From Library Journal
The Funding Game is a clever compilation of exemplary public library innovations, team projects, partnerships, and marketing efforts in 30 or so public libraries of all sizes. Library consultant Craft (MLS, UC-Berkeley) presents a medley of concepts and methods for recasting a library's funding advocacy efforts. Her fresh examples show that service, accountability, and community relations are the key issues in securing needed funds. The book is organized into eight "rules," including "ThinkChange (or ChangeThink)," "Talk Assets," and "Mind the Opposition." Advice and caveats are peppered throughout. For example, Craft suggests that the Toledo-Lucas County PL's Government Procurement Center "could be an ideal subcontractor" of employee training. While this is a unique work, related titles of interest include Dwight W. Burlingame's Library Funding (American Library Assn., 1995), Lisa F. Kinney's Lobby for Your Library (American Library Assn., 1992), and Sally Gardner Reed's Saving Your Library (McFarland, 1992). Recommended for all public libraries.ASkip Auld, Chesterfield Cty. P.L., VA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description
The Funding Game presents various examples of library advocacy and cites a variety of community inputs, so that library administrators, board members, and Friends, will have better insight into possibilities for their own library's funding advantage.

About the Author
Mary Anne Craft is a writer and consultant. She was senior editor of "Corporate ARTnews" and a cataloger and librarian at the Library of Congress and other institutions.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In order to keep libraries growing, thriving, and performing as viable and essential community players, library advocates must play what author Mary Anne Craft calls "the funding game." The game is not an easy one: there is little formal training available, the coach is often a novice, and the players must sometimes be recruited against their will. "The Funding Game" focuses upon local public library funding, which makes up the bulk of public library budgets. Craft includes discussions of both external and internal library efforts. External efforts, such as one-on-one relations with voters and funding officials, staff membership in community organizations, solicitation of community input, encouraging media coverage, and otherwise keeping the public informed, are supported by internal efforts, such as attention to planning and presentation of public services, involvement of library trustees, support staff and Friends, and leveraging funds already in hand. "The Funding Game" presents various examples of library advocacy and cites a variety of community inputs, so that library administrators, board members, and Friends, will have better insight into possibilities for their own library's funding advantage. Advocates may pursue a dialogue with those who have been active in a particular arena (names and places are provided, when possible), or they may find new ways of thinking about what they already know. The book also emphasizes the relation between various library activities and library funding so that they are better able to work for each other. This book is an essential tool for the library advocate. Craft presents the rules of play for the funding game, and provides real-worldcase studies of libraries that played and won.

Author Biography: Mary Anne Craft is a writer and consultant. She was senior editor of "Corporate ARTnews" and a cataloger and librarian at the Library of Congress and other institutions.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

The Funding Game is a clever compilation of exemplary public library innovations, team projects, partnerships, and marketing efforts in 30 or so public libraries of all sizes. Library consultant Craft (MLS, UC-Berkeley) presents a medley of concepts and methods for recasting a library's funding advocacy efforts. Her fresh examples show that service, accountability, and community relations are the key issues in securing needed funds. The book is organized into eight "rules," including "ThinkChange (or ChangeThink)," "Talk Assets," and "Mind the Opposition." Advice and caveats are peppered throughout. For example, Craft suggests that the Toledo-Lucas County PL's Government Procurement Center "could be an ideal subcontractor" of employee training. While this is a unique work, related titles of interest include Dwight W. Burlingame's Library Funding (American Library Assn., 1995), Lisa F. Kinney's Lobby for Your Library (American Library Assn., 1992), and Sally Gardner Reed's Saving Your Library (McFarland, 1992). Recommended for all public libraries.--Skip Auld, Chesterfield Cty. P.L., VA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

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