For the past 10 years, Friends of Libraries Australia has encouraged and supported the development of grassroots advocacy.
Libraries are changing dramatically in the services they provide to the community, Friends groups - the citizens who support libraries with their time, money and talents - are establishing an important niche in this changing market. In the past ten years, many libraries have endured budget restraints and changes to funding levels that place restrictions on ever developing community expectations for provision of new services. Numerous Friends groups have made a significant impact in meeting the challenges encountered by their library authority. In fact, one library authority in Victoria, has 12 FOL groups under its umbrella, and a structure in place that allows for input into policy development. This may become the model for successful community partnering.
As library needs become more complex and more acute, our supporters will need to become more vocal and more united. For 10 years FOLA has been a uniting force for Friends in Australia, today and in the future, this organization can only be sustained by the effectiveness and resolve of our members, citizens who use libraries - Friends.
Daniel Ferguson
Executive Director