Introducing the Library Support Network
The Library Support Network (LSN) is the only organization dedicated entirely to strengthening public library fundraising and funding advocacy across North America.
Born from the success of the International Public Library Fundraising Conference (IPLFC) and Library Giving Day, the LSN connects the people responsible for raising money for public libraries, regardless of their title, team size, or organizational structure. Whether housed in a library foundation, Friends group, or internal development team, our community shares a common goal: helping libraries thrive through stronger, more sustainable support.
Why the Library Support Network?
Public libraries are essential to the civic, cultural, and economic health of our communities. But they face increasing financial and political pressures, and fundraising for libraries remains complex, under-resourced, and often siloed. Until now, there has been no professional home for the people doing this work.
The LSN fills that gap, offering:
- A peer-led, field-specific community designed for shared learning and mutual support
- Sector-relevant tools and training tailored to library fundraising realities
- Strategic efforts that elevate library philanthropy as a driver of community impact
- A commitment to inclusion and access, especially for small and rural libraries.
Since its pilot launch in 2022, the LSN has evolved into a vibrant network comprising over 800 professionals representing more than 265 library systems. What began as an idea sparked at IPLFC has become a powerful movement built by and for the field.
A Growing Platform for Collective Impact
Today, the Library Support Network delivers high-value offerings at every level of engagement:
- Free community access through webinars, discussion forums, and shared resources
- Beginning in January 2026, paid organizational membership that unlocks curated tools, benchmarking, and leadership-level programs
- Fee-based consulting and training for foundations and fundraising teams at key inflection points
- Field-level initiatives that benefit the entire sector
As we continue to grow, the LSN remains focused on one clear purpose: ensuring every public library has the resources, partnerships, and advocacy it needs to thrive.
Connect. Learn. Grow. Lead.
The International Public Library Fundraising Conference will always be a cornerstone of the LSN experience. But it is no longer a stand-alone event. It’s part of something bigger.
We invite you to join the Library Support Network and help build the future of public library fundraising—together.
Learn more at: https://librarysupportnetwork.mn.co
The Funding Opportunity
We are seeking bold philanthropists who believe in the transformative power of libraries to improve lives, build equity, and preserve democracy. As a new non-profit corporation, the Seattle Public Library Foundation serves as our fiscal sponsor, enabling us to make the LSN into a sustainable organization over time and with the necessary capacity. To rapidly accelerate this work, we seek funding to help us scale more quickly than we can through self-funding.
To learn more about this effort, please email Jonna at [email protected].