History of FOLUSA

In 2004, FOLUSA celebrated its 25th anniversary with over 2,000 member groups, libraries and individuals. It was remarkable feat for an organization that started from a small but visionary project of the Committee on Friends of the Library embedded deep within ALA's Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA). In 1975, this committee undertook a project to compile a directory of known Friends of Libraries groups on campuses and in communities. When this initial directory was completed, groups listed were contacted to see if there was interest in developing a newsletter that would allow them to share best practices and in 1978, Volume I of the National Notebook (precursor to FOLUSA's News Update) was sent out to 40 groups who had responded.

A year later, the subscription list had grown to 100 and it became increasingly clear that there was a real need to provide a network for Friends groups who were and still are usually isolated from one another. In 1979 at the ALA annual conference in Dallas, a small group, chaired by Sandy Dolnick, came together to discuss the possibility of forging a new organization especially for Friends.

Initially, the goal was to formalize the idea-sharing network to which the National Notebook responded. However, 1979 was also the year of the first White House Conference on Library and Information Science and advocacy was on everyone's mind. So it was that providing support for both networking and advocacy became the foundation for this new organization incorporated in Chicago of that year named Friends of Libraries U.S.A.

FOLUSA's national network provides excellent support to Friends and libraries so that they can optimize their effectiveness in raising funds on campus and in the community surpassing, perhaps, even the initial and most fervent hopes of Sandy Dolnick and others involved in the establishment of the organization.

FOLUSA has been equally successful and visionary in its efforts to raise the political profile for libraries and to help Friends and other lay supporters of libraries use the power of their voices to ensure that libraries are supported. Beginning with a "how to" pamphlet on lobbying published in its earliest days, and continuing with fact sheets, workshops, and programs, FOLUSA has worked to provide both inspiration and information for Friends to become effective library advocates. Most recently, FOLUSA applied for and received ALA's 2003 Loleta D. Fyan Grant for $10,000 to develop and distribute (along with training) an advocacy CD and workbook designed specifically for lay supporters of libraries - in other words, Friends.

To recognize library-supportive politicians for their leadership and to encourage others to support libraries, the Public Service Award was inaugurated in 1989. The first award went to U.S. Representative Major Owens (NY) and continues to be a key event during ALA's National Library Legislation Day today. In addition, FOLUSA works with celebrities and well known authors to give high profile to the importance of libraries.

In the end, it will be those who love and use libraries that ensure a safe and secure future for them. Like their forebears one hundred years ago, Friends continue to raise money and write grants for capital expenses and library programs, persuade local governments to provide sufficient support for library operations, and create political pressure to change laws that allow libraries to serve the public most effectively. As library needs become more complex and more acute, Friends and lay advocates will need to become more vocal and more united. For over 25 years FOLUSA has been a uniting force for Friends. Today and in the future, this unique organization will continue providing them with the resources they need to be effective advocates for America's libraries.