CONTENTS

4th Annual Friends' Day CLA

Hosted by Friends of the Edmonton Public Library

Nicholas Spillios, FOCAL's Director for the Prairie region, bore the burden of convening our Friends' Day program in Edmonton. Together with Past President of the Friends of the Edmonton Public Library Gail DeVos, he carried off his duties well, not even letting a broken ankle slow him down!

Right from the opening session we were faced with capacity crowds. Extra chairs were brought in, extra copies of handouts were forthcoming, and delegates appreciated the program content and networking opportunities.
Strengthening Board Performance for Friends and Trustees

Even though her audience size more than doubled, Edmonton consultant Toni Lashbrook delivered an informative and interactive program.  Toni, of Lashbrook and Associates Inc., provided useful tools and tips for Friends, Library Trustees and professional librarians alike.

 Her handout walked delegates through a number of exercises designed to evaluate and improve board effectiveness, organization, knowledge, working relationships, decision-making behaviour and other competencies.

Friends, Trustees and the Library Director -"A Marriage Made in Heaven"

Our room filled to capacity a second time. Val Marshall (FOCAL President), Gary Archibald (CLTA President) and Don Mills (CEO, Mississauga Library System) shared the speakers' podium.  Val opened with an analogy to marital relations by offering two pieces of advice: "Start as you mean to go on and keep communication going".
Trust, openness, commitment and a sharing of ideas are signs of a strong and healthy relationship. She offered factors leading to failed relationships, including lack of commitment, poor communication, money and staff time.

Gary polled the audience and learned we were split evenly among Friends, Trustees and Librarians. He noted all have to work as partners in the development of public library service in their communities. Each has their own role and specific responsibilities within that role.

He explained library board governance varies in every province. Some are advisory boards, some function as corporate bodies, some set policy and others are administrative in nature. Trustees generally set goals and objectives, discuss policy issues and monitor funding.

Don Mills explained the role the CEO can play in offering support in the development of a Friends group. He listed needs such as seed funding, Friends' training and orientation, recognition & appreciation, a meeting place, copying services and postage.

It was thought to be a radical idea to begin a Friends group in Mississauga in the beginning. Ten years later, the group has established credibility, and is a creative and energetic organization, independent in terms of organization and financing.

Some bits of advice offered by speakers included
Let staff and Friends get to know each other
Ask trustees for advice
Be clear to CEO - seek endorsement
Evaluate and ask "What has been learned?"
Be very realistic. Choose with regard to your situation
Be sensitive to allocation of staff time
Have modest expectations
Work from your strengths and be flexible

"Friends, Trustees and CEO's - a marriage made in heaven": Gary Archibald
and Val Marshall share in the laughter of a joke delivered by Don Mills.
 

Random House of Canada "Friend of the Year" Award

The Random House of Canada "Friend of the Year" Award is given to a Friends of the Library group for outstanding community and volunteer involvement. In this, our first year, we celebrated two winners, and also awarded honourable mentions to two more Friends groups.

Gabrielle Schreiber of Random House of Canada announced the winners, and presided over the presentation ceremonies, as two groups were in attendance. The co-winners each received $500 worth of books for their library from Random House of Canada.

Co-winners were Friends of the Atikokan Public Library and Friends of the Ottawa Public Library.

Friends of the Atikokan Public Library
In nominating her Friends group, Atikokan Public Library CEO Doris Brown wrote, "I cannot imagine a library functioning well without "Friends" . . . the Municipal Council was shocked when 125 people marched in the Council Chamber, during their regular meeting, to emphasize the importance of the library in the community. It was truly an amazing accomplishment."

Friends of the Ottawa Public Library
Their CEO Barbara Clubb and Library Board Chair Tannis Yankewicz nominated Ottawa's Friends group. In a letter of endorsement from Ottawa's mayor Jim Watson, who is also a Library Board member, the Friends were described as "one of the library's most valuable assets".

