Winter 2002 Vol. 5 Issue 2
Winter 2002 Vol. 5 Issue 2
Friends' day @ CLA 2001
Our program at CLA, planned by Rochelle
Blumenthal, President of our host group Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library,
was structured around the three aspects of Friends' work – advocacy, fundraising
and volunteerism. Our Fall FOCAL Point featured the presentation by library
advocate Jan Dalmyn, "Advocacy Western Style". This issue features the remainder of our CLA
program, continuing with the fundraising topic handled by Alanna Keefe, of Burk
& Associates. We learned successful fundraising is dependent on two things,
acquiring relationships and sustaining them. Developing an extensive donor base and keeping
donors longer than a year can happen by improving methodology. We need to
identify our constituents, those who can support our needs, and look for obvious
partnerships which can be made. We can promote fundraising by demonstrating what
we are there for and how we support the principles of the organization. Some may feel libraries are supported by
municipal governments and therefore don’t need money. We need to articulate what
the specific needs are, and how Friends support those needs. By specifying what
is offered, what are the benefits and what a donor can offer, you eliminate
confusion. Donor support can be reinforced. Alanna lists
donor walls, plaques, pins and buttons as some standard methods of
acknowledgment. She referred to a recent survey of 100 donors, who were asked
what it is that they need to keep giving, and to increase their giving. One
example in a library setting might be a named collection or a photo of an
ancestor.
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Random House of Canada
Nomination Deadline Feb. 28, 2002
Friends' Day at OLA highlights two sections of our "Best Practices / Innovative Ideas" document. Find out what makes a "best friend" for your library. Expect to exchange ideas, ask questions and brainstorm in two highly interactive sessions.
9 - 10:15 Best Practices - Membership
Facilitator :
Hilary Neary
President, Friends of the London Public Library
How do you recruit, retain, involve, and motivate your volunteers? Friends groups of all sizes share their methods and experience.
10:30 - 12 noon Best Practices - Fundraising
Facilitator:
Marjorie Hodges,
President, Friends of the Oshawa Public Library
Tried and true methods of fund raising will be outlined. We all do it all - book sales, special events, corporate donations, capital building funds. Let's share ideas, ask questions, and find out what strategies and action plans produce the best results.
Our OLA luncheon guest speaker will be children’s author Julie Johnston, author of The Only Outcast (Tundra Books, 1998), Hero of Lesser Causes (Lester Publishing, 1992) and Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me (Lester Publishing, 1994), and editor of Love Ya Like a Sister. Julie's new book is In Spite of Killer Bees, just published during the fall of 2001.
Julie earned Governor General's Literary Awards for her two early novels, and her third was nominated in 1998. CLA selected Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me for their children’s literature award, and Hero of Lesser Causes also received the National Chapter of Canada IODE literary award.
Helen Hayles, Executive Director of The Volunteer Centre of Winnipeg Inc. was our CLA 2001 luncheon guest speaker, offering her local, provincial and national views of the voluntary sector.
Some key problems she outlined include:
Values promoted by the voluntary sector relate to sharing, caring and belonging. Their economic importance is supplemented by their democratic importance. However, volunteers are taken for granted and not well understood. Our strength is our diversity, in being able to do so many things. Our weakness is this diversity, in that we have no one speaker to represent us. On the other hand, the business, labour and government sectors are well represented.Volunteers do special programs for communities, meet unfilled needs, help communities to help themselves and enhance the social fabric of our life. The issues facing us at a time when governments cannot answer the growing human service and cultural needs include funding, privatization (public vs. private sector involvement) and the need for new and dynamic leadership.
Future success in the voluntary sector relates to the following initiatives:
Helen referred to two government resources relating to the volunteer section
1) Voluntary Sector Initiative – the Broadbent Commission – http://www.vsi-isbc.ca/eng/index.cfm
2) Caring Canadians, Involved Canadians: Highlights from the 2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating http://www.nsgvp.org/n-2000hr-ca.htm
"You don’t solve problems if you don't admit you have a problem."
For those donors who are expecting recognition (and some may prefer to remain anonymous) they want:
Members, who see their membership fee as a donation, want perceived value:
Alanna raised a "big bugaboo" in fundraising circles - "How much can you spend for each dollar you take in?" For capital campaigns the number might be 10%, to cover salary, marketing and acknowledgment costs. Sustainability means maintaining your existing base of donor support and building on prospects.
