Posts by Kim Horton
MN Statewide One-Book Program
This year Minnesota proudly joined the ranks of Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Michigan with it’s creation of a children’s statewide one-book program called Once Upon a Reader. The concept is to encourage pre-K children and adults to read together to promote early literacy skills, and is designed with local libraries as the hub of the program.…
Read MoreOn to ND! Building Capacity and Leadership in Small Libraries
This summer, Library Strategies and the Minnesota Literacy Council wrapped up the second year of the Libraries and Literacy Leadership Institute (L3), funded by the Otto Bremer Foundation. The 10-month L3 Institute launched in Minnesota in 2012-13, followed by last year’s work with libraries in Bremer Bank communities in Western Wisconsin. And, now we are…
Read MoreMeet Melissa Brechon
Melissa comes to Library Strategies with over 8 years of experience as a library consultant and over 25 years experience as a librarian and public library administrator. She was an independent consultant with Robert H. Rohlf Consulting and Library Consulting for 8 years before joining Library Strategies as a Lead Consultant. Melissa served as a…
Read MoreConducting Successful Capital Campaigns & Feasibility Studies
Building a new library – or renovating an existing one – can be both exciting and terrifying! Chances are, with public funding becoming more restricted, your vision is larger than your budget. You will likely need to consider a Capital Campaign to fund the gap between public funding and the full cost of your building…
Read MoreA Partner That Makes It Possible
Library Strategies is proud to partner with the architectural firm of Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd. (MS&R), based in Minneapolis, in helping libraries build and renovate library facilities. Working with MS&R, Library Strategies consultants conduct capital campaign feasibility studies and provide campaign counsel to ensure a successful building project. MS&R is an award-winning architecture and…
Read MorePaying for Strategic Plan Ticket Items
In the past two years, Library Strategies has seen a huge increase in clients who come to us with a request to help them create a development plan for their Foundation or Friends group. This seems to be a direct outcome of libraries conducting great strategic planning processes and then saying, “Now we have to…
Read MoreLibrary Strategies Coordinates Metro-Wide Author Program
One of Library Strategies newest projects is coordinating Club Book, a program of the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) funded through the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Club Book is a unique player in the Twin Cities literary events scene. This is the third year of the program, designed to bring bestselling and award-winning…
Read MoreMeet Karen Rose
Business Development Coordinator and Lead Consultant Karen comes to Library Strategies with over 15 years of experience as a fundraising and strategic planning professional. She was a consultant with Professional Fundraising Services for nearly seven years and ran her own consulting firm for four years. Karen specializes in feasibility studies, board training, and strategic planning.…
Read MoreDirect Mail to Boost Donor Base
How many times have you thought about doing a direct mail campaign, and winced when looking at the quote? Well, it doesn’t have to be like that. Library Strategies has formed a new partnership to offer direct mail, list management, and other mailing services to our clients at rates that won’t make you go postal.…
Read MoreMeet Stu Wilson
Stu Wilson is the Project Coordinator and a lead consultant for Library Strategies. Previously, Stu served as the Executive Director of The Friends of the Hennepin County Library in Minneapolis and Vice-President of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. He has over 20 years of senior management experience in library, adult literacy, museum,…
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