Finding Money When There Isn’t Any Part 1

AFTER YOU ATTEND THIS COURSE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO:

• Conduct a needs assessment using relevant documents and data.
• Prioritize library needs based on feasibility, impact, and alignment.
• Write a clear, compelling need statement to support a funding request.
• Identify internal and external funding sources that align with your specific library needs.
• Build and strengthen relationships with partners who can help support your initiatives.
• Tailor funding requests to potential funders.

This course is especially helpful for:

• K-12 school librarians trying to move important ideas forward when the usual budget is not enough
• School library staff who need to make a stronger case for resources, programming, collections, or space improvements
• Educators involved in school library planning, advocacy, or funding conversations
• Librarians who want a clearer process for deciding what to ask for and how to ask for it
• Anyone responsible for turning school library needs into a funding request others can understand and support

If that sounds like your role, you will probably see yourself in this course.

If you are someone who:

• Has a good idea for your library but keeps running into some version of “there is no money for that”
• Feels like you know what your students need, but you need a better way to prove it and explain it
• Is not sure where funding decisions actually happen in your school or district
• Wants to find support beyond the regular library budget without making this a second full-time job
• Would love a more realistic, organized way to move from idea to actual funding conversation

This course was built for you.

THIS COURSE CONSISTS OF 3 ON-DEMAND MODULES:

Module 1: From great idea to impactful need

In this module, you’ll learn how to conduct a need assessment and why it strengthens your funding request. You’ll explore different types of data to tap into and quick assessments that inform the impact of your ideas. Lastly, you’ll wrap up the module by gathering and drafting a shortlist of ideas that are likely to make the most impact on your school community.

Module 2: From impactful need to a fundable request

In this module, you’ll learn techniques to prioritize needs based on impact, starting with your own list of ideas generated in module 1. You’ll determine the why, who and what of your proposal, and write a concise need statement that demonstrates impact. By the end, you’ll have a statement that can be used with school principals, the PTA, grant funders and more!

Module 3: From fundable request to funding partners

In this final module, you’ll learn about internal and external sources of funding that are ready to be tapped into. You'll learn about the school funding ecosystem, plus the ins and outs of asking for funding at the right time of year. You’ll discover strategies for finding external funding partners, tailoring your message to the funders’ needs, and gain insight into your district’s policies around external support. Lastly, you’ll close the loop to show appreciation for and sustain relationships with funders.

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.

This course is part of the larger two-course certification series focused on school library funding, but Part 1 stands on its own as the place to build the foundation. It helps you get clear on what your library needs, what is most worth pursuing, and how to turn those needs into a request that is easier for decision-makers and potential supporters to say yes to.

You will work through the early-stage thinking that often gets skipped when people jump straight to asking for money. That includes assessing needs, prioritizing ideas, writing a strong need statement, and understanding how funding actually works inside schools and districts. You will also look beyond your building to identify internal and external funding opportunities that align with your goals.

This course also focuses on relationship-building as part of the funding process. You will explore how to identify people and organizations already connected to your school community, how to shape your message around impact, and how to begin creating a practical funding path that does not feel random or exhausting.

SESSIONS AND PRICING

This course is part of the Finding Money for Your School Library When There Isn’t Any: 2-Course Certification Series. If you plan to complete the full series, the best value is purchasing it as a bundle.

Choose the session that works best for your schedule. Early bird pricing ends one month before the session deadline. Course materials unlock on the session deadline date.

GROUP OPTIONS

Training a team? Choose the setup that matches how you want to plan and pay:

Group course enrollment: Enroll 3+ staff in this course and save.

Bulk course credits: Prepay once, get the highest per-seat discount on every course, and assign seats later.

Unlimited annual licensing: System-wide access for a year with no per-course approvals.

Request Discounted Group Pricing

Questions? Email groupsales@libraryjournal.com.

COURSE FORMAT

This is a fully self-paced, asynchronous online course consisting of 3 modules. Each module includes video instruction, slides, readings, and reflective exercises designed to help you assess needs, shape stronger funding requests, and identify realistic sources of support for your library.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

Each module is designed to take approximately 4 hours to complete, for a total of 12 hours. You may move through the course at your own pace and on your own schedule.

COURSE ACCESS

You will have access to all course materials for six months from the material unlock date.

CREDIT & CERTIFICATE

Complete all modules to earn 12 professional development credit hours and a School Library Journal certificate of completion, which will be emailed to you.

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.