Reviewing Support for Library Association Development and Sustainability for the Public Benefit

Abstract

This reports looks at the benefits of the Building Stronger Library Associations (BSLA) program, which ran between 2008 and 2018 more or less. It also looks at future library associations’ needs, using a proposed Taxonomy of Library Association Capacities. This is an emerging idea, based our desk research and our own experiences working with library groups and associations, and one that is there to be adapted and improved on. The report also acknowledges the harsh reality of many small library associations that are run by volunteers and their unique needs, and emphasizes that local context is important when reviewing the taxonomy capacities.