We had a Northeastern Ontario Friends Day’s in September. The meeting was hosted by the Friends of the Greater Sudbury Public Library. Delegates, 14 in all, attended from Sault Ste. Marie, Powassan, Whitefish First Nation, Kapauskassing, Webbwood/Massey, Birch Island, Val Caron, Lively, Burk's Falls and Sudbury.
Our guest speaker was Marjatta Asu, Consultant with Ontario Library Service North. Her presentation, “Creating and Motivating your Friends” met the varied interests of the audience, some with established Friends, and some just starting out. One delegate was a Library Board Trustee, and another was the Chief Operating Officer for her library.
Marjatta’s slides ranged from the purpose of the Friends group, its role, organizational planning and governance issues and activities such as fundraising, events, volunteering and advocacy. Motivational ideas related to re-evaluating goals and objectives, defining benefits, member recruitment and volunteer recognition
Bookselling strategies were explored as Sally Katary (Sudbury) and Dorothy Macnaughton (Sault Ste. Marie) presented their methods of bookstore management. The Sault Friends organize their book stock into categories, and feel they sell more that way. When they filled a book bin near the circulation desk they found books “flew” out of the bin.
Their bookstore co-ordinator is responsible for ongoing store management, which is open 26 hours a week. In addition one person is in charge of each booksale, and there are procedures for pricing and sorting donations. There are criteria for culling, and even box sizing and labeling are standardized.
The Sudbury used bookstore is in an alcove off a stair landing, and library staff accept funds at the circulation desk. A display case in the store exhibits silent auctions, Friends’ newsletters, coffee cups and other promotional signs. A tour was offered of the storage area and bookstore.
We worked through lunch, networking and hearing each other’s ideas and advice for booksales, fundraising, special events and Board and staff relations. We heard about Powassan’s “Dickens Week” in December, where the town dresses up and decorates. There is caroling, a Christmas reception, hot chocolate and a tree lighting ceremony. We also admired their maple syrup cookbook, which was a year in preparation, featuring a cover sketch donated by local resident and cartoonist, Lynn Johnson.
Jami van Haaften gave a talk about FOCAL, providing copies of the current newsletter and referring everyone to the website for additional newsletter archives and resources. Regional initiatives such as a website template for Friends to use in launching their own website were discussed, as well as how we can involve OLS-North. Special promotions events could be tried on a regional scale, with publicity material shared among Friends groups.
We also shared addresses and e-mails, to continue to network, and plan a spring meeting in Sault Ste. Marie.