A new set of training materials offers insights for libraries and library associations into the basics of grant-based partnerships. Through a handbook, three how-to guides and a recorded webinar, learn about what you need in order to build, manage and sustain partnerships. This work is funded by the Gates Foundation via SIGL.

Libraries have a unique set of characteristics that make them effective in delivering a wide range of policy goals. This not only makes them vital for the communities they serve – be they local areas, students and faculty, or a professional community – but also makes them very interesting as partners for anyone who shares our goals.

Our strengths – our reach, our profession and its values, our services and more – can combine with the resources that others bring in order to deliver impact that goes beyond anything we could do alone. In particular, in areas where we are aligned, partnership working with grant-giving organisations can also contribute to the financial and operational sustainability of libraries.

However, effective partnership working, in particular when working with grant-giving organisations, takes effort and structure. In order to help libraries become more effective as partners, not only in creating partnerships but then in managing and sustaining them, we are happy to launch new training resources.

Prepared by K2P2, an expert consultancy with long experience in this space, these offer key insights into how to be ready and effective. Through a recorded presentation, an overall handbook, and three how-to guides, you can become familiar with the way that partnerships typically work, the things you need to have in place, the risks and common mistakes that are made, and more broadly be able to take a more strategic approach to your partnership working.

The recorded session is available on our YouTube channel, and the other materials on our Repository. We encourage you to start with the recording, and use these as a basis for reflecting on how you can strengthen your ability to partner.

In 2025, we will be looking at further steps that we can take to support the sustainability and effectiveness of library associations and fields – keep an eye on our website to find out more.

This work is supported by the Gates Foundation via Stichting IFLA Global Libraries (SIGL). SIGL was established by IFLA and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in order to administer the Legacy Grant awarded to support IFLA’s work.