Our Advocacy Committee works to:
- Increase public awareness and support for libraries with both government officials and local citizens.
- Advocate for a fully funded county budget as submitted by the Executive Director of the library.
- Monitor issues, policies, and legislation relevant to the continuing health of public libraries at the local, state, and national level.
- Coordinate the Branch Liaison program which supports a relationship between Friends and branch library staff.
Over the past year, the Advocacy Committee:
- Secured a proclamation from Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs to recognize Friends during National Friends of the Library Week.
- Manned a booth at the City of Knoxville Neighborhood Conference to share information on Friends and library programming.
- Celebrated National Library Week, delivering $10 Chick-fil-A gift cards and personal notes to all 190+ library staff.
- Worked with Friends of Tennessee Libraries to identify opportunities for advocacy and support for libraries.
- Attended the Knox County Commission Meeting in October, where Board President Bailey Foster addressed commissioners during the public form, thanking them for their continued support of the Knox County Public Library.