From the Friends: Recapping 2016, Revving up for 2017

Posted Jan 4, 2017

2016 was a good year for the library and the Friends of the Shorewood Public Library. In addition to adding our outstanding new Director of Library Services, Rachel Collins, to our already exemplary staff,  the library continued to see strong use of library materials, use of digital resources and patron numbers. All of these achievements reflect the value Shorewood places on literacy, community and access to ideas and information.

The Friends of the Library take their role of supporting the library seriously. As a separate, non-profit organization, the Friends raise and manage funds that support the library with a special focus on collections and programming.

2016 saw the friends increase funding and membership, refine our financial and membership processes and increase revenue from our used book and media sale, our largest fundraiser.

At the Friends' annual meeting in December, outgoing president Priscilla Pardini passed the presidency of the Board to Jeanne Sacken, who has served on the board for many years, and summarized the group's accomplishments in 2016 and goals for 2017:

Friends of the Shorewood Public Library Accomplishments 2016:

  • Adopted a Mission and Vision Statement
  • Recruited Candace Shoemaker to the Friends’ Board of Directors
  • Increased Friends’ membership by more than 5 percent, recruiting new members at library events and the Shorewood Farmer’s Market
  • Increased income from book/media sales
  • Set up the Tributes and Memorials Committee
  • Received a $5,000 Metro Market grant spent on laptops and related software and hardware
    library laptop, purchased with donation from metro market

 

  • Continued to fund the Lucky Day Books, three Legacy collections, and subscription to Book Page monthly magazine
  • Underwrote more than half of the library’s total programming costs, sponsoring a Jane Austen presentation, Shakespeare in Shorewood, the summer and winter reading programs, the Summer Celebration, Book Time with Your Child, and Daniel Goldin’s Holiday Book Talk.
  • Provided $1,500 to replace materials in Early Literacy Center
    new toys for growing imaginations in the elc

 

 

 

  • Provided $2,500 toward the cost of Director Rachel Collins and Assistant Director Emily Passey’s attendance at the Public Library Association Conference
  • Expanded celebration of National Library and National Friends of Libraries weeks
  • Implemented new ways to recognize members, volunteers, and library staff
  • Submitted monthly e-newsletter articles and blog entries to the library website
  • Increased the number of Adopt-A-Shelf volunteers/hours of service, and provided volunteers for the Summer Celebration and for the library’s delivery to the homebound program
  • Worked with Assistant Director Emily Passey to update the Friends’ webpage
  • Researched the possibility of a Mobile Pedal Library
  • Provided informational plaques for the Barbara Bachman sculpture, aerial map of Shorewood, and Good Night Moon exhibit

Friends of the Shorewood Public Library Goals 2017:

  • Recruit one or two new members of the Friends’ Board of Directors, with an emphasis on diversifying membership with respect to age/race/gender/ethnicity. And consider actively seeking out, as one of those members, someone with marketing/PR experience to create a marketing/PR plan for the Friends
  • Continue to explore new ways to increase Friends membership, implement at least one new fundraising event, and seek ways to grow our book, media, and eBay sales
  • Implement a formal Tributes and Memorials Program
  • Continue to fund the Lucky Day and three Legacy book collections
  • Organize a Shorewood Reads 2018 Steering Committee
  • Work with Community and Adult Services Librarian Hayley Johnson to increase our support for adult programming
  • Expand National Library Week and National Friends of Libraries programming
  • Expand the Friends’ volunteer pool
  • Continue exploring new ways to recognize Friends' volunteers and library staff

The Friends need your help to have a successful 2017. You can donate or join online here. Email us to learn about membership, how to donate books, CDs or DVDs or to volunteer at shwd.libraryfriends@gmail.com.

 

 



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