FRIENDS OF CANADIAN LIBRARIES 

CONTENTS

A new query was added to our website this fall to try to answer a question relating to Canada’s oldest Friends group. A review of our member registration forms produced a list which allows us to compare both association age and size.

Visit www.friendsoflibraries.ca/year-size.html to see the full list. E-mail focal@accessola.com to add or update your information.

Friends’ Day at OLA conference program . . .

3:45 p.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday, January 30, 2003
Speaker: Ingrid Keeper Dalton, Marketing and Community Development specialist, Mississauga Library System

Discover how Junior Friends can enhance your library's community. Mississauga Library System, the only library with a Junior Friends group boasting 586 children ranging in age from 3 years to 14 years, shares their expertise and delivers a how-to tool kit.

Participants will:

• learn the benefits of establishing a junior Friends program

• discover opportunities in promoting volunteerism and participation among the library's younger users
• take away a how-to checklist for application in your own community
• develop your advocacy and literacy programs through Junior Friends programs
  

8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 1, 2003

Speaker: Terry Sarazen, Library Development Consultant, Southern Ontario Library Service Ottawa

Friends of Libraries, and those who have or wish they had more Friends, should join us for a strategic leap forward into the future of Friends of Libraries. What are our strengths? What is our role? How will we continue to support our libraries and meet the needs of our members?

Participants will:

• Review the long-term planning process as it relates to Friends Groups
• Consider recent developments in the Ontario library strategic planning process
• Examine the results of a province-wide survey of Friends Groups
• Participate in a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of Friends groups
• Share in a visioning exercise
  

# 1000 Friends of Small Libraries
10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Saturday, February 1, 2003

Speakers: Stephen Whelan, Chief Librarian, Uxbridge Township Public Library and

Janis Bisback, Co-Chair of Friends of the Hensall Public Library

Explore traditional Friends issues such as governance, membership development, programming and fundraising which take on new meaning when tackled in smaller rural communities. Unique models, success stories and tips and tricks will be exchanged in this interactive session.

Participants will:

• Obtain a copy of the CLA publication "Friends for Small Libraries" by Margaret Law
• Learn the benefits of establishing a Friends program
• Discover new governance models for Friends groups
• Gather skills relating membership motivation and programming
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Last year we introduced the Chesley Challenge, to participate in CBC’s Canada Reads promotion in our own unique way. Chesley Area Friends of the Library issued a challenge to other Friends groups and libraries across Canada. The challenge asked Friends groups and libraries to monitor how many of their patrons read 'In the Skin of a Lion', by Michael Ondaatje, the book to read for the 2002 Canada Reads initiative.

The winning community was featured by CBC Radio on Labour Day. Wolseley Branch Library in Saskatchewan emerged the victor, registering a readership of over 5%. Tisdale Community Library edged out Chesley for second place, scoring 2.97%. Chesley placed third with a score of 2.5%.

Chesley is reissuing this challenge. The Wolseley Branch Library in Saskatchewan is our defending champion. So what is happening in Chesley you ask? How are they preparing for a rematch?

Suzan Fawcett reports that Chesley Branch has ordered all 5 of the books selected for the 2003 Canada Book Week 'book off'. Local residents will be asked to review the five books, and Susan hopes to have two reviews for each book. A basic Book Review Guide will be offered to each reviewer and the reviews are limited to 500 words.

All reviews will be published in the Chesley Enterprise (the weekly community newspaper) under a Canada Reads banner. One book will be reviewed every 3 weeks starting in January. The books will all be reviewed before the big week in April (Canada Book Week).

’This might be of interest to other libraries and communities who are going to take up the Chesley Challenge in 2003," Susan writes. "We hope this book review campaign will foster interest in reading, the Canada Reads promotion and of course the Chesley Challenge!"

Once again the FOCAL website will be used to register challengers and record scores. The website is at: http://www.friendsoflibraries.ca/canadareads.htm. Register soon!

Look who is wearing our Friends of Canadian Libraries button! Yes it’s Roch Carrier, National Librarian! He was in Sudbury during October, participating in the Greater Sudbury Public Library’s "One City, One Book" promotion. His book "The Hockey Sweater" was chosen for the campaign, to promote reading and literacy in the community. Joining Roch for this photo opportunity is FOCAL President and Chair of the Friends of the Greater Sudbury Public Library Jami van Haaften.

We hear via Friends in Ottawa and Nepean that the legal amalgamation of the three incorporated Friends groups in Ottawa (Ottawa, Nepean, and Cumberland) will happen on January 1, 2003. More details will be forthcoming early in 2003. Patrick Dion is the current President of the (new) Ottawa Friends.

