FOCAL POINT

The Canadian Library Association Annual Conference in Victoria this June provides us with another opportunity to engage in a Friends’ Day regional program, and conduct our annual general meeting.

The conference theme this year is Celebrating Our Community: Sharing Our Values and Sharing our Value. Our poster Friends on a Mission @ your library will demonstrate how Friends of Libraries are a recognized and valued partner in the library community, sharing the vision, values and strategic directions of the library they serve.

In addition to showcasing our particular accomplishments, and those of our award winning Friends groups across Canada, this poster will provide an opportunity to reveal details of our developing Strategic Plan.

Sharing of ideas -

A “Sharing of Ideas” workshop will be convened by Jocelyn MacNiel of the Vancouver Public Library Friends, together with our hosts Friends of the Greater Victoria Public Library.

Greater Victoria Public Library
Saturday June 19, 2004

10 – 12             Sharing of Ideas Workshop
12 – 1               Lunch
1 – 2                 Annual General Meeting

The Ex Libris Association seeks library milestone events that occurred at least 50 years ago in a "4" year. Visit their website to view their list so far - http://exlibris.fis.utoronto.ca/Activities/History/history.html

Send events notes to Library Milestone Events, attention: Harry Campbell, Ex Libris Association,
c/o The Dean's Office, Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto, 140 St. George St.,
Toronto, ON, M5S 3G6 or by e-mail to exlibris@fis.utoronto.ca.

And we have a winner - Palliser Regional Library - Rouleau Branch (Saskatchewan)

Wolseley (Saskatchewan) *
Leader Chinook Regional Library (Saskatchewan)
Tweed Public Library (Ontario) *
Perry Township Public Library (Ontario)
Wiarton (Ontario) *
Norfolk County Public Library (Ontario)
Lindsay Branch of the City of *
Kawartha Lakes Public Library (Ontario) *
Bjorkdale Public Library (Saskatchewan) *
Orillia Public Library (Ontario)
Belleville Public Library (Ontario)
Ramara Township Public Library

CBC’s Canada Reads program staff have donated several book bags to the Chesley Challenge.
Each registered Challenger was eligible receive of one of these handsome book bags.
Based on a random draw of registered libraries, recipients are indicated with a *

In our last issue we reported the results of our SWOT analysis – Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Following that exercise, the Steering Committee went on to develop a mission statement, organizational values and vision.

FOCAL provides a national support and resource network to assist in the formation and promotion of Friends of Libraries groups throughout the library community in Canada. Friends of Libraries are volunteers acting collectively and independently to preserve, promote and strengthen library services in harmony with library management and policies.

Value #1 Value of Libraries
FOCAL believes libraries inspire and enrich the human spirit and are a focal point in a community, providing access to the world of knowledge, information, and pleasure for all people.

To provide leadership and guidance for the formation of library Friends groups nationally
with the provision of resource materials and active support.

Value #3 Partnership
FOCAL partners with national and other library organizations for mutual benefit.

Value #4 Communication
Communication through media and electronic channels with current and potential FOCAL members, uniting these groups with relevant information and a national collective sense of belonging to the Friends’ concept.

Value #5 Commitment

FOCAL is to be perceived as an effective and active body dedicated to the furtherance of Friends of Libraries nationally and which values with respect and appreciation the worth of volunteers devoted to library support.

FOCAL welcomes the participation of all Friends groups, valuing their diversity

FOCAL Vision

Friends of Canadian Libraries (FOCAL) strives to be a recognized and valued national volunteer organization, active and effective in delivering resources and support. FOCAL employs communication technology to network with its members and the library community. FOCAL is a financially viable non-profit organization funded by membership, donations, sponsorship and grants.

We moved another step forward in our Strategic Planning process by looking at the mission, values and vision during a Friends’ Day session at the Ontario Library Association. We were given the question:

What changes or new directions will lead FOCAL to realize its vision over the next 3 to 5 years ?”

Each participant (27) voted for his or her top three priorities. Our recorder Lois Magahay reported the results as follows:

The Friends of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection of the Toronto Public Library made the news in late May through the announcement of their success in bidding at a Christie’s auction in London, England. The Globe and Mail reported Douglas Wrigglesworth bid on a set of documents titled “Canada and the Empire”.

