Finding Money for Your School Library When There Isn’t Any

This certification series includes 2 self-paced courses. Each one builds on the last, giving you a complete approach to school library funding.

Finding Money When There Isn’t Any Part 1: Creative Funding for Your School Library

Learn how to assess your library’s needs, prioritize what matters most, and build a clear, compelling case for funding.

Finding Money When There Isn’t Any Part 2: How to Secure Grants for Your School Library

Learn how to find grant opportunities that fit, write stronger proposals, and manage funding once it’s awarded.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS SERIES, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO:

• Assess your library’s needs and prioritize funding opportunities that are actually worth pursuing
• Build a clear, convincing case for funding that connects need, impact, and outcomes
• Identify funding sources, including grants and community partnerships, that align with your goals
• Evaluate grant opportunities early so you avoid wasting time on poor-fit applications
• Write stronger, more targeted grant proposals that clearly communicate value
• Plan, track, and communicate outcomes after funding is awarded
• Approach funding as an ongoing, repeatable process instead of a one-time effort

You will leave with a clearer funding strategy and practical tools you can reuse for future projects.

This certification series is especially helpful for:

• K-12 school librarians responsible for funding collections, programs, or space improvements
• Library staff who need to advocate for resources within their school or district
• Educators supporting school library planning or funding efforts
• Librarians who want a more structured, repeatable approach to funding
• Anyone tasked with turning ideas into funded library initiatives

If that sounds like your role, you will probably see yourself in these courses.

If you are someone who:

• Has ideas for your library that keep getting delayed due to lack of funding
• Feels unsure where funding decisions happen or how to influence them
• Wants to pursue grants but is not confident in the process
• Has tried funding applications before without strong results
• Wants a clearer path from idea to funded project

This certification was built for you.

COURSE ADVISOR

Amanda Chacon, MLS, Course Operations Manager, Library Journal/School Library Journal

Amanda Chacon is a NISE STEM-certified Future Ready Librarian® and a LEGO Education Teacher Ambassador, Canva Teacher Ambassador, and Amazon Future Engineer Teacher Ambassador Mentor. She was selected as the School Library Journal 2024 Librarian of the Year, Sam Houston State Distinguished Educator of the Year, and a 2024 Library Journal Mover & Shaker. Amanda believes the library is a place where all students are welcome to explore their interests and creativity. Her professional interests include the intersection of STEAM and literacy, as well as community engagement and initiatives, particularly in Title I schools. She has been in education for 22 years and a librarian for 15 years.

COURSE INSTRUCTORS

Kendra Allen, Director of Library Media Services, Wake County Public School System 

Kendra Allen is the library director for the Wake County Public School System (NC), a role she has held since 2019. Prior to this position, she served as the lead librarian for secondary libraries as well as a middle school librarian. Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication (2004) and a master’s degree in library science with school library certification and Beta Phi Mu honors (2008) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also holds a Media Supervisor certificate from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Kristina Holzweiss, School Librarian

Kristina A. Holzweiss is a school librarian on Long Island, NY and the 2015 School Library Journal School Librarian of the Year. She is the creator of the Demco School Library Planner and a national presenter focused on advocacy, instructional leadership, equity, accessibility, and creative funding. She founded the first school library makerspace on Long Island by securing more than $125,000 in grants and strategic funding. As an adjunct professor, she teaches educators how to leverage AI and practical systems to strengthen their programs. Kristina believes libraries are the heart of a school and is committed to helping librarians document their impact and lead with clarity and confidence.

Katy Black, MLIS, Librarian, Sheldon ISD

Katy Black is the School Librarian at Michael R. Null Middle School in Sheldon ISD. In her sixth year as a school librarian, she has secured more than $5,000 in grant funding to expand her library’s impact through initiatives such as a student language lab, a campus-wide Comic-Con, and the addition of a library pet. A frequent presenter at professional conferences on innovative programming, Katy is committed to helping others bridge budget gaps through creative, student-centered resource development.

This certification series includes two self-paced courses that work together to help you move from identifying needs to securing and managing funding. You will build skills step by step, starting with defining priorities and ending with implementing and sustaining funded projects.

Instead of focusing on one tactic, this series helps you understand how funding actually works across your school and community. You will learn how to make stronger cases for support, identify realistic opportunities, and approach grants in a way that is more strategic and less time-consuming. After completing the two courses, you will earn your School Library Funding certification from School Library Journal

SESSIONS AND PRICING

This registration is for the full certification series, which includes both courses.

SERIES FORMAT

This certification series includes 2 self-paced courses designed to build skills progressively across the full program.

Each course includes structured modules with video instruction, examples, and exercises. Materials are available on demand for six months.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

If you complete both courses in the series, it will take approximately 24 hours total.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

All materials included in this certification series will remain accessible for six months following each course’s release.

CREDITS & CERTIFICATION

Complete both courses to earn 24 professional development hours and your School Library Funding Certification from School Library Journal.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto-captioning. If you require accommodations, please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration and we will make our best efforts to support your needs.

SUPPORT

For technical or course-related support, please contact course-support@libraryjournal.com.