At the annual general meeting of the Friends of the Dunnville Branch Library in November it was decided that the Dunnville Friends would no longer operate with a Board of Directors, only volunteers. Recruitment efforts over the past year to fill executive positions such as President and Treasurer were unsuccessful. Former Friends President Colleen Clayton looks forward to brighter days. Dedicated volunteers will continue to operate the Christmas Shop and pursue other fundraising opportunities at the Haldimand County Library Dunnville Branch.

At the annual meeting of the Friends of the Greater Sudbury Public Library elections were held for the President’s position. Jami van Haaften happily steps into the role, as yet undefined, of Past President, and members unanimously acclaimed Derek Wilkinson as President. Derek is a local university professor and has been a member of the Friends and a willing book sale volunteer since the mid-1990s. Activities for 2003 include French translation of the website, investment in books by local authors, management of the Friends’ Book Mine used book store, discussion on the development of a local library history project, and support of a local initiative to participate in the Doors Open program

Merrickville Public Library renovated/redecorated our children's department in June 2002. The Friends of the Library suggested and paid for the project and helped by volunteering with some of the work. The project involved purchasing a new carpet and a decorative area rug, a couple of spinner racks, blinds, table and chairs, upholstered benches and a couple of cushions. Walls and bookcases were painted and a major rearrangement of the shelves opened up the room. Volunteers packed away the books and moved the bookshelves. A local artist has volunteered to do a mural on the wall (featuring many characters from children's books), which is still a work in progress. (From the OPLA listserv, Mary Kate Laphen, Merrickville Public Library)

To bring their Constitution and Bylaws in line with the current designation in the amalgamated City of Kawartha Lakes, amendments were approved at the Annual General Meeting held September 2002. The former Friends of the Lindsay Public Library is now known as Friends of the Lindsay Branch of the City of Kawartha Lakes Public Library. (Lois Magahay, Chairperson)

Still Friends in Meaford - During the amalgamation process, the name of Georgian Highlands was selected. However, there were expressions of concern that people would be confused given that several surrounding areas had selected similar names, such as Grey Highlands. So the new council reversed its first decision and selected "the Municipality of Meaford". No great story - just a name revision. (Susan Adamson)

Mark this date on your 2003 calendar, and plan to join FOCAL and Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA), participate in conference programs, attend the award luncheon, and attend FOCAL’s Annual General Meeting. The 2003 ALA/CLA Annual Conference will be held in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

2002 was a terrific year for us and 2003 looks even more exciting. Here are some of the highlights.

• Book Bag Project. - In co-operation with the Library, we have been selling bags that feature the Logos of both Friends and the Library. They are roomy nylon bags with long handles and sell for $12 each. We have been averaging income of $176/month.
• Friends Café - Located in the front lobby of the Main Library, the Cafe has vending machines, tables and chairs. It is very well used and
• our average income is $289/month.
• Book Lover's Calendar - This was the first time we sold the calendar and ordered a modest number of 50. We sold out quickly and made a profit of $429. We will certainly do it again next year.

• Writer in Residence Program - We contribute to this excellent annual program, this year we increased our contribution.
• Magazine Project - We began funding additional copies of popular magazines at three library branches. The magazines have Friends labels on them to make patrons aware of the Friends
• Book Groups - We have organized and run two bookgroups that run monthly at the main library. They have been very successful and a number from the group have joined the Friends.
• Gift Shop Project - The Winnipeg Centennial Library is beginning a large renovation scheduled to be completed in 2004 and the Friends will be operating a Gift Shop. We are in the process of doing our research and planning.

We are planning a Spring Event, a Membership Drive and will continue our planning for the Gift Shop.

Susan Fraser, President of FWPL

The Friends of the Picton Library have had a very successful year. It was their goal over the past three years to raise funds to install an elevator to aid

handicapped patrons in reaching the main floor. Along with assistance from the County Library Board they achieved this dream earlier in the year. The cost of the installation was $150,000. The Friends were able to contribute $50,000 towards the project.

Plans are already in place to start on next year’s project. Money will be raised to provide a complete set of high school textbooks, purchase new furniture and replace shelves in the Children's section.

This will be accomplished by having patrons make a $50 donation for a shelf in the Library. Plaques honouring donors for each shelf will be installed on the end of the rack of shelves. All donations are tax deductible.

In addition the Friends, as they have for the past several years, will host a gourmet dinner with accompanying wines in the early spring at a local restaurant.

Submitted by Doug Sloane, Chair

The Fort Frances Public Library has a very active Friends of the Library group. Situated between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay on the Minnesota border, Fort Frances has a population of approximately 9,000.