The library’s director of research and reference, Linda Mackenzie, was quoted as saying “Wrigglesworth, who was on holiday in London when he spontaneously decided to visit the auction, "is continuing his holiday and is no longer able to be contacted. He swooped in, purchased the papers and moved on." In an arrangement she described as "unusual," the £3,200 ($7,750) purchase price will be paid equally by the library and the Friends. The group has contributed other Conan Doyle material to the library in the past.”

Details are found in a news release on the Toronto Public Library’s website: http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/new_arc_04may19_conan_doyle.jsp

Frank Torelli, Communications Director, Friends of Hamilton Public Library (HPL) and Jim Nicol, Chair, Friends of the Dundas Library Branch, Hamilton Public Library, started us off in our first Friends’ Day workshop by describing the nature of the partnership between the Friends of the branch library in Dundas with the Friends of the Hamilton Public Library, central headquarters in the downtown location.

Library amalgamation in Hamilton took place during 2002. Of the 26 branch libraries, only two had Friends groups, the Central Branch and the Dundas Branch. Each group, while recognizing the opportunity for partnership, continues to serve its community profile and has a separate organization. Both suffer from a critical lack of active members.

Population                    500,000                                                 25,000
Patron profile                Diverse rural and urban centres              Seniors and young parents
Friends executive          Hard to maintain                                                Hard to find (hold/attract)

Both groups are asking if they can remain viable. Hamilton is experiencing declining support; Dundas is reviewing the scope of their activities. The Hamilton Friends formed in 1997 at the initiative of the Library Board; Dundas Friends formed two years later at the initiative of the Town Council. Both Friends groups after 4-5 years face a forward challenge, the speakers noted. “With library amalgamation both Friends look to a partnership to encourage community support and appreciation for library services in the HPL system” they said.

The stated vision of the HPL Friends: The Friends are committed to maintaining a strong and vibrant public library system that includes a network of accessible neighbourhood branches.

- no burning issues. Library patrons appear to be ambivalent about a Friends group

The speakers outlined some strategies for survival, and looked to the audience for additional ideas:

-          Identify key role(s) for Friends – more/less ambitious
-          Consolidate personnel – hazardous
-          Stick to “fun” activities and share with each other – keep it warm
-          Work only on key issues
-          Marketing ideas

2004 winner to be announced during
Friends’ Day in Victoria

Plan now to nominate your Friends group for the 2005 award.
Deadline is February 28, 2005.

Applicants must be a Friends group with FOCAL
membership in good standing for 2004.

Judging criteria:

community involvement

membership involvement

creative involvement of people

impact on membership

impact on services

innovation

One prize will be awarded to the chosen Friends
group in the amount of $500 for the purchase of
books for the library it supports.

A session designed to give tips on maintaining momentum, ideas for growing membership and fund-raising was part of the Ontario Library Service-North Northeast Conference in May. The conference theme was “piecing the puzzle together”.

FOCAL President Jami van Haaften joined Dorothy Macnaughton from the Friends of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and Gloria Brown from the Friends of the Powasson Public Library to discuss the issues.

Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor The Hon. James K. Bartleman launched a program to benefit First Nations schools in Ontario’s northern communities, and had an overwhelming response. FOCAL contacted the Hon. James K. Bartleman’s office and helped to spread the news of the program. Our listserv and the January issue of Focal Point were used to get the word out quickly to Friends groups in Ontario who may have had children’s books to donate to the cause.

An estimated 500,000 books were collected for First Nations Communities. "I am very impressed by the response from individuals, community groups, private sector organizations and elected officials. When I announced the program in January, I was hoping we would receive 100,000 books for 33 First Nations communities accessed only by winter roads. To have surpassed that goal at least fivefold is indeed heart-warming. I will now provide books to many other First Nation communities in northern Ontario, including those with road access," said Mr. Bartleman.

Last year at the Ontario Library Association a poster campaign designed by the Thunder Bay Public Library to promote reading and the library to children and youth was on display in the exhibit hall. This year Tina Tucker was on hand as a speaker to describe the project in more depth.

