Engagement für Bibliotheken fördern und sichtbar machen: Welche Ziele verfolgen Bibliotheksfreundeskreise im politischen Prozess und wie können sie dabei von Bundesverband der deutschen Bibliotheksfreundeskreise unterstützt werden?

Libraries must make their interests visible in the political process, especially regarding equipment and funding. Library management is often bound by loyalty obligations and cannot publicly advocate for their interests. Friends and support associations are crucial here, as they can act independently of employment obligations and represent the interests of users. Examples from Hückeswagen, Korntal-Münchingen, and Cologne demonstrate successful lobbying by local friends' associations. The German Association of Library Friends (Bundesverband der deutschen Bibliotheks-Freundeskreise e.V., BdB) supports this engagement and promotes the visibility of libraries. Founded in 2018, the BdB offers training, webinars, and an award for outstanding friends' associations. It collaborates with other cultural support associations and advocates for key issues such as library funding and e-lending. However, the BdB recognizes the need to expand its lobbying efforts which are currently limited by volunteer resources. To address this, the BdB aims to acquire additional funding to create more professional structures overall ensuring the effective representation of library users' interests at all levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]