Fundraising for Libraries: 25 Proven Ways to get More Money for Your Library

Citation

Sanderson, S. (2003), "Fundraising for Libraries: 25 Proven Ways to get More Money for Your Library", The Bottom Line, Vol. 16 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2003.17016aae.001

Fundraising for Libraries: 25 Proven Ways to get More Money for Your Library

Edited by Kay A. Cassell and Marina I. Mercado

Fundraising for Libraries: 25 Proven Ways to get More Money for Your Library

James SwanNeal-SchumanNew York, NY2002411 pp.ISBN 1-55570-433-6$69.95Keywords: Financial management, Fund raising, Libraries

Fundraising is something that all libraries, big or small, public or academic, have to do. James’Swan expands on his Fundraising for the Small Public Library (1990) in his current collection of fundraising suggestions. It is important that librarians develop effective ways of asking for money and this work assists in that goal. Including both the theoretical and the practical, Swan provides a clear and useful reference guide.

The work begins with a discussion of the fundamentals of fundraising. Chapter 1 helps librarians understand the basics of fundraising including developing positive attitudes and the importance of the library's image and performance. Chapter 2 discusses ways in which librarians can maximize the funding they get from their regular sources. Funding through grant writing is brought up next and the ways in which to promote success are laid out. Swan wisely points out that grant funding is not the solution to all problems and talks about which situations are appropriate for this method. Chapter 4 goes into a discussion of how to obtain funding for capital improvements.

In order for funds to be raised, people have to be asked for money and Chapter 5 goes into steps for soliciting donations. It is important to "never underestimate the generosity of good people" who "if they care about their library" will give what is needed (100). Chapter 6 talks about ways of selling goods in order to make money for the library. This method is not placed as highly as the other fundraising tips, but it is extensively examined. Chapter 7 discusses the varied techniques of passive fundraising and emphasizes that patience is needed. Part one concludes by talking about how to enlist assistance from other sources, for example professional fundraisers.

Turning from the fundamentals to the practical, part two goes into detail on 25 different ways to get more money for libraries. These range from lobbying for dollars, donations and memorial gifts. The tips are in "order by potential to bring in lots of money" (xi). Each chapter in this section is set up the same way and, once one tip has been employed, subsequent ones are easy for the reader to follow. Each chapter begins with a description of the fundraising technique, then moves to a discussion of the reason why the technique would be employed; and the resulting expected benefits are expounded on. Examples of the method to be used are given and Swan provides examples from across the USA, covering all sorts of organizations. He moves on to explain how, and with what resources, the particular method of fundraising can be employed and highlights specific do's and dont's, including a useful checklist.

The reader is not led to assume that all of the 25 approaches are without their dangers and the author discusses many pitfalls. Swan clearly indicates to what extent various types of libraries can get results from a specific method. Swan concludes each section with a brief summary and bibliography and there is also a more general bibliography at the end of the book. There is an index and two appendices, which have a sample constitution and bylaws for a Friends Organization and a Library Foundation. Swan liberally provides tables to illustrate specific points.

James Swan has been the director of the Central Kansas Library System and the Great Bend Public Library since 1977. He has spoken and written articles on a wide variety of topics, especially on fundraising, for librarian audiences. Fundraising for Libraries both validates the current fundraising activities of libraries and helps them to develop new procedures. This book will be of great use to librarians involved in library fundraising at every level. It could also be employed as a text within a library management course for library and information sciences students.

Sherri SandersonSenior Librarian, History and Social Sciences Department, Mid-Manhattan Library, New York Public Library, New York, NY