The concept was brought to the library by the Youth Advisory Council, a group formed to contribute ideas for collections, programs, web content, newsletter and feedback to staff. The “Exercise Your Mind” poster project gathered support from local partners. The Friends were a major supporter, contributing $2,5000 to assist in covering production costs of over $6,000.

Ajax Friends celebrated their 10th Anniversary at our Annual General Meeting in March. Posters with photos taken over the last 10 years were on display and Friends supplied anecdotes of some of the funny times and events. Some presentations to Geoff Nie our supportive CEO were made.

Friends are now planning their yearly raffle. The Friends in Ajax have a roster of committees for raffle, telephone, plant lovers, hospitality, film circuit and booksale.

The holiday booksale earned $6,000 in one day. Unsold stock is stored in Friends’ warehouse space, a lunch was provided to the volunteers, and book-sorting continues every week. Book bundles are sold in the library, and in 2003 raised $565.00.

The 2nd Annual Golf Clinic in February was inside at the Carruthers Creek Golf Centre and was sponsored by them and other corporations. The clinic was enjoyed by 45 women and the event raised $4500.00. We have been asked already to do the Golf Clinic next year. Friends are also working on getting Canadian Diva - Mary Lou Fallis - to come and perform in Ajax in October. (Val Marshall - President - Ajax Friends)

Two special events for Friends of the Lindsay Branch, City of Kawartha Lakes Public Library

100th Anniversary of the Carnegie Library:

On Saturday, June 26, 2004 the Friends of the Lindsay Branch City of Kawartha Lakes Public Library are hosting the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the opening of the Carnegie Library. A rededication ceremony will take place in front of the library at 11 a.m. There will be many displays of historical interest.

On September 11th and 12th the Carnegie building will be one of the 14 featured sites for the "Doors Open Ontario" project. This is a project of the Ontario Heritage Foundation and the Friends look forward to greeting thousands of visitors on the two days. (Lois Magahay, Friends of the Lindsay Branch)

The East Gwillimbury Friends of the Library publish their newsletter Library Times twice a year, beginning with the August 2003 issue. It contains news about a book discussion group, library staffing changes, branch renovations, the Friends series of author readings, and library services, programs and awards. The newsletter contained a report on the Southlake Cinemania a film circuit which opened in Oct. 2001 and has raised closed to $12,000 for the Friends of the Library.

In the inaugural issue of SP@SH, from the Stratford Public Library, Friends news and events in 2003 included their annual book sale, an expanded homebound service, and a partnership with the Rotary Club to support storytime programs.

The Canadian Library Association has selected three current advocacy themes to focus on during the current federal election campaign. These are:

Educating Politicians About Today's Libraries

Please visit the CLA website to view election resources, including a election campaign kit and a draft candidate letter - http://www.cla.ca/top/whatsnew/wnap1904_2.htm

Their political action reference document "Critical Issues Facing the Government of Canada" is also available on the CLA Web site - http://www.cla.ca/issues/cla_buildingtheknowledgeeconomy_final.pdf

In our list of new and returning members in our last issue it was noted Friends of the Ramara Public Library and the St. Catharines Library Board were listed on the same line.

Adrienne Davies of Ramara provided a tongue-in-check geography lesson while at the same time claiming an intimate knowledge of the St. Catharines Library. “We are not even geographically near St. Catharines (although I spent three years there as a teenager and loved the downtown Library . . . ),” she wrote.

New member kits were mailed out in late April to those members who joined since July 2003. If you did not get your membership kit for 2003, please let us know.

Our new membership secretary is Suzan Fawcett, also known to many FOCAL members and CBC listeners of the Canada Reads program as the source of the Chesley Challenge (see page 2). New and renewing members will be sending their membership forms from now on to Suzan, who volunteered to take on this duty during the recent OLA conference..

Suzan Fawcett can be reached at 115415 Grey Rd 3, RR 4, Peabody, Chesley Ontario N0G 1L0

Strategic planning for public libraries is ongoing across the country. In British Columbia stakeholder feedback and comment were invited as part of a consultation process on the document entitled “Developing a Draft Strategic Plan for Public Libraries: Situation Assessment”. Issues include fee for service, role of the library, barriers, changes and challenges facing libraries that relate to governance, staffing, partnering, technology, and ideas for funding and revenue germination.

