At a meeting for Friends of the Library Groups held at the NH Library Trustees Association Conference in Concord, NH on 15 May 2004, those in attendance shared many of the activities of their local Friends Groups. Irene E Riordan of the Friends of the Effingham Library was kind enough to take notes during this sharing. Thanks, Irene! ---Tom Ladd, NHSL
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The following is a transcription of the discussion at the Friends of the Library meeting on Saturday, May 15 in Concord. Discussion led by Tom Ladd.
Tom asked for the group to offer ways they had
fundraised:
MADBURY – funded a summer program for poetry writing for the children in town.
EFFINGHAM – is planning a Book Sale on Memorial Day weekend; a silent auction and sale in July; a House and Garden Tour in August; Golf Tournament in September; Craft show in November. All to set up a Children’s Room in the library and to expand the library.
BARRINGTON – Adopt a Magazine – a fundraising effort to have people buy a subscription with the Friends underwriting one-half the magazine subscription.
LINCOLN – a Murder Mystery Dinner series in March. Performers and volunteers worked together to do a dinner theatre.
AMHERST – Student Art Show – an open house with teaching artists and parents taking part – more than 500 people came.
MOULTONBOROUGH – Author luncheon
DOVER – has a monthly program to meet people on the third Wednesday of each month, to provide refreshments and to invite various authors, artists, publishers
NORTH HAMPTON – Wine Tasting and Clambake YES!!!!!!!!
PLAINFIELD – asked various artists to create the cover for a handmade blank book which were then auctioned off to the highest bidders.
GOFFSTOWN – Ski and Skate Sale and book sale and a knitting club
A NUMBER OF TOWNS: Passes to various museums in the area and in Boston
High School and Middle School girls to have their writings published
Selling totes with the logo or other inscription on side
DOVER – Notecards, aerial maps of town, backpacks, etc.
EFFINGHAM – Book Lovers’ calendars, bookmarks
WILTON– Christmas ornaments
WASHINGTON – Mugs
MANY TOWNS – Plant Sales
MANY SUGGESTIONS to sell things at voting day
GOSHEN – Rabies Clinic – the vet and the Friends share in proceeds
CHESTERFIELD – A group quilt which is raffled off
DERRY – during Derry Fest, a book sale – buy a tote and fill it free – buy a plastic bag for a buck and fill it free. Gets rid of used books
MANY – Free book sale – donations accepted
Baked goods sales
White elephant sale
Ongoing book sale
Sale during July 4 town event
MADBURY – Town election book sale
DERRY – Reference librarian online sale of various books
WILTON – Book Dealer Club – for $5.00 the right to check the sale early for first choice.
MANY TOWNS – Annual perennial sale – friends get first choice often
HUDSON – Monthly book sale, second Sunday of every month; in June, open to schoolteachers for classes.
BARRINGTON – Thanksgiving baskets for food pantries; the baskets include a children’s book
WASHINGTON – Sell books for people to buy and read in fall
ROCHESTER – Baskets of books are kept in various locations (doctor’s office, hairdresser, etc.) for children to read.
EXETER – Sends books to Indian children
GOFFSTOWN – Sends playing cards set up as flash cards to Belize
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH LEFTOVER BOOKS FROM BOOK SALES?
WILTON – Send to shelters
EFFINGHAM – Donate to Effingham Preservation sale and they donate leftovers to the local nursing home
GOFFSTOWN – Donate to children’s program yard sale
SEVERAL – Store to sell next year
FOOD:
AMHERST – hosts a Wine Dinner at the Exeter Inn – the charge is $45, their return is $20
GOFFSTOWN – hosted a Krispy Kreme sale. More than 300 dozen K. K.’s sold and delivered to Goffstown where they were picked up in record time.
MANY TOWNS – Potluck Dinners
Baked pies and goods for Thanksgiving and Christmas
Lemonade on July 4
Catered meals for election day to workers - $10-$11 per meal
HOW DO YOU INCREASE YOUR NUMBERS?
- You can call a list of friends and ask: Do you want to help? What event would interest you? How much time can you give us? Then only call these folks for the event in which they have an interest. Have a sign in sheet at the book sale and get people then.
- Always have membership forms at your book sales and other events.
- Amherst: Send a brochure to every resident in town
- Pittsfield: How do you charge dues? Replies: Charge dues and then offer discounts on trips, tickets, early access to book sales, etc., an extra week on your library loans
AND LOTS OF P.R. AND PUBLICITY!
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