Posts by Kim Horton
A Rocking Case Statement for Successful Fundraising
A Case Statement is one of the most important documents necessary for effective fundraising. It is written specifically for private donors and describes your library’s purpose and vision in a compelling manner designed to attract donors to financially support your work. A well-written case statement is concise and compelling. While supported by statistics and driven by…
Read MoreWould You Date Your Library?
At Library Strategies we are fortunate to have visited hundreds of libraries. Whether it is a strategic planning project or training or a capital campaign, we’ve learned that like people, libraries create a strong first impression when encountered. A good question to ask is, if your library were a prospective partner, what would be your…
Read MoreTrends Shaping Today’s Libraries (Part 2)
(Read our Part 1 of our Library Trends Series!) 6) New Frontiers For Reference Interviews Reference interview (RI) services are a staple of library work – and a pillar of the institution’s value proposition. Studies show that for many patrons, satisfaction with the library as a whole is predicated on the perceived success of their…
Read MoreThe Power of Endowments
Every non-profit organization strives to create endowment funds as a part of their finance strategy. But why are they so important and how should newer organizations attempt to create them? Let’s start by defining an endowment, which can be described as a sum of money that is permanently invested in equities (stocks) and fixed income…
Read MoreWebinar Series: The Green to Dream
It’s a new year and with that come new resolutions! At Library Strategies we are dedicated to sharing our knowledge and expertise with libraries and library organizations across the world. We feel strongly that by connecting and engaging with others, we can both learn and share ideas that will allow libraries to continue to be…
Read MoreCapital Campaign in Your Future?
Are you anticipating a capital campaign to help fund a new building or renovation of your library? Before launching a campaign, there are several steps you should be taking now to prepare your organization and improve your potential for a successful campaign. Long before launching a capital campaign – and to strengthen your library’s future…
Read MoreAnnouncing Our New President!
We want to share with you that Peter Pearson, co-founder of Library Strategies and President of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, is preparing to retire at the end of this year after 25 years in his role. While he’s stepping down as President, the good news for Library Strategies is that he…
Read MoreWhen Is a Strategic Plan Not a Strategic Plan?
Answer: When it’s a development plan. So then what is a development plan? A development plan is the plan that addresses how you fund your library beyond its operating budget. Library support organizations (library foundations and/or Friends groups) create development plans to direct their fundraising and advocacy activities. Development planning is a rapidly growing activity…
Read MoreTrends Shaping Today’s Libraries (Part 1)
Whether you are conducting strategic planning, embarking on a capital campaign, or on the hunt for a new library executive with credentials perfectly suited to the role, it is imperative to remember that these activities do not take place “in a vacuum.” On the contrary, success in any of the above requires a firm understanding…
Read MoreBuilding a Better Board Through Professional Development
Professional development is not just for library staff. Library, foundation, and Friends boards also should engage in regular, annual professional development activities. Some key professional development activities include: Board Orientation – Certainly for all new members, but also may be valuable as refresher periodically for all board members. Annual Training Activities – All board members…
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