In 1999 the OPL Friends, reported over $102,000 in revenues.  It was noted that since their modest beginnings in 1981, the Friends have become an integral part of the OPL.
"Friend of the year" . . .

Friends of the Huntsville Public Library and Friends of the Saskatoon Public Library earned Honourable mention certificates.

Friends of the Huntsville Public Library
The slogan "Help your Shelf" is the focus of a campaign by the Friends of the HPL to raise $50,000 over three years. In 1999 $20,000 of that pledge was paid.

Friends of the Saskatoon Public Library
If you live in Saskatoon you'll know all about FORK FEST - a festival of fine food. It is an annual fund-raiser for the SPL Friends. Over the past six years more than $100,000 has been donated to the library for the purchase of items beyond the means of the general operations budget.
 

ENTER NOW
Use the entry form found in this issue of FOCAL POINT (page 6) to nominate your Friends group. Nominations are due by February 28th 2001. Awards are announced during our Annual General Meeting (Friends' Day at CLA in Winnipeg).
 

Calendar of Events

2nd Annual Regional Friends of the Library Day
Western County Regional Library Headquarters
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Saturday  September 9th, 2000.
Guest speaker will be Val  Marshall. This event is the initiative of the Western Counties Regional Library.

Friends' Day at OLA
Ontario Library Association Superconference,
Toronto, Ontario
Saturday February 3, 2001

Find us in the exhibit hall during the week, and then join us Saturday for special programs, followed by a networking luncheon.

Watch for the registration form in our fall newsletter.

Random House of Canada
Friend of the Year Award 2001
Nomination deadline - February 28, 2001

Nominate your Friends group now, and win $500 in prizes from Random House of Canada. A nomination form is included in this issue of FOCAL POINT. For full details visit www.friendsoflibraries.ca/award.htm

5th Annual Friends' Day
Canadian Library Association,
Winnipeg, Manitoba
 Saturday June 16, 2001

Plan to join us for special sessions arranged by our hosts, Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library. One low registration fee ($30) includes programs, networking luncheon and participation in our Annual General Meeting. Sponsored by Random House of Canada. Watch for the registration form and deadline in our March newsletter.
 

FOCAL's 2000 executive

PRESIDENT – Jami Van Haaften
Friends of the Sudbury Public Library
1826 Marie Ave.,  Sudbury, Ont. P3E 2X9.
Telephone:  705-523-3415
E-mail jvanhaaf@cyberbeach.net

VICE-PRESIDENT – Nancy Goodman
Friends of the Ottawa Public Library
E-mail - ngoodman@sols.org

PAST-PRESIDENT – Val Marshall
Ajax Friends of the Library
E-mail: vmtravel@baxter.net

SECRETARY – Heather Graham
Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library
E-mail: hfgraham@home.com

TREASURER – Tom Foulkes
Friends of the Smiths Falls Public Library
E-mail: pfoulkes@altavista.net

DIRECTORS

WESTERN CANADA – VOLUNTEER STILL NEEDED.

PRAIRIES  - 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

Maureen Johnson
E-mail: mjohnson@pegasuswholesale.com

ATLANTIC CANADA  - Bryon Merrett
Friends of the Yarmouth Public Library
E-mail: bryanm@hotmail.com

Canadian Library Trustees Association
Gary Archibald
Western Counties Regional Library,
E-mail: nstn2360@fox.nstn.ca

Canadian Association of Public Libraries
Sylvia Teasdale
E-mail: sylvia.teasdale@city.nepean.on.ca

Canadian Library Association
Michael Burris
E-mail: mwburris@yahoo.com

Thanks to our sponsors for their great support
CANADIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
GROLIER EDUCATIONAL
ONTARIO LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
PACKAGING ALTERNATIVES
RANDOM HOUSE OF CANADA
SOUTHERN ONTARIO LIBRARY SERVICE
WATTERS MARKETING
YOUR LIBRARY DEPOT

That's what Friends are for! was the title of a session presented during a Friends session at the Manitoba Library Association conference this spring.   The session explored how local Friends groups are making a difference . . . and what others can do to get a Friends group started in your own community.

