EveryLibrary Launches its “Yes Campaign Cohort,” the First Offering in a New Training Suite to Help Win Library Ballot Measures

EveryLibrary announces the launch of its new "Yes Campaign Cohort", the first program in a suite of trainings designed to equip ballot committees and advocates with the skills to organize, message, fundraise, and win in today’s challenging political environment. The cohort blends free skills building and informational webinars with pro bono one-on-one strategy sessions and peer sharing networks so local library stakeholders can join at the point of need and move quickly from planning to execution.

The "Yes Campaign Cohort" is open to library stakeholders who are engaged in or anticipating campaigns to pass a public library ballot measure in the next 60 months. Rolling enrollment is available via Skilltype. Sessions are available for free and on demand to accommodate local calendars and campaign timelines. Participants may follow the recommended sequence or drop into any session as needs arise. 

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These resources are made available for free to all campaign committees because of the support of donors, including Communico and TechLogic. Instructional design and visual presentation is supported by the Equinox Open Library Initiative. One-on-one consulting with EveryLibrary's campaign team and peer-to-peer learning cohorts begins in September 2025.

The Yes Campaign Cohort offers nine core curriculum sessions specifically for library ballot measure committees and advocacy initiatives:

Program at a Glance (9 Core Sessions)

• Ballot Committees 101 - Form a compliant, trusted committee; understand roles, reporting, and first steps.
• Crafting Persuasive Messages - Build clear, community-centered frames and adapt for audiences and channels.
• Activating Volunteers for Ballot Measures - Recruit, train, and retain volunteers; build ownership and momentum.
• Fueling the Fight: Fundraising Strategies - Create a right-sized fundraising plan; make the ask; stay compliant.
• Order the Voter File - Access, segment, and use voter data to find likely supporters and guide outreach.
• Basic Campaign Marketing Infrastructure - Stand up website, email, and social channels that scale.
• Countering Criticism: How to Address Opposition - Prepare proactive responses and maintain message discipline.
• Every Vote Counts: GOTV Tactics - Use high-impact tactics (canvassing, relational, phones) to mobilize habitual voters.
• Library Campaign Showcase - Learn from real-world wins, evaluate materials, and apply best practices to your campaign image.

Campaign committee leaders will gain the skills to form and manage compliant “Vote Yes” committees that inspire public trust. They will explore real-world examples of messaging frameworks aligned with local values and priorities, and learn how to design outreach across traditional and digital channels. The program will assist in overcoming challenges related to recruiting, training, and managing campaign volunteers at scale, while also preparing participants to address opposition effectively without amplifying it. Participants will build confidence in fundraising and resource tracking for maximum impact, ensuring they reach likely voters, not just patrons.

“The Yes Campaign Cohort is a practical, field-tested path for library leaders and community advocates to take their Vote Yes campaigns to the next level,” said John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary. “With generous support from Communico and TechLogic, and Equinox’s instructional design expertise, we’re delivering training that is both deeply useful and highly engaging.”

Your monthly donations of just $1, $3, or $5 help libraries win at the ballot box.

How to Participate

Library campaigns succeed when committees are compliant and credible, messages resonate with voters beyond cardholders, volunteer power is organized, and GOTV is data-driven. The Yes Campaign Cohort delivers these essentials in a practical, nonpartisan curriculum tailored specifically to library measures. The Yes Campaign Cohort is available now on Skilltype. Stakeholders, library leaders, Friends groups and Foundations, and community advocates are welcome to enroll.

EveryLibrary Learning is an initiative of EveryLibrary, the national political action committee for libraries. It offers pro bono specialized training, coaching, and campaign support for library leaders, ballot committees, and advocacy groups through webinars, interactive cohorts, and on-demand resources. EveryLibrary empowers library stakeholders to engage effectively with voters.