Hello —

Last week, I had the opportunity to join Library Foundation board chair Gene Cochrane, Library CEO Marcellus Turner, and Charles Thomas, chair of the Library Trustees and Charlotte Director for Knight Foundation in Miami for Knight’s annual Library Leaders Meeting.

This intimate two-day meeting brings together 75 leaders from across the country and around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities public libraries face today.

The agenda is always informative and inspiring, and this year our conversations focused on:.

—the impact of AI on libraries and how do we embrace it to further our work.

—the rising cost of digital materials and how to build a united front with major publishers.

—the mental health and safety of our staff as libraries are willingly filling the gaps of social services; and

—what does the agenda look like for the next 10 years for public libraries.

Library leaders anticipate that the next ten-year agenda will require stronger partnerships with their private funding partners — a Friends group, a development team within the Library, or a supporting Foundation, like us. We must continue to work together as we build strategic plans, community partnerships, and public advocacy. Collectively, we need to build a stronger and more relevant national case for support that shares the complexity of libraries impact today.

I am so thankful to the Knight Foundation for providing this special opportunity every year. I always come back focused, motivated, and thankful for what we have here in Charlotte.

We have strong volunteer leadership, committed staff, and you, our generous supporters.

With gratitude,

Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE
Executive Director