FROM THE DESK OF THE STATE LIBRARIAN...

In December, 2007 a press conference was held at the N.H. State Library to announce the Robert and Karin Finlay Foundation offering to libraries, historical societies and museums for the membership challenge. The Foundation will make three awards of $25,000 to one of each organization based on their ability to increase membership from October 2007 to October 1, 2008. Robert Finlay, Karin Finlay and Dr. Anne Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services were in attendance.

Mr. Finlay announced the program and its goals and gave a brief overview about eligibility. Dr. Radice thanked Mr. and Mrs. Finlay for their very generous contribution to libraries and cultural organizations. The brief press conference was followed by a luncheon where librarians and directors of other cultural organizations were able to ask specific questions of Mr. Finlay and his staff. The State Library has been answering questions and helping the more than 100 libraries that completed the application. Many libraries have come up with interesting and innovative ways to increase membership. One of the goals of the challenge is to establish a way to share information among libraries and to help increase membership.

As public institutions, libraries may find it difficult to think about membership in the same way that other cultural organizations do; many libraries justifiably think of all citizens in their community as members. Others feel that as a public institution there should be no need to increase membership as support is not usually based on the number of card holders. However, Mr. Finlay has, through his generosity, stimulated new ways of looking at library patronage.

What we hope comes from this new interest is increased support on the part of the public for the important work that libraries do. We are very grateful to Mr. Finlay for this challenge.

-Michael York, State Librarian