101+ Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends Sally Gardner Reed Beth Nawalinski Alex Peterson of Friends of Libraries U.S.A. Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc. New York London Published by Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc. 100 William Street, Suite 2004 New York, NY 10038 Copyright © 2004 by Friends of Libraries U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this book, in whole or part, without written permission of the publisher, is prohibited. Printed and bound in the United States of America. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. Cataloging-in-Publication Data for this book is available from the Library of Congress, record number 2004042573. Dedication Sally Reed For Sandy Dolnick, founder of Friends of Libraries U.S.A. in 1979 and executive director until 2002. She has been a good friend and mentor to me and thousands of Friends across the country. Beth Nawalinski For my mother, who taught me the value of libraries, literacy, and the power of volunteers. She encouraged me to read anything and every- thing—and let me read under the covers after bedtime with a flashlight! Alex Peterson For the most inspiring person I have ever known: my mother. iii Contents List of Figures . ix Preface . xiii Chapter One—Raising Money for Your Library: The Book Sale and Beyond . 1 1-1 Secondhand Prose Used Bookshop . 2 1-2 Online Book Sales. 4 1-3 Kids’ Book Sale . 5 1-4 Silent Auction Book Sale . 7 1-5 Make Your Mark Campaign. 8 1-6 Book Memorial. 9 1-7 Birthday Books . 10 1-8 Community Bookcase . 11 1-9 Leaving Legacies . 13 1-10 Memorial Cards . 15 1-11 Joining Together in Laughter and Love . 16 1-12 Murder on the Mississippi . 20 1-13 Literary Baskets. 24 1-14 A Tisket, A Tasket: A Literary Basket. 25 1-15 Treasured Recipes Cookbook . 28 1-16 Cow Pie Bingo . 29 1-17 Giving Tree . 31 1-18 Radiothon Fund-raiser . .32 1-19 Bookin’ It on the Monon . 33 1-20 Read, Write, and Blue Motorcycle Raffle . 35 1-21 Strawberry Festival and Book Fair . 37 1-22 WWII Vintage Gala . 38 1-23 Rebirth of a Library . 40 1-24 Hearts & Arts . 41 1-25 Bookie Cookie . 44 1-26 Friends Shopping Night . 47 1-27 Wreath Festival . 47 1-28 Lights of Love . 49 Chapter Two—On the Radar Screen: Creating Programs and High Profile for Your Library. 53 2-1 Celebrating Community in Uncertain Times . 54 2-2 New York Art and Memorabilia Show. 55 2-3 History Alive Chautauqua!. 57 2-4 Support Your Local Library Wild West Weekend . 58 2-5 Award for Literary Excellence . 62 2-6 Book Cart Drill Team. 63 2-7 Library Arts Program . 64 2-8 Recycle-a-Book . 67 2-9 Library Grand Reopening Friends Festival . 69 2-10 Twentieth Anniversary Celebration: Author Event . 71 2-11 Celebrating the “Big 5-0” . 74 2-12 One Hundredth Anniversary Coupon . 76 2-13 Tips for Booking an Author . 77 2-14 Literary Landmarks™. 78 2-15 Books for Babies . 80 2-16 Raising Readers. 82 2-17 Reading Marathon . 83 2-18 Teen2Teen. 87 2-19 Youth Writing Contest . 88 2-20 Library Use Survey . 92 2-21 Selby Library Friends Newsletter . 95 2-22 Open Hearth Café . 98 2-23 Library Buddy Program . 99 2-24 Library Lovers’ Month @ your library® . 99 Chapter Three—Making a Real Difference: Effective Library Advocacy . 103 3-1 From Heartbreak to Triumph! . 104 3-2 No Time for Cuts!. 108 3-3 Say Yes to Libraries . 112 3-4 1% for Libraries . 114 3-5 Campaign for a Capital Project Fund . 118 3-6 Steps to the Future . 119 3-7 Creating and Using an E-mail Database of Library Friends and Supporters . 125 3-8 “Please Save Our Libraries” . 126 3-9 BYOB . 130 3-10 Project Alert . 133 3-11 Lobbying Dos and Don’ts. 135 3-12 Legislative Tips . 136 3-13 Lobbying Tips, Making Your Fifteen Minutes Count!. 138 3-14 Bridge, Hook, and Flag. 139 Chapter Four—Creating, Growing, and Re-Energizing Friends Groups . 141 4-1 Libraries Need Friends: Creating Friends Groups and Revitalizing the One You Have . 142 4-2 Chocolate Orgy Membership Celebration. 158 4-3 Quilt Raffle . 161 4-4 Catch ’Em in the Library . 162 4-5 The Membership Drive . 164 4-6 Gold Card Campaign . 165 4-7 Ask a Friend to Be a Friend,. 168 4-8 Recruitment on the Web . 169 4-9 Membership Letter and Brochure Examples . 171 4-10 Rev Up Your Membership Drive . 174 Chapter Five—Organizational Effectiveness for Friends Groups . 177 5-1 I Thought That Was My Job. 179 5-2 Orientation for Friends Executive Committee Members . 183 5-3 Duties of Officers, Friends of the Lucy Robbins Welles Library, Newington, CT . 185 5-4 Duties of Officers, Friends of.