Alanna plays a lead role in marketing donor-centred fundraising and as researcher and author contributed to Thanks!... A Guide to Donor-Centred Fundraising. Since joining Burk & Associates, her strong writing, marketing and research skills have been put to task in the areas of client development and sponsorship research.
A long-time advocate for the arts in Manitoba
and in Canada, Alanna is recognized for her unique creativity and imaginative
execution of special events. She is an experienced arts administrator, and
former General Manager of Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers. (Alanna Keefe,
Director of Business Affairs, Burk & Associates )
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During Alanna's presentation she surveyed her audience on their key issues. It produced this result:
Clark's Harbour Friends of the Library had a successful 'sweetwalk' in July. The profit was used to purchase toddler books. Pubnico Friends of the Library continued their spruce up work with the addition of a rock garden in front of the library. Weymouth Friends participated in a local parade this summer and purchased mini blinds for the branch. All groups including Shelburne, Lockeport and Yarmouth Friends are assisting Library Lotto ticket sales, with the draw slated for November 20. (The Disseminator: http//www.library.ns.ca/provlib/disseminator)
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Ajax Friends now have pledges and money to approximately $850,000 towards their 1 million pledged for the new main central library. Our annual raffle is underway and we are also selling spaces on the Children’s quilts - "A Walk Along the Waterfront" - as well as greetings cards made from photos of our fundraising quilt.
Our 7th Annual Monster Book Sale raised an amazing $7,000 in three days - the best yet. We have a group of 10 Friends who sort books year around!
On 17th November, we have our Christmas Book Sale - "nearly New Books" that make good Christmas gifts - plus we have again added a craft sale component and are partnering with some other groups to make it a "Christmas Market" events with crafts and a silent auction.
East Gwillimbury Library Board asked us to go and give them a session on "Friends" - so I went with our CEO, Geoff Nie and new Board Member and VP of the Ajax Friends, Ian Leckie. (Val Marshall, Ajax)
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Good news is reported from the Friends of the Dunnville Library (branch of Haldimand County Library). Our second successful year with a garage sale held in May 2001 resulted in a total profit of $1280.74. We purchased $1300.00 worth of non-fiction books and CD-ROMs for the Children's Dept. A bake sale, held at the opening of the library book sale, generated $163.12.
Our annual Christmas Elves Shop will open Nov. 6, 2001. In previous years this has been our biggest fundraising activity. We ask the library board for a "wish list" so we can inform the public where the proceeds from each event will be directed. We will also be involved in our Dunnville Senior's Fair to work together with our community to promote the Library and the Friends of the Library.
To the success of Friends across Canada! (Colleen Clayton, President of the Dunnville Friends claytons@sympatico.ca )
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The Friends of Nepean Public Library received an Honourable Mention Award from the Ottawa Citizen Literacy Foundation . The award was presented November 27th at the Ottawa Public Library fundraiser. The award was given to honour the "Joy of Reading" program, organized by Gwenne Goodlet for seven years. In the past three years 95 reluctant readers have been helped to improve their reading skills with one-on-one tutoring.
The Award was a piece of sculpture & a laminated copy of the page in the Ottawa Citizen which described all the Literacy Awards.
