A Mile of Pennies in Morrisville

The Friends of Morristown Centennial Library are working on A Mile of Pennies, a fundraiser first tried years ago by the Friends.

Patrons may have noticed red cans with Morristown Library Labels on them in local businesses. Look for the cans, and drop in your loose change so we can make a mile of pennies. The donations will go toward the library’s programs and services, especially the youth and children’s programs and activities.

(quoted from Morrisville’s Front Porch Forum)

Windham County Reads used the same idea as an old-fashioned bookmobile fundraiser. They targeted children in the elementary schools in the county. There’s something very charming about penny collections.

Books, Soup and Pie

Every year the Lincoln Library holds a “Books, Soup and Pie Sale” either on Columbus Day weekend or in November. People buy their Thanksgiving pies and freeze them. Last year librarian Debi Gray reported making $700 solely on pie sales. Check out the event at the library website.

The Grafton Library also holds an annual booksale the Saturday of the Columbus weekend– when people are in town for the foliage and other nonprofit fundraisers.

Library Tries Amazon Bookstore

Booksale

The Rochester Public Library has opened a virtual bookstore at Amazon.  Because most donated books that are not added to the collection are sold in the library’s book sale for 25 cents to $2 each the library lacked a way to sell rare or collectible books for their market value.  To solve this problem a library volunteer launched an online marketplace on Amazon for the library to list more valuable books.  With this store the library can reach a larger number of buyers and create more revenue for the library budget.

Director Jeannette Bair announced to bookstore with a letter to the Friends of the Library, pointing out that all gifts are first reviewed for usefulness to the collection. Many books and movies are for sale throughout the year in the library vestibule, a fundraiser that nets about $1,500 annually.

Platt Memorial embraces pigs

The Platt Memorial Library in Shoreham came up with a unique fundraiser: vote for your favorite pig-kisser, using dollars. Seven local dignitaries competed for the honor, and the big winner was the Library with more than $6000. Two local innkeepers won, and a picture of them kissing “Runty” appeared in the Addison Independent in February 2011. A good contest to liven up a cold month!

Spring fundraiser

Montgomery Town Library did a new (for them) fundraiser last spring selling flower bulbs. The Library made $500, after they split the profits 50/50 with the local gardening company that supplied the bulbs.

Consider a program that parallels the fundraiser: local gardeners talking using bulbs indoors and out. Hey, we could use some spring color and inspiration about now!

Norwich Tribute Fund

A gift

How does a library position itself to encourage bequests and contributions? The Norwich Public Library developed a quiet brochure to do the job.

Directors may want to have a lawyer review and offer background so the board is prepared to work with donors. The Vermont Community Foundation offers support to organizations like libraries who are setting up contribution vehicles. Contact them for help managing an endowment or creating planned giving.

Use the Scribd link to read the brochure, particularly the inside. A donor could make the gift without doing anything more than filling in the form.

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Annual Pie Fundraiser

The Woodbury Community Library holds their Annual New England Pie Breakfast and Silent Auction in March.

Over a hundred different pies and quiches are served up from 8:30 to 10:30 AM at this all-you-can-eat breakfast benefit for the Woodbury Community Library.  The event is held at the Woodbury Elementary School gymnasium; the cost is $7 for diners over the age of 6.

Adopt-A-Dewey Program

Grafton Public Library held an “Adopt-A-Dewey” Program to fill in empty areas of their nonfiction collection.

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Raffle Fundraiser

Raffles are always a good way to raise money for the library. Here is an example of a ticket for a raffle run by the Friends of the Wardsboro Library.

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Library Friends Brochure

The Friends of the Wardsboro Library have created a brochure that explains their history, their mission, and what they are doing to help the library. Also included is a list of their annual fundraisers.

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