Our local library really hasn't made the effort to attract money from donors like many other local libraries and other local governmental agencies (I'm thinking park district here) have. And I suspect the result of not trying will most likely be not receiving these kinds of funds. But given that others are approaching giving as a desirable source of income, I think that has raised the bar for our unit of government, and that we owe it to the taxpayers in the district to seriously investigate this funding source. What is done now? Currently there is a Friends group that holds used book sales, mostly to fund programs at the library and in other locations throughout the community. The library supplies some of the used books and storage and the sale location. There are also two foundations, but neither have been very active in fundraising or in funding -- I don't believe either have been done in the past five years or so.
So where should we go? Ideas, as always, are welcome. The simple first step is to let our patrons and our possible patrons to know that supporting the library in this way is welcomed. This requires, in this day, at least a mention on the library website, as well as additional notification in other media, including the newsletter. Our neighboring library has a website that specifically mentions large donors and has stories about them. For legacy donations, this could be a motivation. Given the success that other government and private institutions have had in approaching private and corporate donors, these source of funds should be investigated and pursued if there is a likelihood of benefit to the district, especially if the benefit can lower the burden, even if temporary, of our other funders, our taxpayers. Our village of approximately 40,000 is home to two Fortune 500 company HQs. They have not been approached for this kind of giving, to the best of my knowledge. This seems like an opportunity.
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