Resources
WEBINAR: Merging a Friends and Foundation
United for Libraries Webinar: Merging a Friends and Foundation Tuesday, October 4 at 2:00 pm Eastern $75 ($50 for United for Libraries members) Click Here to Register In the library world today, there is a huge need for support organizations – Friends & foundations – but often the lines between these two groups are blurred…
Read MorePeter Pearson to Retire, Spend More Time with Library Strategies
After 25 years with The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, Peter Pearson is set to retire at the end of 2016. During his tenure as the President of The Friends, Pearson has grown the organization from a staff of two with an annual budget of $200,000 and a seven-member Board, to the entrepreneurial organization it is today:…
Read MoreTen Ways Consultants Can Help You
Sometimes it really does take money to make money. You may not need a professional’s advice for a book sale, annual fund, or a small fundraising project, but some kinds of fundraising activities can benefit from professional assistance. Capital campaigns, for example, can be very difficult to complete successfully without this expertise. How do you…
Read MoreSecuring Sponsorship for your Library Program
Business sponsorship of library activities is an example of innovation that is on the rise. It is attractive because it creates (or builds on) relationships for a win-win situation for both the library and the business. Here’s how: The library is one of our society’s most beloved and valued institutions, and a business that sponsors…
Read MoreLibrary Foundations Raise Money for Libraries… Right?
Everywhere you turn in the world of libraries, you hear people talking about the need for private fundraising. Many feel that the answer to this challenge lies in the creation of a Library Foundation. But how does a library foundation differ from a Friends group? Foundations are unique in that they are typically staffed by…
Read MoreSecuring Authors to Headline Your Fundraiser or Special Event
In the library world, successful fundraisers often include keynote appearances by popular authors. Involving writers is a great way to stoke interest in your special events. However, as anyone assigned to book the guest(s) of honor can attest, sourcing headlining authors for such events is easier said than done. If you are looking to bring…
Read More7 Habits of Highly Effective Campaign Chairs
No matter how compelling your mission or case statement, the success or failure of a capital campaign largely rests with the effectiveness of your campaign leadership. A campaign chair or chairs, with a small Steering Committee, will become your champions in the community, communicating your vision and encouraging major donors to join in as partners…
Read MorePlanning: The Key to Capacity Building
Often we talk about building capacity, but what exactly does that mean? At Library Strategies, we look at capacity building as creating skills, tools, resources, and structures that allow your library, Friends, or foundation to do more and provide better service. Under this definition, areas such as fundraising and development, PR and marketing, and board…
Read More15 Tips for Writing a Great RFP
Naturally, we see a lot of RFPs (Request for Proposals) come through our doors each week. Unfortunately, most RFP’s are anything but straightforward and are often complicated by over direction or unnecessary information. We decided to compile a few tips to write a great RFP that will better help your organization fulfil its needs while…
Read MoreFinding the Right Consultant
Hiring a good consultant isn’t exactly like hiring a new employee but there are a lot of similarities. You want an individual (or a firm) that has the right skill set, related experience – and is a good fit for your library or your library organization. The Right Skill Set Many consultants are “generalists” but…
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