The Friends are pleased to have received the Award which will be on show in their bookstore "Second Editions". (Margaret Main, Nepean)
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Fundraising events for the Friends of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library resulted in substantial donations to the library, including a raffle of a Ken MacDougall painting ($900), "Chocolate Lovers' Delight" evening ($650), Bestseller's Café, Book Store, Antiquarian book sale ($2,000), and a Mother's Day draw ($1,000). (Among Friends, Jan., April and June, 2001)
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Member benefits for Friends of the Vancouver Public Library include a 15% discount at the Friends' library store Bookmark!, and a 10% discount at over a dozen independent book stores. (Bookmark, April Newsletter)
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The Friends of the Orillia Public Library raised $566 in a recent raffle of Ada Torrance prints. Prints were also offered for sale in their Spring newsletter. A&P and Zehrs tapes are also collected by the Friends for fundraising efforts. The Community Access Foundation of Orillia provided a grant of $2,000 this spring, which allowed the library to hire staff to offer Internet training at the library. The library offers Friends a member benefit of 5% off overdue fines, reduction on non-resident charges, and a move to the top of the reserves list. (Spring and Fall newsletters)
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The Coburg and District Library Foundation, the Coburg Public Library and Friends of the Library now form the Coburg Evergreen Library Partners, a team of dedicated library supporters who want to help ensure their community has access to a first class collection of books and materials. The fundraising effort will take place over the next 4 years. (Library News, Summer 2001)
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Elinor Moyse shares a remarkably successful fundraising idea from the Friends of the Oakville Public Library. Hard cover fiction left over from their twice-a-year booksales is sold "on the honour system". The books are displayed on book carts, with a secure cashbox attached to end of one book cart. Books are priced at $1 each, and by mid-December Elinor reports profits of $4500. "To say it has been a success is an understatement. And all on the honour system! ," she writes. (Elinor Moyse, Oakville < rmoyse3@cogeco.ca>)
Friends of the Oakville Library raised $7,962 from a Reading Room Raffle at Oakville Place Mall. An additional $5,973 was raised during their April Book Sale. Books are sold a 95 cents per pound, over fours days. They have a "Friendly Finds" book area on the third floor of the Central Library, where they have a popular on-going sale. Volunteers from the Friends and library staff were found in the Storytime Tent at Oakville's Waterfront Festival this past summer. (Summer 2001 newsletter)
Thanks to our sponsors for their great support
Please look to see what you can offer FOCAL, as we move ahead into the latter half of our first decade:
Volunteers to serve as:
Newsletter
Conference exhibit volunteers
Serve in other capacities to greet people at the door to our meeting rooms, distribute session handouts, pour water for speakers, collect lunch tickets, etc. We would really appreciate your help.
Northern Ontario Friends’ – report
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.
Advice Column – Health and Safety
The question:
The Friends of the Thunder Bay Public Library have a couple of questions related to health & safety: (our Friends group is incorporated, with a separate charitable number)
What are the responsibilities of volunteer run organizations in terms of
health & safety?
Are volunteers required to take health & safety training?
The Friends of TBPL have insurance for their bookstore and general liability
insurance.
Do the directors of the Friends have a responsibility to ensure safe work
practices, do health & safety inspections, etc.? We would appreciate a response
from anyone with experience in this area. Thanks!
Tina Tucker" <ttucker@tbpl.thunder-bay.on.ca>
Tina Tucker, Thunder Bay Public Library
Because I had to drop everything to save its life. And because I/ we are still, after 3 years, gently teaching our local authority that it's a good thing to accept advice and lots of help from library users - instead of fighting us tooth and nail and refusing even to discuss their plans, despite widespread opposition, demonstrated again and again... It's like trying to give sugar to a very nervous wild animal. (Laura Swaffield, London. UK)
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Libraries are the lifeblood of our minds. They provide the fuel, vitamins, and nutrients to the minds of our young and old, and to the many in between. Where there is a library, one is never destitute, but always rich in mind. (James Conroyd Martin, Author of PUSH NOT THE RIVER)
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I am a Friend of the Library to give back for all the good memories I had in the Library as a child. It was a wonderful haven, to let my imagination soar. We had a wonderful librarian, she let us help her and taught us the value of books. Now I give to encourage others to remember what their youthful experiences were. How did the Library enhance or change your life. It definitely made a difference in mine.
Monica Olenroot, Ajax FriendsBecause for me libraries are an integral part of the community, they promote literacy and provide intergenerational opportunities, and also in today’s economy we need as friends to help buy books, tapes, etc to maintain a reasonable level of new products to attract and maintain the library members (Sharon Livingstone St. George Ontario)
Please continue this dialogue. Tell us why you are a Friend to your library.
New and renewing members . . .
