Friends of the Library

1. Friends of the Library Enhancing Your Library in Your Community

2. Dorothy Macnaughton President, Friends of Canadian Libraries (FOCAL)

3. Friends of Canadian Libraries • Is a non-profit volunteer organization supporting Friends groups and libraries across Canada • Offers information and resources • Provides opportunities for networking and sharing ideas • Provides a useful website (www.friendsoflibraries.ca) • Produces a newsletter twice a year

4. Friends of the Library What Friends groups can do for their libraries: • Advocate • Increase public awareness of the library and its services • Raise funds, over and above the library’s operating budget • Fund materials for the library’s collection and for special collections • Assist with the library’s fundraising, particularly for a capital campaign

5. Friends of the Library • Help fund costly library equipment or furniture • Sponsor programming • Provide support for library programs or special events • Establish a good volunteer base

6. What Friends groups can do for their library Advocate • The library will have an established group of advocates, ready to act at short notice • Friends have a network of supporters • Whenever the library needs support, Friends can be called on • When services are threatened • When branch closures are imminent • When budgets are in danger of being cut • When funds are needed for a new facility

7. What Friends groups can do for their library Increase public awareness of the library and its services • Friends hold events in the library and in other locations throughout the community where they promote what the library offers • They partner with other organizations, raising the profile of the library and of the Friends • Friends garner media attention for their activities that brings the library to the public’s attention • They sponsor library programs with funds; sometimes Friends’ volunteers assist with refreshments

8. What Friends groups can do for their library Raise funds, over and above the library’s operating budget • Most Friends groups raise money for their library; the amount raised depends on the type of fundraisers they are able to undertake and the number of active volunteers • Many Library Directors come to their Friends with a “wish list” of items they would like the Friends to fund

9. Fundraising How do Friends raise funds? • Book sales • Book stores • Yard sales • Bake sales • Plant sales • Bingos • Lotteries • Raffles • Special events • Gift shop

10. Fundraising Assist with the library’s fundraising, particularly for a capital campaign • Friends can capitalize on their contacts within the community to approach businesses and organizations for donations to the library’s capital campaign • Helping the library raise significant funds demonstrates to the community the strong partnership and collaboration between the library and the Friends • Plan special gala events where the Friends provide the “people power” to make it happen

11. What Friends groups can do for their library Sponsor programming • Books for Babies • Other children’s programs • Teen programs • Book clubs • Author readings • Speakers • Gardening programs • Art shows

12. What Friends groups can do for their library Provide support for library programs or special events • Prepare and serve refreshments • Assist with special library events, such as Doors Open, 50th or 100th Anniversary events • Provide materials for library draws for summer reading programs, etc. • Adopt-a-book program • Fund Visunet Canada Partners program

13. What Friends groups can do for their library Fund materials for the library’s collection and for • Special collections • Books • Books on CD • Large print books • Music CDs • Special collections • Digital audio books for people with a print disability • Books on a specific topic

14. What Friends groups can do for their library • Donate wall hanging or artwork • Donate patron baskets • DVDs • Descriptive DVDs • DVDs with closed captioning • Magazine subscriptions

15. What Friends groups can do for their library Help fund costly library technology, equipment or furniture • Fund computers • Fund computer work stations • Fund adaptive equipment for people with a print disability • Donate a walker • Pay for furniture for children’s section of the library • Pay for chairs or a chesterfield

16. What Friends groups can do for their library • Establish a good volunteer base • Volunteer for Friends activities • Many Friends volunteers also assist the library in other ways • Taking shifts in a café • Courier service between branches • Outreach services to seniors in their homes or in nursing homes • Helping with other library events, displays or outreach activities

17. What Friends groups can do for their library • Establish a good volunteer base • Recruit and retain an established volunteer base which the library can utilize for other activities, events • Build up a network of committed library supporters • Encourage student volunteers who may come back again when they are older

18. Community Involvement Friends and the library can partner with other community organizations for public awareness events • Displays or events with community service organizations, like the CNIB, Canadian Hearing Association • Displays or events with consumer groups • Joint fundraisers

19. Community Involvement Friends and the library can partner with other community organizations for public awareness events • Recycling events • Horticultural society • Genealogy society • Art gallery • Heritage groups • Parades • Summer festivals

20. Community Involvement • Friends can approach businesses or other community organizations to suggest they become involved in sponsoring a specific activity • Friends can approach a business for donations for a silent auction or draw prize – establishes a connection with businesses that support the library, literacy or access to information

21. Bringing New Users into the Library • Friends can be instrumental in bringing new users in to the library • Friends are welcoming • Friends are in a unique position to promote the library to the public • They can be the first contact for people new to the community • They can offer students a unique volunteer experience; students who may not have used the library much in the past

22. Why Libraries Need Friends • Friends love their library. • Friends love books. • Friends are dedicated, committed volunteers. • They want to help the library thrive. • Friends enjoy what they do. • Friends provide added value to the library.

23. Why Libraries Need Friends • Friends are the library’s best advocates and their most valuable partners. • Friends tell others about what their library means to them. • They have chosen to give their time and energy to an organization that contributes greatly to the community. Many Friends volunteer for more than one organization.

24. Friends +Your Library = A Great Community Partnership • Appreciate and value what your Friends group does for your library and your community. • Don’t wait until you need advocates, additional money or support, nurture those people who believe in the library and they will not let you down.

25. Friends +Your Library = A Great Community Partnership • "The best time to make friends is before you need them."   --  Ethel Barrymore • If your library doesn’t have a Friends group, think about staritng one. You will reap the benefits for many years.