EveryLibrary helps public, school, and college libraries win bonding, tax, and advisory referendum, ensuring stable funding and access to libraries for generations to come.
WHY EVERYLIBRARY
EveryLibrary is a nonprofit social welfare organization chartered to work exclusively on local library ballot initiatives. The organization is registered in Illinois after reaching our funding/pledge goal from individual, corporate, union, and foundation donors. We work with local ballot committees and PAC leaders in support of local library ballot measures, on specific state legislative measures which impact libraries ability to act as districts, and independently to advocate for specific library initiatives among the voting public.
WHAT WE DO
EveryLibrary will be the first and only national organization dedicated exclusively to political action at a local level to create, renew, and protect public funding for libraries of all types. We will provide tactical and operational support to local voter awareness campaigns, seed and sustaining monies to local ballot committees and PACs, as well as conducting direct voter advocacy in support of library taxing, bonding, and referendum.
WHO WE WORK WITH
EveryLibrary is a non-partisan, pro-library organization with an alignment toward sustaining libraries as they evolve and grow in the 21st century. EveryLibrary is a coalition partner with other organizations, associations, and non-profits that seek to support libraries through public awareness and advocacy.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
EveryLibrary is building a community of donors who are ready to support library funding on Election Days across the country. Your support is foundational to the success of library taxing, bonding, and referendum in the years to come. Please consider a donation to EveryLibrary today and help us build a new, unique, and active organization for libraries at the ballot box.
WHAT ARE CONTRIBUTIONS USED FOR?
Contributions will be used for voter awareness campaigns and helping local library ballot committees win at election time. EveryLibrary will use a portion of contributions to cover overhead, staffing, and development or acquisition of voter awareness tools and campaign materials. Contributions by individuals, corporations, foundations, and unions to EveryLibrary are not tax-deductible.
WILL MY PLEDGE AND CONTRIBUTION BE PUBLIC?
As a 501(c)4 organization, EveryLibrary is not required to disclose the names of donors or amounts of contributions that further its mission and purpose of advocating for library ballot initiatives. However, EveryLibrary enables donors to self-disclose their intent or amount of support when contributing or pledging. If you would like to make your support for libraries known by name, please check the appropriate box on EveryLibrary’s online donation form. All records that are required to be maintained for IRS reporting are done so in full compliance with the law and regulation.
WHO IS ON THE EVERYLIBRARY BOARD?
John Chrastka
EveryLibrary’s founder is John Chrastka, a long time library trustee, supporter, and advocate. Mr. Chrastka is a partner in AssociaDirect, a Chicago-based consultancy focused on supporting associations in membership recruitment, conference, and governance activities. He is also president of the Board of Trustees for the Berwyn (IL) Public Library (2006 – present) and is a former president of the Reaching Across Illinois Libraries System (RAILS) multi-type library system. Prior to his work at AssociaDirect, he was Director for Membership Development at the American Library Association (ALA), the world’s oldest and largest organization for librarians, library workers, supporters, and advocates. He is a current trustee member of ALA as well as in the Illinois Library Association (ILA), where he chairs the Fundraising Committee.
Erica Findley
Erica Findley is a passionate library supporter and is influential in the broader library advocacy ecosystem. Ms. Findley is the Digital Resources and Metadata Librarian at Pacific University (OR) and is a 2008 MLS graduate from Emporia State University. She is an active member of the American Library Association where she an at-large member-elect of their governing Council. She was a 2012 ALA Emerging Leader and currently serves as a member guide in the Emerging Leaders program, is vice-chair of the the Instructional Technologies Interest Group for LITA, and is an intern on the ALCTS board. Ms. Findley is a co-convener of the ALA Think Tank, moderates Oregon4EveryLibrary, and regularly hosts “pop-up libraries” when traveling by train or plane. Ms. Findley can be found online at www.ericafindley.com.
Patrick Sweeney
Patrick Sweeney is a tireless and innovative advocate for libraries. A 2005 graduate of the San Jose School of Library and Information Sciences, Mr. Sweeney works for the San Mateo County (CA) Library and manages the East Palo Alto and Portola Valley Public Libraries. He is active in the American Library Association where he is an at-large member of their governing Council. As a California Library Association member, Mr. Sweeney has most recently served on their Conference Committee. His library blog is well respected, and he is a sought-after speaker and presenter. His most recent project, the Story Sailboat, works to provide library services and materials, by boat, to advocate for libraries and literacy in the San Francisco Bay area.
Mallory Arents
Mallory Arents is the 2013 EveryLibrary / Hack Library School intern. A 2014 MLIS candidate at I School at Syracuse University, Ms. Arents is focusing on original research and writing about the intersection of political action and libraries. She holds a BS in Political Science from the University of North Florida. She is an involved library advocate in New York state where she is a member of the Central New York Library Resources Council Committee on Legislative Action and a member of the American Library Association where is she is has a student appointment to the Committee on Library Advocacy. Ms. Arents internship was coordinated with Hack Library School who will be publishing her work.
Our Advisors
In addition to the Board of Directors, EveryLibrary is proud to be assembling our Advisory Board of librarians, trustees, and citizen-advocates from around the library world to help guide, shape, and realize its vision of support for libraries at the ballot box. The Advisory Board will be 12 – 15 people from public, academic, and school library settings who are dedicated to seeing libraries win support for bonds, levys, milliages, taxes, and referendum.
