[Publib] Budget Cuts vs Fund Raising

[Robert Balliot]

Consider this news report:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081231.RWIKIPEDIA31//TPStory/Front

The same feelings that Wikipedia tapped into to generate donations are those
shared by
many, many patrons about libraries. Free online encyclopedia? What about
free physical
encyclopedia with expert help?  Unfortunately, the ideas for cuts to
services would all turn off those feelings and feed the spiraling effect of
non-competitive
marketing of library services in the information age.

Judith mentioned that - unfortunately - fund raising requires
coordinated effort by Library Directors, Friends, and Staff to be
effective.   It is only unfortunate if there is an expectation that library
employment and advocacy is effortless.

I recall presenting a 1.5 million dollar plan to a local government body.
The angry response was, you can't do that, we only have a 1 million dollar
bond.  My response was, I can raise the money. Their response was, how are
you going to do that, no one has given before?

I did not raise the additional $500,000 - I raised $710,000.

R. Balliot
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/library-marketing.html
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