MISSION STATEMENTS
 

Have you ever wondered why your Friends group exists? If you have, turn to your Friends mission statement. It should give you the appropriate answer. And if it doesn’t, now is an appropriate time for your Board to review its statement.

Mission Statements should:

1. Articulate the purpose for which Friends exist.
2. Provide a focus for Friends activities.
3. Motivate the Board, volunteers, and donors.
4. Educate users about the library’s importance and value.
5. Act as a public relations tool.

Why Have A Mission?
Who Is Your Audience?
How Does One Write  A Mission Statement?
Samples

Why Have A Mission?

Friends have a responsibility to make their mission a template of their future decision making and action. Such statements focus on the objective upon which the Friends operates.

 Who Is Your Audience?

The mission is intended to embrace the broad spectrum of library audiences -

  • customers/users

  • library boards

  • staff

  • decision makers/municipal & provincial bodies

  • funders

  • foundations

  • volunteers

  • Friends

 How Does One Write  A Mission Statement?

Writing a mission statement is a complex and demanding activity, requiring an assessment and appraisal of the Friends’ importance and validity. Friends taking on this task must have an awareness and true understanding of the Friends, scope of the library's services, and expectations by the public which it serves. Keeping these factors in mind, the following points are useful to consider.

  1. Mission statements succinctly articulate a library’s purpose in clear and narrow terms. Keeping this fact in mind, we can move on to some useful and specific steps.

  2. Invite input from staff, Friends, volunteers, and the public. Such input can provide support by key players.

  3. Devote a special Board meeting to consider agreement on the mission. Brainstorm.

  4. Consider the language you use. Be creative. Verbs which mission statements incorporate include - accomplish, embrace, implement, support, educate, sustain, culture. Purpose terms. include contribution, excellence, access.  Try to incorporate such verbs and purposes in your statement.

  5. Review the paragraph for clarity and succinctness. Is it too long? Too short? Does your board agree that it covers the main points proposed? Hopefully, it is long enough and short enough to post in general library communication channels i.e. friends/library posters, newsletters, etc.

  6. Once you have completed the statement, get final approval by your Board .

  7. Circulate the mission widely throughout the library system, using all available communication tools.

 Here are some sample Friends statements –

Friends of the Olds Municipal Library is a voluntary, charitable association, that supports the extension of services and resources of our library. It is also dedicated to improving community awareness and enjoyment of our Library services. These aims will be enabled through the fundraising efforts of the group.

Friends of the Mississauga Library System

Mission

Friends of the Mississauga Library System's main purpose is to promote literacy and extend the programs and services of the library system within the community.

This mission is achieved by the following types of activities:

mounting advocacy campaigns;
raising funds from private sources;
providing volunteer labour;
creating a program for membership development;
supplementing library programs and services.

Fund raising is not a purpose but rather one activity that serves to fulfil the main organizational purpose - service to the Library and the community.

Acknowledgment: Adapted with permission from Tip Sheet No. #3 Tools For Trustees - Mission Statements, Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, (ALTAFF), by Nicholas Spillios.

More sample mission statements:

Friends of Canadian Libraries

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.