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Demonstrating Impact 2004, Day One: Strategy
Demonstrating Impact 2004, Day One: Strategy
2:23 PM EST 1/6/06
What resources contribute most to your library's bottom line, and who are the funders that provide them? Have you found new ways to stretch your library dollars? Are you focusing on services that meet your funders' priorities? For many libraries, the demands of economics and technology are leading to collaborative efforts, not only with other libraries but also other agencies and institutions. Share your ideas and success stories with us.
RE: RE: Demonstrating Impact 2004, Day One: Strategy
2:24 PM EST 1/6/06 as a reply to Buff Hirko.
This is such a big topic!

Do you ever worry that the current financial situation requires library leaders to spend so much time on fundraising, we end up not getting to spend enough time focusing on services in the actual library?

I like the LJ article about working to gain support at the federal and state policy making level. [url http://www.libraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA332550 ]http://www.libraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA332550[/url] -- it feels like that sort of lobbying needs to be a top priority in our strategizing.

I look forward to this discussion!

Brenda
RE: RE: RE: Demonstrating Impact, Day One: Strategy
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Buff Hirko.
That's a really good question Brenda. I was once offered a job at a unique library out West as a Director. I was told that 75% of the library's funding was from donations so there was a lot of fundraising as part of the job. I didn't take the job for other reasons but I wonder what that's like. How much time would it have really taken to do that much fundraising? Would I have had any time to really manage the library effectively?
RE: Demonstrating Impact, Day One: Strategy
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Buff Hirko.
Buff, thanks for hosting our event on "Demonstrating Impact" this week on All Aboard. These are really great questions and I look forward to a lively discussion.

For those of you just joining us, be sure to check out our Demonstrating Impact focus page (click under "Focus" on your left side bar) for a collection of resources we've been pointing too all month.

Good stuff in there; now let's hear from some folks. What do you think?
RE: RE: RE: RE: Demonstrating Impact, Day One: Strategy
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Buff Hirko.
Many libraries here in Washington state (and elsewhere) have established foundations that pursue fund-raising activities. Not only does this relieve library directors of some of these duties, it also heightens public awareness of the need to sustain long-term funding and educates community leaders about the library bottom line.
RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Demonstrating Impact, Day One: Strategy
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Buff Hirko.
'Not enough time' is something that I often hear from folks about (not surprisingly) any kind of planning, whether it's for overall strategy, technology programs, or fundraising & development. It seems that these forums allow us a small little window into that word so that we can grab onto a few ideas or solutions that resonate with us, and mix them up with the rest of the things that fill up our days.

In terms of library directors, I wonder if it's often the case that they do (should?) spend 75% of their time on fundraising and development? Is this common or unusual in terms of what's happening?

Are there resources (besides those here that we already know of) that folks use for lib dev? I know there is a LIBDEV list serv, but I've heard that this is mostly academic librarians ... it would be nice to hear about personally preferred resources for fund/dev planning from the pub library perspective.
Seattle Public Library Central Library Economic Benefit Assessment
4:17 PM EDT 8/25/05 as a reply to Buff Hirko.
http://www.berkandassociates.com/pdf/DraftReport.pdf
This research demonstrates that in the short time since the remarkable new building opened, it's already had significant economic benefits for surrounding businesses and for the city itself. Hopefully people can browse and get ideas on how to do the same for their library/city as Seattle has done.
Re: Seattle Public Library Central Library Economic Benefit Assessment
12:14 PM EDT 8/26/05 as a reply to Anna Leavitt.
Wow! Thanks so much for pointing out this report. I haven't had time to read it and sadly moved away from the City of Seven Hills before I had a chance to even visit the new SPL - but I am visiting in late September so I can see it for my very own eyes.
Public Use and Support Skyrocket When New Libraries are Built...
4:17 PM EDT 8/26/05 as a reply to Buff Hirko.
More good stuff re: Demonstrating impact, and this isn't about Seattle, its about new Colorado libraries. Public Use and Support Skyrocket When New Libraries are Built, By Keith Curry Lance see:
http://www.lrs.org/documents/fastfacts/226_public_use.pdf