Saskatchewan:
Friends of the Moose Jaw Public Library
Nova Scotia:
Friends of the Yarmouth Public Library
Friends of the Clarks Harbour Public Library
Friends of the Lockeport Public Library
Friends of the Pubnico Group
Friends of the Shelburne Public Library
Friends of the Weymouth Public Library
British Columbia:
New Westminster Public Library Board
Quebec:
Beaconsfield Bibliothèque – Library
Manitoba:
The University of Manitoba, Libraries Development Officer
Ontario:
Friends of the Belleville Public Library
Friends of the Dunnville Public Library
Friends of the Library Mississauga
Carol J. Smith (Wiarton)
Maria F. Zielinska (Ottawa)
Friends of the Oakville Public Library
Friends of the Westport Public Library
St. Catharines Public Library Board
Barbara Dubrule (Oakville)
Friends of the New Liskeard Public Library
Brockville Public Library
Friends of the Coburg Library
Friends of Georgina Public Libraries
Friends of the National Library of Canada
Wiarton Friends of the Library
Friends of the Nepean Public Library
Friends of the Hamilton Public Library
Friends of the Cornwall Public Library
Friends of the Oshawa Public Library
Friends of the Port Hope Public Library
Friends of the Englehart Public Library
Friends of the Ramara Public Library
Friends of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library
FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES IN THE UK
Friends of Libraries in the UK now have a national support body. The Library Campaign adopted a new manifesto in May, which sets out its commitment to Friends of Libraries Groups. The Friends of Libraries Groups in the UK is expected to develop and prosper with the encouragement and support of the Library Campaign.
The Library Campaign manifesto is now:
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The Library Campaign stands for:
In seeking to achieve these objectives The Library Campaign will:
Receive FOCAL Point by e-mail - a new member benefit that speeds delivery of our
quarterly newsletter, and helps to broaden our distribution network.
Request an e-mail version -Word or html - for you and your members by writing focal@accessola.com
Madoc Friends – some news and history
Rob Price, a former Friend of the East York Library, now living in Madoc, has become involved in the Madoc Friends of the Library and offers some information on the group’s activities and history.
The Friends of the Madoc Library was started in October 1995 when the board approached Avril and Brian Sexton to ask them if they could start a group. Interested individuals gathered for a meeting and library funding was their main concern, because of heavy government cutbacks. Noreen Alexander attended their next meeting as the Board liaison.
Their first fundraising project was selling Christmas tree balls, painted with the name of your choice! Their next idea was the development of a patron program. A patron is someone who pledges $50.00 per year for 5 years to have their name on a plaque on display in the library. Name plates are placed on shelves in either the main library for $25.00 each or the children’s library for $10.00 each
The Madoc Friends have done a Christmas reading of some sort every year since the group was formed, which includes readings, apple cider and cookies. "The last 2 years it was done at Terry Pigden’s studio at Radio Shack and Terry filmed it for showing on the cable. "We have come a long way to get to our concert last night!!," Ron writes.
More fundraising occurs through raffles, fair booths, garage sales, and the Bookworm, a successful used book store located in a rent-free space. IGA grocery store tapes have brought in over $2000.00 over two years, and an adopt-a-book program is ongoing too. All this with only ten members! As Ron notes "We certainly would like to get some new people on board". (Ron Price, Madoc, www.spotteddogbandb.ca / info@spotteddogbandb.ca)
Dundas Branch FriendsThe Friends of the Dundas Library held their second Annual General Meeting during October. A new slate of officers were elected for the next twelve months:
Jim Nicol…President
Secretary…Roland Weiler
Treasurer…Dianne Vickers
Convenor, Book Sale…Donna Wignall
Convenor, Special Events…Penny Gumbert
Convenor, Membership…Chris and John Maxted
"In its initial year of formation the Friends have been a constant source of support to the Library," as reported by Jean Lyall, Librarian and Manager. "It is particularly encouraging to note the strength and enthusiasm of the new executive who plan an active programme of Local Author events, the first of which is tentatively scheduled for mid-January."
The Friends intend to donate funds to the Dundas Library for the purchase of furniture for the Children’s Department and the framing of archive materials pertaining to Dundas and its settlement.
The Dundas Friends launched their own web-site in 2001, www.hwcn.org/~aq571 , which strengthens its working relationship with the central Hamilton Public Library and its newly amalgamated branches in the communities of Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Winona, Flamborough and Greensville.
"The Hamilton region has a lengthy tradition of strong public library support," stated Ken Roberts, Chief Librarian. For the Friends of the Dundas branch, we are particularly proud of our achievements and commitment to the library and the amalgamated library system in our first year as a formal organization. (Jim Nicol, Dundas)
This list of resources is offered for the benefit of the
Friends of the Library community.
