and Foundations. The Statewide Membership provides all Virginia libraries with a wealth of training and educational resources.
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Additional Resources:
- Trustee Development Resources
- A Library Development pathfinder covering a variety of topics relevant to trustee education
- Advocacy – Public Library Association
- Resources to assist public libraries with advocacy and legislative issues
If you are interested in planning training for your board, please contact Reagen Thalacker, Public Library Consultant, via e-mail at reagen.thalacker@lva.virginia.gov
Friends of the Library Handbook: Virginia Public Libraries
- A comprehensive look into Friends Group roles and responsibilities. Created in 2025.
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United for Libraries – Statewide Membership:
- United for Libraries is a division of the American Library Association dedicated to the advancement of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends Groups, and Foundations. The Statewide Membership provides all Virginia libraries with a wealth of training and educational resources.
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Additional Resources:
- Become a Library Friend
- Some basic information on how to become a library friend, provided by I Love Libraries, an initiative of the American Library Association.
- Libraries Need Friends: A Toolkit To Create Friends Groups Or To Revitalize The One You Have
- Resource created by United for Libraries on how to start and/or revitalize a Friends Group
- Model Friends’ Cooperative Network
- Resource showing the various roles and responsibilities of the library director, Friends, and Trustees and how they relate to one another.
- Power Guide for Successful Advocacy
- Resource created by United for Libraries to assist libraries in the development of Advocacy campaigns.
United for Libraries – Statewide Membership:
- United for Libraries is a division of the American Library Association dedicated to the advancement of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends Groups, and Foundations. The Statewide Membership provides all Virginia libraries with a wealth of training and educational resources.