Presenters included Sandra Stewart, University of Manitoba Libraries, Executive Director for Library Development and Public Affairs, and Executive Director of the U of M Friends of the Library; Dr. Linda Wilson, President, U of M Friends; and Heather Graham, Vice-President, Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library

Panelists spoke of the origins of their Friends groups, provided information on how to start a Friends group and tools for keeping in touch with other Friends groups, gave a promotion for FOCAL, and offered examples of fundraising and other programs which Friends can organize.
(Source: Heather Graham, Winnipeg)

Get in this picture - visit   www.bell.ca/filmfest and find out how a partnership with The Film Circuit can help your Friends fundraise, enhance your profile and contribute to arts programming in your community.

A new look . . .
     Yes, with a new President there is a new editor for our association's newsletter.  I am trying the newsletter layout using a template found in my word processing software. Now that I have mastered the art of inserting new pages we should be in fine shape!
    Our newsletter depends on news and events you send in. Please add to our members' forum, calendar of events and other features.
     I also welcome content for our webpage - good ideas, samples of constitutions and by-laws and other material of interest to others.
Jami van Haaften
jvanhaaf@cyberbeach.net

Our Friend indeed . . .
It is time to bid farewell to Val Marshall as our outgoing President. We can be forgiven for getting a bit emotional, as she has presided over our successes and accomplishments from the beginning. A plaque, presented by Jami van Haaften and Nancy Goodman, read:

Friends' News Forum

Good news from Thunder Bay Ontario is reported in the summer issue of  SIGNAL. Their trust agreement was approved in June, and as a result funds held "in trust" since March 1999 were released.  Tina Tucker, of the Thunder Bay Public Library, was one presenter at our OLA session on "Funding and Gaming in Ontario", as reported in our March FOCAL POINT. She provided us with the Thunder Bay Friends' experience with regulations of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Funds had been held in trust for over a year. (Source: http://www.library.on.ca/signal/fundrais.pdf)

Friends of the Yarmouth Public Library are still working on the establishment of a permanent book sale area, to be positioned in the Main Library. The Friends will maintain the area, and split the proceeds with the library. A huge Booksale and Flea Market took place on Aug 19, and donations were accepted each Saturday during the month of July. (Source: Bryon Merritt, Yarmouth)

The Pubnico Friends are covering the costs of the wiring that needs to be done in order for the Library to be Internet-connected under a  new community access initiative. (Source: Bryon Merritt, Yarmouth)

St. George Friends are involved in the following: ongoing sale of book bedecked tee shirts, calendars, paper and mugs
back to school raffle and prizes of books for all age youth a musical afternoon in late October "3 Bills and a Bob" musicians with a flare to kick off a drive for new friends (Source: Sharon Livingstone)

The Ottawa Friends are participating in the 'Word On The Street' Literacy Festival in Ottawa this September for the first time. The Friends are hosting their own booth, and will sell second-hand books and, they hope, some memberships in the Association. The Ottawa Friends hope festival-goers will be reminded of how much their library enriches the community." (Source: Nancy Goodman, Ottawa)

At their June meeting  Friends of the Library, at the Peterborough Public Library gave the library $12,000 raised from their biannual booksale in April, 2000.  In 1999, the Friends of the Library donated $26,000 to the Peterborough Public Library for the purchase of materials, equipment and the development of new programs. Funds were raised at three book sales held through the year, and at craft sales on Saturday mornings.   In recognition of their hard work the members of the Friends of the Library received a Community Betterment Award from Mayor Sylvia Sutherland at an Awards Ceremony held on June 6, 2000. (Source: Cara Peterman, Peterborough)

Eight Friends groups from the 11 municipalities which are to amalgamate to form the new City of Ottawa have been working since March to come up with an amalgamation model. Some very constructive meetings have taken place under the leadership of Terry Sarazan of Southern Ontario Library Service. An organizational model will be chosen at their September meeting. (Source: Margaret Main, Nepean)

