Week 14 Readings

We Would if We Could, But It is Not in the Budget

This article looks at partnerships that various public libraries in Australia have undertaken and how this has benefited them.

Before library school, I was familiar with partnering through some community cultural organizations that often work with other local groups to promote both organizations. My mother is a board member for one of these organizations and she has talked about the huge benefits that come with partnering, not only financially but simply for advertising purposes and getting more and more children involved in their heritage and culture. I feel that libraries can benefit in the same way, by bringing children and teens into the library through partnership, so that we can show them we are and will be still relevant to their lives. In addition, many people still seem to have the idea that libraries are just for books, and we need to change that perception in order to keep people interested in us. Partnering seems like a great way to begin changing that image and bringing new people to the library.

Working with Friends Groups

This article discusses how the Friends of the Fondren Library (Rice University) have stepped in and helped the library in a time when its budget was being cut, and details various ways the Friends group has assisted the library over the years.

I liked how this article also looked at the importance of fostering goodwill among its patrons and supporters, not just hitting people up for money. Strengthening community bonds seems like it is something that should be part of the Friends' mission statement, assuming they have one, even though it may not seem to the outside eye like they are helping the library by hosting trips to Ireland or installing artwork in the library. Although the article was about an academic library, I think that public library Friends groups could use similar tactics, like holding annual events to celebrate donors or perhaps partnering with local artists/authors to celebrate their achievements and simultaneously attract people to the library who might not have otherwise gone.

Key Donor Cultivation

This article talks about how to create and maintain a relationship with donors who will be able to further the library's development.

The points in this article seemed like common sense to me (you want to be on good terms with your donors, so you foster a more personal connection in order to maintain that relationship), but on further thought I realized that it must be very easy to fall into a mindset of taking your donors for granted. The article also pointed out the importance of the librarian's giving back to the community, instead of only asking for donations. This both establishes the library as a contributing part of the community and brings the librarian into contact with other people who are willing to donate to community causes, which might in the future include the library. I also liked the priority "shopping list", which you can share with donors so they know what their money is buying, and this way the library can use the money where it is most needed.