Priorities, Progress, and Possibilities - 2025
Dear Lavender Library friends, and community,
The LGBTQ+ community has always faced hostility and adversity—but we have also always resisted, persisted, and built spaces of care and resilience. Today, as we confront an increasingly hostile federal government, we must push back and create the safe, affirming spaces our community needs. That’s exactly what we at the Lavender Library strive to do every time we open our doors—through our events, our collection, our partnerships, and the simple act of being here for one another.
To ensure we meet the moment and serve our community in meaningful lasting ways, we're focusing on a few key priorities this year:
Developing a comprehensive strategic plan guided by the voices and perspectives of our community through a survey.
Strengthening our organization and ensuring its long-term sustainability through reviewing and updating our inventory, developing sustainable and community-desired programming, strengthening our fundraising efforts, and prioritizing organizational development.
Taking steps to launch a free membership program by the end of the year (but hopefully sooner!) to make our queer history and materials accessible to all.
To inform our strategic plan, we're launching a community survey to gather your thoughts on what you'd like to see and experience in and from the Library. Your input is crucial in shaping the future of this beloved space.
We'll also slow down on accepting or hosting new programming until we have a clear picture of what the community desires from LLACE (don’t worry—we have plenty in the works!). We’ll focus our energies on developing programming that the community wants and needs.
In April, we'll begin our search and bring on at least two additional board members, ideally with financial management or accounting skills or experience. In June, we'll celebrate Sacramento Pride with special events in our space and supporting events around the community. Our Strategic Plan will be released in the Fall after incorporating feedback from the community survey.
We invite you to join us on this journey by participating in our community survey, attending any of our events, spreading the word about our queer library, and most importantly, showing up for one another as we encounter increased adversity. Together, we can build an LGBTQ+ library that truly serves our community and makes a positive impact on those around us.
Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing you at the library soon!
Sincerely,
Lenix (they/them)
President of the Lavender Library
