Blair Public Library           HOME

 
Working File
Friends of the Library                        Membership List      [password required] 
Advocate for the Library Fundraising   
  • Book Sale
  • Book Bag
  • Raffle
  • Bid on Celebrity Lunch auctions
  • Dessert Auction
  • Dollar-a-Day Club
  • Read-A-Thon
  • Banquet & Auction
  • Spring Tea
  • Hall of Trees
  • Box Social
  • Pie Auction
  • Collecting Coins
  • Giant Donation Book

Mission
The mission of the Friends of the Library is to support, promote and enhance the services and goals of the Blair Public Library.  Members help to ensure that the Blair Public Library continues to fulfill the needs of the residents of Blair now and for the future generations.
Specifically, the Friends focus on:
  • Being an Advocate
  • Fundraising
  • Programming
  • Volunteerism
LINKS
 American Library Association
 Nebraska Library Commission
Programming Programs & Ideas

Volunteerism  [click for more details]

  • Current Project
    • Recognition -- Pat Hunsche & MaryLou Beckman

General Group Operations

Board Meetings
usually the 4th Thursday of each month 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. (except those months when there is a General Meeting)
General Meetings
usually the 3rd Thursday of
January, April, July & October   7:00 p.m.
(April is considered the Annual Meeting)
Group Socials
usually schedule sometime during the months February, May, August & November.
Quarterly Newsletter
schedule to be mailed the last Monday of March, June, September & December.
Library Copier
Generally, the first organization my use the library copier for small (20 max) copies for thinks pertaining to basic operation of the organization.  Newsletter, posters and other ideas needed in larger quantities are either outsourced or copied on the library copier for a fee of ?? each copy.
  • Book for Russell Musick
  • Meeting Minutes on file
  • Print the brochure
  • Postage
  • Encourage "Adopt-a-Magazine" program.
  • Setup a volunteer committee
  • Group Emails
  • Support letters for additional staff at the library
  • Table settings 4-H
  • Stocking the Library Kitchen

Forms
Brochure
 Sign-up Sheet

Membership Issues

  • Membership List      [password required] 
  • Membership Coordinator Job Description
  • Membership dues are $5 per year
  • Promote Membership at each Event --
    • Sign-up Sheet for Mailing List
    • Donation Bowl  (if appropriate)
    • Friends Name Tags
    • Suggestion Sheet
  • Membership Form
  • Brochure       MS Publisher File
    Includes membership form, mission and selling points
    Consider using same color of paper for all printed materials of the Friends
  • MEETING AGENDA
          Membership Lists
                      Perspective Lists
          Survey -- What do people need
  • Need to establish a dedicated display area for Library & Friends materials  i.e. posters, brochures, suggestion box, etc.
  • Inform membership of the membership process
  • Sign-up sheets at programs
    (If you are interested in email notices about other events like sponsored by Friends of the Library -- add your email address)

Membership Benefits

  • Need for General Support of the Library -- "Our Very Important Community Resource"
  • Opportunities to impact and shape upcoming library programs
  • Advanced notification about Library Programs (You get to be "in the know.")
  • Member's Only Events
  • Member's Newsletter mailed to your home
  • Member's Preview and advanced sale at the Annual Book sale
  • Opportunities to be involved and help coordinate in programs that interest you
  • What's involved with being a member?

Terms:

Business Meeting -- Short meeting at the beginning of "Friends Meeting" to report on issues discussed at board meetings. Usually held in conjunction with a "members" program.

Public Program -- any event develop and planned by the Friends where community members are the primary audience.

Annual Meeting -- held one a year to elect officers, present awards, approve major spending -- usually held in conjunction with a major program -- the big DRAW.

Board Meeting -- executive board meeting dealing with all organizational issues of the group, i.e. expenditures, budget, programs. etc.

Minutes -- summarized in Newsletter, reported on during the Business Meetings, available in print at Business Meetings.

National Library Week Schedule  (from http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/factsheets/nationallibrary.htm )

  • 2005 – April 10-16
  • 2006 – April 2-8
  • 2007 – April 15-21
  • 2008 - April 13-19
  • 2009 - April 12-18
  • 2010 - April 4 -10
  • 2011 - April 10-16

Event Planning
    Volunteer (Help)
    Equipment
    Publicity & Signage
Long range goals:

Send Staff to National Library Convention
Give Initial Pledge for Library Development campaign.
Encourage city to increase library budget
Basic Policy for funding staff to attend conferences/workshop

1) provide a short proposal summary of expenses.
2) encourage registration fees to be covered by the library budget
3) encourage participate(s) to share information from conference/workshop in some way with others.
Oct. 6-8 NEBRASKA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, Grand Island