Get Funded

Creative Strategies for Public Libraries

Course Details

Registration deadline: September 9, 2026.

3 Self-Paced Course Modules

12 Credit Hours

Recommended for public library workers.

$303 | Save with early bird and group rates.

Public library budgets have always required creativity, and right now that is more true than ever. This course gives you a more intentional way to find, pursue, and secure funding without treating every funding need like a separate emergency.

Ways to identify funding paths beyond your operating budget
Tools for building a stronger case for support
A better strategy for connecting your library’s needs with the right funders and partners

THE NEEDS KEEP GROWING. THE FUNDING DOESN’T.

Federal and state funding is uncertain, and your community's need for library services isn't.
You have programs to run, collections to maintain, and staff to support, but your budget is stretched too thin to cover all of it.
You know there are funding opportunities out there, but finding and pursuing them feels overwhelming.

You’ll leave with a clear, practical way to approach funding so your library is not relying on luck or last-minute scrambling.

CHOOSE FALL SESSION

Early bird rate is $256 through August 9, 2026. Standard rate is $303 through September 9, 2026.

Need flexibility? Once materials are released, you can start any time during your 6-month access period and move through the course at your own pace.

Invoice or PO options: Orders of $600 or greater can choose invoice at checkout. For orders under $600, please do not check out online. Submit this form, and we will process your order manually.

Need approval? Email this course to your supervisor.

TRAINING A TEAM?

Every department in the library needs funding. Enroll multiple staff to help your library move from scattered efforts to a clear, coordinated strategy.

Multi-seat discounts are automatically calculated in the cart.

Buying for a larger group? Explore all purchasing options.

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What You'll Learn Who This is For All the Details

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

Assess your library’s operational needs and identify priority areas where additional funding could have the greatest impact.
Identify and evaluate potential funding sources including grants, foundations, municipal partners, and community organizations.
Develop a clear and persuasive need statement that communicates your library’s priorities and community impact.
Create a funding map that aligns library initiatives with appropriate funding opportunities and timelines.
Apply strategies for building and maintaining relationships with funders, partners, and community stakeholders.
Construct a practical funding strategy that supports sustainable financial growth for your library.

Together, these outcomes equip participants with the tools and strategies needed to pursue funding opportunities and strengthen their library’s financial sustainability.

This course is especially helpful for:

Public library directors and administrators responsible for budgeting and sustainability
Managers and department heads trying to expand funding for programs, services, or staffing
Staff involved in grants, partnerships, or community outreach
Anyone who has been asked to “find more funding” without a clear strategy
Libraries working to stretch limited budgets without overloading staff

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

This course will feel especially relevant if you:

Know your library needs more funding but are not sure where to start
Feel like funding opportunities exist but are difficult to identify or pursue
Have tried grants before and want a more strategic, sustainable approach
Need to make a stronger case for funding, support, or partnerships
Want a clearer, more repeatable way to approach funding instead of starting from scratch each time

This course was built for libraries trying to close the gap between what they need and what they’re funded to do.

Public library budgets are under increasing pressure, while expectations for services continue to grow. The gap between what libraries are funded to do and what communities need is getting harder to manage, and relying on traditional funding alone is often not enough.

This course provides a practical framework for finding and securing additional funding. You’ll learn how to identify the most important funding needs in your library, connect those needs to the right opportunities, and build a strategy that supports long-term sustainability. The focus is not just on finding funding once, but on creating a repeatable approach you can continue using.

SESSIONS AND PRICING

Early bird pricing ends one month before the registration deadline. Course materials become available on September 9, 2026.

Rate + deadline	Fall Session
Early bird deadline	August 9, 2026
Early bird price	$256
Standard deadline	September 9, 2026
Standard price	$303
Materials unlock	September 9, 2026

COURSE FORMAT

This is a fully self-paced course with 3 modules. Each module includes instruction, examples, and practical tools you can apply to your own library.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

This course is designed to take approximately 12 hours total. You can move through the material 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 release date.

CREDIT & CERTIFICATE

Complete the course to earn 12 professional development credit hours and a Library Journal certificate of completion.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings include auto-captioning. If you require accommodations, please email course-support@libraryjournal.com.

SUPPORT

For support, contact course-support@libraryjournal.com.

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