[Publib] Budget Cut lists

[Robin K. Blum]

Your request for bullet-point budget cut lists made me think; not that it's
-always- an option or an easy one, but I would advise libraries not to only
think about the bottom line by budget-cutting.  

 

Another viable option is CREATING REVENUE for the library.  Definitely worth
thinking about.   Get creative.

 

1)     Look to the Friends - are they operating? Are they organized?  Can
they do more with a little incentive?  Can they  get rid of old and worn-out
fundraising tools (the annual booksale where books are stored, lugged around
and then protected from profit-seeking antiquarian booksellers) and look
into new methods of raising money (knitting & other craft sales, bake sales,
flower arranging, experts/teachers doing classes, car washes, flea markets,
fashion shows, library shop sales, etc, .)

2)     Look to the Community - nearby restaurants, garden centers,
groceries, stationers and office suppliers, organizations, and offices; can
they help out the library with donations, raffles, expertise, special
events, artisans, etc.)  Is there a major corporation in your town or even
in your state?  Even in these tight times, most of them need to contribute
to causes (such as literacy) that they can promote.

3)     Look to the Local Bookstore - ask if they'd consider having their
patrons pay a portion of the cost of new books for the library; organize
joint events (readings, author visits, book groups etc.) and think about
what bookshop patrons and library patrons have in common.a love of the
printed word.

4)     Outreach to local citizens through mailings or phone recruitment -
sometimes people just like to be asked for help.  Or a sign up at the
circulation desk; people who use the facilities of the library might be
willing to give something back, and you never know what that something might
be.  They might have some surplus stuff lying around that you could auction
off.

 

Think positive, think fund-raising, not just cost-cutting.  Happy New Year
to all, and I'd be interested in seeing other ideas along this line that
have worked for your library.

 

Robin K. Blum

www.inmybook.com <http://www.inmybook.com/>  

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.webjunction.org/wjlists/publib/attachments/20081231/1deb3e83/attachment.htm