FOCAL members who have titles to add should e-mail
focal@accessola.com.
Loans are to FOCAL members only.
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Everyone planing to attend CLA in Halifax this June should keep an eye on CLA’s website and register early for their annual June conference. FOCAL has a Saturday program featuring a session co-hosted by Ex Libris, and a second session spotlighting the River John Library initiative we first heard about at last year’s CLA.
The registration form is found in our newsletter, or you can use CLA’s online form which will be online soon at http://www.cla.ca/conference/cla2002/registration.htm.
The Role of Friends Groups in Preserving and Developing Library History in Canada
Session jointly hosted by Ex Libris and FOCAL
Speaker: Harry Campbell, President, Ex Libris
To preserve and publicize collections related to library history in Canada is one of the major objectives of Ex Libris.
Participants will learn
Community Economic Development the Public Library Way
Speaker: Janice Murray-Gill, River John Friends of the Library
The story of Community Economic Development the Public Library Way. A rural community of 1,200 led by the River John Friends of the Library took up the challenge of a $600,000 project to build, finance and own a new building in their community to house the River John Public Library & Innovation Centre.
Participants will learn:
Our program will be found online soon at: http://www.cla.ca/conference/cla2002/friends.htm
PRESIDENT - Jami van Haaften
Friends of the Sudbury Public Library
1826 Marie Ave., Sudbury, Ont. P3E 2X9.
Telephone: 705-523-3415
E-mail focal@accessola.com
VICE-PRESIDENT - Seeking Volunteer
PAST-PRESIDENT - Val Marshall
Ajax Friends of the Library
E-mail: val.marshall@sympatico.ca
SECRETARY - Heather Graham
Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library
E-mail: hfgraham@home.com
TREASURER - Val Marshall
Ajax Friends of the Library
E-mail: val.marshall@sympatico.ca
DIRECTORS
BRITISH COLUMBIA -
Jocelyn MacNeil
E-mail: macniel@dowco.com
PRAIRIES/TERRITORIES - Nicholas Spillios
Friends of the Edmonton Public Library
E-mail: nikos@telusplanet.net
CENTRAL CANADA - Margaret Main
Friends of the Nepean Public Library
E-mail: mainm@achilles.net
ATLANTIC CANADA - Bryon Merrett
Friends of the Yarmouth Public Library
E-mail: yarmouthfriends@hotmail.com
Canadian Library Trustees Association
Michael Weidlich
E-mail: weidlich@telusplanet.net
Canadian Association of Public Libraries
Sylvia Teasdale
E-mail: Sylvia.Teasdale@library.ottawa.on.ca
Canadian Library Association
Michael Colborne
E-mail: COLBORMB@gov.ns.ca
Consultant
CLA 56th Annual
Conference – Registration Form June 18-22, 2002 – Halifax, Nova Scotia Canadian Library Association,
Terry Sarazen
Email: tsarazen@sols.org
328 Frank Street,
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0X8
Tel.: (613) 232-9625 Fax: (613) 563-9895
Website: www.cla.ca;
E-mail: info@cla.ca
SECTION ONE
Institutional or Personal Membership # ___________________________ Non-Member œ
Division: œ CACUL œ CAPL œ CASLIS œ CLTA œ CSLA
Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Title: _________________________________Organization: ___________________________________________
Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
Daytime Tel.: ( ) _______________ Fax: ( ) _______________ E-mail: ____________________________
SECTION TWO
Is this your first CLA conference? œ Yes œ No
Do you require an official receipt for income tax purposes? œ Yes œ No
SECTION THREE
– Registration Fees due at CLA office by May 23rdFriends Day $30 (Includes FOCAL lunch)
Registration Fee payable $ ________________
Full payment must accompany your registration.
Cheques should be made payable to the Canadian Library Association.
Registrations must be received by May 23, 2002.
Please indicate method of payment: œ Cheque œ Visa œ Mastercard
Name as it appears on credit card: ______________________________
Card Number: ___________________________________
Expiry Date: Signature:
_____________ _________________________________
** This is a modified version of the official registration form.
Delegates planning to attend the full CLA conference should the check web site for complete registration details and deadlines.