The British Columbia Library Association has responded to the call for comment on the Situation Assessment document, compiled as part of the ongoing strategic planning process for the Public Library Services Branch

Further feedback was due in May 2004 when the provincial government releases its Strategic Directions paper.

The Library Association of Alberta developed their strategic plan which has goals in the following four areas:

▪ Member Services
   To deliver services that are responsive to member needs
▪ Communication
   To position the LAA as the organization that library professionals, library workers and others want to
   join
▪ Planning/Sustainability
   To be an efficient and effective organization
▪ Advocacy
   To advocate effectively for the library community

In Manitoba during February’s “I Love to Read” month Premier Gary Doer announced the province’s northern and rural libraries will see an increase of $300,000 in provincial library funding. The increase marks the first increase to the libraries in a decade, and stems from the province’s rural and northern development strategies.

“This increase goes a long way toward helping give rural and northern families equal access to the information they need to improve their education, graduate to better jobs and improve their quality of life,” Doer said. “This government recognizes the value of libraries in promoting creativity, sharing information and encouraging life-long learning.”

Nova Scotia – the Power of Public Libraries – the provincial annual report for public libraries in 2002-2003 is a good advocacy tool for Friends on the east coast. Friends were singled out for special mention in Colchester-East Regional Library and Annapolis Valley Regional Library

Libraries – where the future begins is a video recording, 13 minutes in length produced by Nova Scotia Department of Education and Culture. The product is a tool for advocacy, and is a good example of the type of presentation and statistical reporting which can be used by Friends to promote their value.

FOCAL members may borrow this video from the FOCAL Lending Library.

Vancouver Friends’ best-ever used book sale

Their October book sale raised $18,700 for the Friends of the Vancouver Public Library. This compares to $7,8000 raised in 2002. Reasons for the increase include more and better quality donated books, more individual priced books, and a fourth day added to the sale.

Some booksale statistics include
320 boxes of donated books
40 sorting sessions
54 dedicated Friends volunteers
7 student volunteers (with strong backs!)

FOCAL MARKET

Profession Book Fairs Fundraisers. – host organization receives 10% of all sales and $50 gift certificate; Professional Books Fairs manages entire show.
Phone 905-761-1131 or 1-888-208-1629.
#7-90 Basaltic Rd.
Concord, Ontario L4K 1G6. E-mail kdeducationalproducts@rogers.com

Writers on the Wall – 2005 young adult reading calendar. Available from the OLAStore. The OLAStore
Ontario Library Association
100 Lombard Street, Suite 303
Toronto, ON M5C 1M3
Phone: (416) 363-3388 x 25
Toll free 1-866-873-9867
E-mail: publications@accessola.com

101+ Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends* (*Marketing, Fundraising, Friends Development and More). Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2004.

Making Our Voices Heard: Citizens Speak Out for Libraries. Published in CD-ROM format with an accompanying workbook. FOLUSA, 2004.

The Friends of the Dundas Library started its Local Author series on April 18, 2004, with a presentation by the Bruce Trail Association highlighting its new Trail Reference Guide 22^nd edition. The Bruce Trail is 1000 kilometres of unique hiking trails – a winding ribbon of natural beauty that follows the Niagara Escarpment from Queenston to Tobermory.

As this trail highway passes through, and by, many other Library districts, it is an opportunity for other Friends groups to invite the Bruce Trail to give the same presentation and bring in donations for their library. Phone Bruce Trail: 905-529-6821 or 1-800-665-HIKE.

On May 16, 2004, the next Local Author event was a talk on “Travel Guides – which one is right for you?” It will be given by one of Hamilton’s leading companies in the travel agent business. The next time you go into your local bookstore look up the books on travel -you will find the choice baffling. The talk is aimed to make the purchase decision easier and possibly save money before the intrepid traveler embarks on plane, ship or car.

CONTENTS

Sharing of ideas -

Vancouver Friends’ best-ever used book sale

FOCAL MARKET