Motivating Your Friends of the Library

Or

From Fiends and Frenemies to Friends

Frenemy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Frenemy" (less commonly spelled "frienemy")

is a portmanteau of "friend" and "enemy" that can refer to either an enemy pretending to be a friend or someone who really is a friend but also a rival.[1] The term is used to describe personal, geopolitical, and commercial relationships both among individuals and groups or institutions. The word has appeared in print as early as 1953.[2]

Fiend

• fiend

• noun \ˈfēnd\: an evil spirit : a demon or devil

• : a very evil or cruel person

Fiends and Frenemies?

• Have money, but won’t give you any of it

• Spend meeting time criticizing library or staff

• Come up with projects they want to do that have nothing to do with your library’s goals

• Won’t volunteer to do anything

• Same group of people year after year

• Don’t want to raise money

• ????????????????????

Friends

• Understand their role

• Are positive supporters of the Library and staff

• Have specific jobs to do, and do them

• Raise money and fund projects that support the goals of the Library

• Look forward to meetings and events

• ??????????????????????

It Begins With a Solid Foundation

• Have bylaws that establish term limits (ours are 2 three-year terms)

• Have a budget

• Invite each new board member to your office for an individual orientation

• Provide Friends with clear roles

• Have standing committees

• Create their meeting agendas

Standing Committees

• Receptions (they arrange the cookies and punch for art and program receptions)

• Board Development and Nominating Committee (they find new board members and officers)

• Volunteer Recognition Committee (they read the nominations for volunteer of the year that staff have submitted, and select the winners)

• Membership Committee (Opens the membership envelopes and updates the member databases)

• Book Sale Committee (they call for volunteers to work at the book sale)

Reception Committee

Library Punch

64 oz or 2 quarts White Grape Juice 2 Liters Lemon Lime Twist Up

Reception Committee

Library Punch 2.0

3 liters or 1 ½ bottles of 7 UP

1 can orange juice concentrate

1 can lemonade concentrate

20

Make the Meetings/Events Fun

• Keep meetings short (have an agenda) • Have food or pass Around a bowl of chocolate • Give them your Advanced Reader’s Copies of books • How do you make • Meetings fun????????

Membership

• Have a diverse group of friends board members

• Invite people who are new to the community to serve on the Friends board (new doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc.)

• Have a nominating committee

• Have membership materials available at all events, service desks, etc.

Keep them Involved

• Let them play a role in your strategic planning process

• They should have one major fundraiser each year in which every board member has a specific role

• Hold an annual meeting for all Friends that is a major event or party

• Give them “sneak peeks” or let them be the“first to know”

• Get them exhibit hall passes for ALA or PLA

• Invite them to attend grant award ceremonies and accept the awards on behalf of the Friends

Sneak Peaks

Annual Meetings

• Local Author (invite the author to dinner and invite your Friends President)

• Cultural Festivals (Latino, Japanese…..) with activities for the whole family

• Food Events (and wine tasting)

• Historical exhibits with re-enactors (local history is particularly popular)

Sake Tasting

Locavores and More

Wine Tasting

Friends Sponsor High Profile Programs

• Clinton County Reads

• Children’s Programs

• Author Visits

• Art Exhibits

• Art Classes

• Educational Events

• Music Events

The Friends Little Free Library

Youth Theatre

Inmate Art Exhibit

Music Down Under

Thank Them Over and Over

• Give them recognition on every flyer, program, press release, signage for events that they help to sponsor

• Give them photos and personal thank you notes from the programs they sponsor.

• If they are the major sponsor of an event, let them do the introductions

AND keep thanking them

• Give them a small gift at Christmas, or send them a card on their birthday

• Recognize them publicly when their term ends and give them a special gift of thanks

• Recognize a volunteer of the year with a special award

• How do YOU Thank your Friends members?

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“FUN” Fundraisers

• Murder Mystery Dinners

• Book Sales

• Art Show and Sale

• Home Tour

• Signature Scent Candle Sales

• Plant Sales

• Butter Braids and Pizza Sales

• Concerts

Murder Mystery Dinner

Book Sales

Art Show and Sale

•What Fundraisers do YOU do?

•Other Friends Ideas

•Questions

Contact Information

Michelle Bradley

Community Engagement Librarian

MCLS

765-409-3006

bradleym@mcls.org