Guest host David Lankes chats with John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary.

John Chrastka is executive director of EveryLibrary, the first nationwide political action committee for libraries. A long-time library trustee, supporter and advocate, Mr. Chrastka is a member and former president of the Board of Trustees for the Berwyn (IL) Public Library (2006 – present) and is a former president of the Reaching Across Illinois Libraries System (RAILS) multi-type library system. Prior to his work on EveryLibrary, he was a partner in AssociaDirect, a Chicago-based consultancy focused on supporting associations in membership recruitment, conference, and governance activities, and was Director for Membership Development at the American Library Association (ALA). He is a current member of ALA, the Illinois Library Association (ILA), and the American Political Sciences Association (APSA). He was named a 2014 Mover & Shaker by Library Journal for his work with EveryLibrary. He tweets at @mrchrastka.
Give to the Rapid Response Fund now!
The Rapid Response Fund is a project of EveryLibrary to build the financial resources that libraries need for crisis communications. Every month, we see stories about libraries faced with an unexpected funding crisis that comes from ‘outside’. City Councils, County Governments, State Legislatures control the purse strings for many of our libraries. But when grassroots support for the library needs to kick-in, the hardest part for libraries and advocates is to reach their constituents in a fast and actionable way. Our Rapid Response Fund will be there to deliver paid advertising and outreach support for local library advocacy “calls to action” when an unexpected crisis hits. Your donation will go to work buying targeted, smart, and effective public engagement through Facebook, Google AdWords, and local media sites. The Rapid Response Fund will put money to work to get the advocacy message in front of the right people and “bring them out” for the library. Donate today. The funds we collect here are earmarked and designated for this project. Visit http://everylibrary.org/rapid-response-fund/ for more about the project.
SHOW NOTES
John Chrastka’s previous appearance on Circulating Ideas
David Lankes’s previous appearances on Circulating Ideas: Episode 7 | Expect More | State of the MLS (part one) | State of the MLS (part two)