The Friends group first met 6 years ago and since then has raised over $70,000 for library projects. In 2000, the local Canada Safeway store chose the Friends group as its charity for the year and helped the group raise over $30,000 in one year with weekend barbecues, raffles of snowmachines and boats, popcorn and chocolate sales, garage sales, grocery top-ups and so on. The funds were used to purchase a new circulation desk and remodel the library lounge areas, complete with chairs with books on the fabric and coffee tables that resemble stacked books.

The driving force behind the group is 81-year-old Jean Boileau and her husband, Lin, who we have dubbed as Master Ticket Seller. Nobody in town can avoid buying tickets from this pair. They were recently named citizens of the year by Fort Frances Town Council for their volunteer work.

We have an annual dinner dance and book auction each fall, under the leadership of Evelyn Metke.

2003 is the centennial year for Fort Frances, and the library and museum are co-hosting a ball, complete with orchestra and a swing band.

The Friends of the Library and the Fort Frances Museum are also working together creating and selling address books, featuring Vi Plumridge's paintings of historic address books.

The Fort Frances Public Library is extremely fortunate to have the support of this group.

Margaret Sedgwick, Chief Librarian, Fort Frances Public Library

The Fundraising committee of the Board of the Moncton Public Library in Moncton, New Brunswick has decided to start a Friends group for the Moncton library. They are in need of sample organizational documents such as a constitution and/or bylaws for individual chapters, membership suggestions and template for incorporation.

"I know there are Canadian libraries with Friends groups," writes Joan Sichel. "Is there one particular one that has reached a point in their journey that we could use as a sort of model/pattern for our structure?"

Joan can be contacted at the following address: Joan Sichel (joanrs@nbnet.nb.ca) 198 Maple St., Moncton N.B. ElC 6A4

Just add FOCAL President Jami van Haaften to your newsletter mailing list.

Friends groups are interested in

• Your plans for 2003
• Success stories from 2002
• Good ideas
• Fundraising tactics
• Marketing techniques
• Merchandise for sale
• Photographs

We’d like add to our website your

• Constitution / By-laws
• Newsletters
• Minutes of annual meetings
• Annual reports
• Financial statements
• Brochures

Please send paper copies or e-mail files.

A new page was recently added to the FOCAL website. It lists companies and associations offering promotional products to the library community. Many of you will recognize familiar suppliers and partner associations. Some will find new sources of merchandise.

Please let us know what needs to be added to this list! Do you have a gift shop or product you’d like listed? Help us to include your local, regional and provincial library suppliers and associations. Please share your retail information with us.

The website provides full contact information. Look for it at www.friendsoflibraries.ca/market.html.

The OLAStore, the Canadian agent for ALA Graphics, offers a huge range of support materials that promote reading, literacy and libraries. ALA Graphics include the famous celebrity READ posters, plus hundreds of other posters, bookmarks, notecards and much more.

To see what ALA Graphics has visit http://www.accessola.com/market and click on ALA Graphics. Pricing is in US dollars.

To ORDER call The OLAStore . Tel: 416-363-3388
FAX: 416-941-9581 or 1-800-387-1181
E-mail: publications@accessola.com
Mail: The OLAStore, 100 Lombard Street, Suite 303, Toronto, ON M5C 1M3

A new fundraising idea comes to us from Indigo/Chapters. They offer a great way to raise funds for much needed resources in an environment which promotes literacy and culture on an everyday basis. A Friends group, could host a fundraising event in the store, and have the opportunity to showcase your activities and programs, while raising money for your library or association activities. You will receive a percentage of all purchases made by your members and guests during your event

This new idea was provided by Jeremy Cammy, Regional Marketing – Indigo Chapters. While his region is Toronto and surrounding communities, he could also refer queries to the regional marketing representative or store manager in your area. (E-mail jcammy@indigo.ca)

Indigo Chapters participates annually in Canada’s Get Caught Reading, a national campaign to promote the joy of reading, supports the ABC Canada Literacy Foundation, and hosts events to promote literacy and, more specifically, to promote the efforts of World Literacy of Canada.

How can you best help to introduce your CEO to the library community? By giving them an opportunity to share their interests, ideas and vision for the library in your newsletter.

In Sudbury, with amalgamation and a lot of municipal changes and restructuring, we decided our new CEO Ron Henderson needed an introduction. He willingly agreed, and we submitted questions to him by e-mail, which he answered by return e-mail.

A staff member who is library liaison for the Friends took a digital picture for us and the end result was a full page spread in our fall newsletter.

Our questions:

Please provide your full job title.
What was your favourite book as a child?
What are you reading now?
Which library branch is the home branch for you and your family?
How long have you worked with the city, and what are your work history and/or experience?
How long have you been CEO of the library?
What do you like best about your job?
What do you look forward to accomplishing?
What projects are you working on?
Do you have a personal vision for the library?