[Publib] Adult Summer Reading prizes

[Jennifer Balas]

I've coordinated our library's ASRP program for five years now, and I've never had a problem obtaining donations for the weekly prizes (13 weeks total). I send out a mass mailing to local businesses and restaurants in late April; if I don't receive enough gift certificates from that, I call to "remind" them that the program is starting soon. I have a really nice core of businesses that has supported me every year.
>From what some people have told me, it's not really about the prizes; it's the program itself. If  a business isn't willing to give $25, then ask if they can do $10. It doesn't have to be a huge amount; to a certain extent, I don't think the monetary value of the prize is very important.
I do think that the restaurant certificates are the most popular prizes, except for maybe the certificate from the local dessert shop.  


On Fri, 22 Sep 2006, Stephanie Stokes wrote:


> > Hi PUBLIBers!
> >
> > I know many of you do Winter or Summer Reading programs
> > for your adult library patrons.  With that said, Help!
> >
> > I need to come up with a list of suggestions for prizes,
> > incentives, goodies etc.  What worked -- what didn't work?


-- 
Jennifer Balas
Reference Librarian
Reading Public Library
100 South Fifth Street
Reading, PA 19602
610-655-6355
jxbalas at reading.lib.pa.us