Nebraska Public Libraries Friends & Foundations

Friends of Libraries are non-profit groups formed to support libraries. Friends groups are often involved in fundraising and advocacy.

Library foundations are non-profit corporations that provide links between donors and a library, in order to solicit and receive gifts, bequests, grants and property of any kind, for the use and benefit of the library.

Both kinds of groups are set up as non-profit entities according to the Internal Revenue Service’s rules for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Groups in Nebraska may be affiliated with the Nebraska Community Foundation.

For further information useful toFriends groups and/or foundations (or for those libraries interested in starting them), United for Libraries (aka ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association, offers a wealth of information on getting started and on maintaining effective organizations (as well as providing training and tips for library trustees). The Nebraska Library Commission has had a strong working relationship with United for Libraries for a number of years and has purchased membership in the organization for all Nebraska public libraries.

This statewide membership offers all Nebraska public libraries subscriptions to The Voice, United for Libraries' newsletter, and provides free access to United for Libraries' informative Website and training materials. Ideas for fundraising, making the case for good local library service, public awareness, strategies, and many other topics are covered here better than anywhere else. Local libraries and their governing and support groups should become intimately familiar with United for Libraries and all it has to offer.

For further information, see:

• How to Organize a Friends Group
• Friends of the Library Groups
• Friends Board Development
• Model Friends Cooperative Network
• United for Libraries—Information and Memberships

Many of Nebraska’s public libraries have Friends groups and/or Foundations. Contact information for those groups is listed below.

For further information about library foundations or friends groups contact Christa Porter.

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ALTAFF Information

For more information, contact Christa Porter.