With a Little Help from our Friends A story about Friends of the Library

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With a Little Help from our FriendsA story
about Friends of the Library

• Presented by Linda Naccarato Joanne de Groot
• ALC 2006

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• With a Little Help from our Friends
• A story about Friends of the Library
• Chapter 1 Once upon a time
• Chapter 2 Getting started again
• Chapter 3 The plot thickens
• Chapter 4 Where were going
• Epilogue What weve learned

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Chapter 1

• Once Upon a Time
• Why was the Friends group started?
• Group with great enthusiasm
• Started right established by-laws and officers
  set goals had a plan
• Goal raise money for automation
• Successfully raised money

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Chapter 1

• Members lost interest and motivation as the
  project continued
• Group did not survive the project
• Loss of membership
• Loss of enthusiasm
• No secession planning
• No long term goals

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Chapter 2

• Getting started again
• The heroes of our story decided to resurrect
  the Friends of the Stony Plain Public Library
• January, 2003
• First meeting five interested people
• Brainstorming past experiences, ideas, etc.
• Established an executive and made tentative plans

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Chapter 2

• Challenges
• Small numbers and finding new members
• Re-establishing society status and banking
  issues
• Determining role of the group
• Setting goals and determining priorities
• Too many ideas

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Chapter 3

• The Plot Thickens
• How we helped
• Edmonton Eskimos Read-In
• Chrysalis Events
• Quilt Raffle
• Farmers Day Parade Book Sale
• Special Events
• Library Renovations and Move

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Chapter 3

• BIG PROBLEM
• Lots of ideas, lots of good work, lots of
  enthusiasm, and good people
• BUT
• Not enough focus, direction, or members

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Chapter 3

• Organizational Development
• Organizational meetings to establish executive
• By-law Review and Update
• Annual Plan
• Membership drive

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Chapter 3

• Renewal
• Executive vs. membership
• Secession planning for new executive
• Maintaining membership
• Skill diversity among membership
• Recognition
• Wine and Cheese
• Member privileges

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Chapter 4

• Where were going
• Organizationally
• Executive stability
• Process for Annual Planning
• Three year planning process
• Administrative record keeping
• Budgeting
• Things are good!

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Chapter 4

• Ongoing Projects
• Fundraising Baskets
• Read-A-Thon
• Greening of the Library
• Writers Workshop/Author Visits
• Farmers Day Parade

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Chapter 4

• Future Projects
• Technology Centre
• Book Reading Festival
• ???

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Epilogue

• Our story doesnt really have an ending (there is
  a sequel in the works), but these are some things
  weve learned along the way

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Epilogue

• Give the group time to grow and establish itself
• Perseverance is a necessitydont give up!
• Diversity of skills and personalities within the
  group is an asset, not a liability!
• Attracting new members has to be ongoing
• Executive and the membership have different roles

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Epilogue

• Library-directed vs. friends-directed planning
• Take time to plan and establish goals
• Develop a relationship with the Library Board
• Food is always a draw!

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Tell us your story

• Questions, comments, advice
• Or contact us
• Linda Naccarato
• (email lindan_at_stonyplainlibrary.org)
• Joanne de Groot
• (email joannedegroot_at_shaw.ca)