Ajax News - We have an architect for our new Main Central Library - Stephen Teeple from Toronto - fantastic!!! We are half way there - $500,000 towards our million dollars. Mary Peterson organized the Monster Book Sale in June and we raised a fantastic $4400 in the three days. This time we had a special opening on the Wednesday night and the Mayor came. Friends and special guests were invited to the preview and they got first pick of the books. Starbucks proved the coffee for the entire sale - as well as all the fixings! We have several fundraisers planned for the Fall - another McLibrary Day and a Friends Fundraising Fashion Show!!! (Source: Val Marshall, Ajax)

On the Internet

Are you using Booksale Finder to promote your booksales?  Visit www.BookSaleFinder.com, click through to the "tell us about your booksale" link and enter your dates.

Fundraising:
BIG Online - www.bigdatabase.com
Charity.ca - www.charity.ca
Canadian Centre for Philanthropy - www.ccp.ca
Guidestar - www.guidestar.org/index.html
SOLS Signal - www.library.on.ca/signal/fundrais.pdf
Ken Wyman's mailing list - KenWyman@CompuServe.com

From the editor,

It just seems CLA is barely over and we are already planning for Ontario's Superconference. Check the calendar for time and place, and watch our November newsletter for the registration form and deadline.

We have two sessions scheduled. One will be led by Terry Sarazen, Consultant with the Southern Ontario Library Service. For those of you who participated in our post-luncheon focus groups last year, you will know her topic -  amalgamation. And, if I may give away her secret, her amalgamation toolkit for Friends will be launched during this Friends' Day session. Fellow speakers will be Jennifer Blunt, Development Officer Toronto Public Library, and Paul Devline, Vice-President of the Friends of Ottawa Public Library.

The content of the other Friends' Day session will depend on our delegates. Past President Val Marshall will be our convenor, and Maureen Cubberley will ask us all to be strategic planners. We expect it to be a productive hour, and results will be posted to the FOCAL website.

Do you want a copy of Don Mill's "Care and Feeding of Your Library Director"? Extra copies are available. Just drop me a line, and I will put a copy in the mail for you. As you might expect it is quite humourous, and very true to life.

Following our last newsletter a volunteer come forward from the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library to take charge of our archives. Marie Zielinski describes herself as 'an archive nut'. "I have seen how many associations I belong to, have lost documents for lack of recognition of their historical value and proper organization and preservation of material'" she wrote. "If you need an "archivist", I shall be happy to undertake this task." Needless to say, her generous offer of time and expertise has been accepted, and Val and Tom have been asked to gather what is needed for her attention.

I have taken over the task of creating and mailing this newsletter. Nancy Goodman and I decided to replace Val's red dot with a little "Time to Renew" stamp on the membership form in newsletters. If you got a stamped copy, but feel it is in fact NOT time to renew, please help me to correct my database by letting me know your actual renewal date. Most members renew during June at the time of the CLA Conference/ FOCAL annual general meeting, as you can see by the list, which follows.

I had a great response from my call for news and events for this, my first newsletter. The next newsletter is due in November. Please share your news and notes of people and events. We are all interested.

- - Jami van Haaften

New and renewing members

Friends of the New Liskeard Public Library
Friends of the Port Hope Public Library
Friends of the National Library of Canada
Barbara Dubrule
Friends of the Red Deer Public Library
Friends of the Cornwall Public Library
Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library
The Leduc Friends of the Library
Heather Graham
Friends of the Hamilton Public Library
Friends of Atikokan Public Library
Friends of the London Public Library
Carol Wiggins
Friends of the Smiths Falls Public Library
Friends of the New Liskeard Public Library
Friends of the Port Hope Public Library
Friends of the National Library of Canada
Barbara Dubrule
Friends of the Red Deer Public Library
Friends of the Cornwall Public Library
Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library
The Leduc Friends of the Library
Heather Graham
Friends of the Hamilton Public Library
Friends of Atikokan Public Library
Friends of the London Public Library
Carol Wiggins
Friends of the Smiths Falls Public Library