EXTERIOR SPACE

• Essential reading: William H. Whyte, The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, Washington, D.C.: The Conservation Foundation, 1980; "11 Principles for Creating Great Community Places" http://www.pps.org/info/placemakingtools/casesforplaces/11steps ; Paco Underhill, Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping

• Attractive, well-kept space and grounds; conversation starters, "flirtation space"

• What do people on the outside see through your windows? What do you want them to see through your windows?
  
  
  

  INTERIOR SPACE

• Sparkling cleanliness

• Paint: Color

• Lighting

• Weed the collection of the MUSTIE: Misleading, Ugly, Superseded, Trivial, Irrelevant, available Elsewhere. Replace ugly, tattered copies of books you need to keep with new editions.

• Get rid of NO signs

• 15% Rule

• Market your collection: See Resources from Trading Spaces <http://www.sjrlc.org/tradingspaces/>; What Libraries Can Learn from Bookstores <http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=1191>, and "Work It Baby: Merchandising To Improve Circulation" <http://www.cal-webs.org/handouts05/WorkItBaby.pdf>

• User-created art - Monroe County Library's Poetry Wall <http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/teens/for_you/poetry_wall.html>, teen-painted mural in teen room at Wilton Library, art and craft exhibits from local artists and organizations, exhibits of users' collections; Des Moines PL, local artist built 3 chess tables for the library's "back yard"

• Zoned spaces: different styles for different purposes and clienteles. See Cerritos Library <http://www.ci.cerritos.ca.us/library/photos/library.html>

• Novelty: change displays and exhibits frequently; Refresh new books display throughout each day

• The human touch: greeters, roving reference, "service at the point of puzzlement"

• Ask people who've never used the library to do walk-throughs; videotape users to see use patterns and discern "points of puzzlement" which the "curse of knowledge" prevents us from recognizing

• Short on space? Create additional program space by putting some low shelving on casters.
  
  
  

  STAFF TRAINING

• Staff Talking Points. See Mount Laurel Public Library's Talking Points at http://www.sjrlc.org/tradingspaces/pdf/talking_points.pdf. Also, see how Williamsburg Regional Library has analyzed its extensive tangible and intangible assets and strengths, p. 29-35 of Partnering with Purpose, by Janet Crowther and Barry Trott. Also see its Partnership Discussion Toolkit (mission statement, strategic plan, library statistics, annual operating budget, etc.).

• Internal staff blog, reference blog

• Database of local experts

• Try to say yes
  
  
  

  ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY

• Push your annual report: Bethlehem Public Library's bookmark <http://marylaine.com/cheap2.html#annual>, Gwinnett County Public Library's 8x11 poster <http://marylaine.com/cheap2.html#annual2>>, and Cumberland County Public Library's datebook <http://marylaine.com/cheap2.html#datebook>. Note: they don't have to be boring: Anderson Public Library <http://www.and.lib.in.us/Annual%20Report/Annual%20Report%202005.pdf>

• Promote your strategic plan. See Evanston Public Library <http://www.epl.org/library/strategic-plan-00.html>, Iowa City Public Library <http://www.icpl.org/about/strategic-plan.php>, many others.

• Library Toolbars. See Denver Public Library's <http://www.denverlibrary.org/toolbar/index.html>. Consider using Effective Brand
  <http://www.effectivebrand.com/> or IE Toolbar Builder <http://www.besttoolbars.net/index.php> to simplify creating one

• Translate your website into the languages spoken by large segments of your population

• Make your web services available to PDAs and other handheld devices. See Services for PDA's <http://library.curtin.edu.au/pda_services/index.html>, PDAs, Handhelds and Mobile Technologies in Libraries <http://web.simmons.edu/~fox/pda/>. Make sure your web page publicizes this service.

• Daily Living Adaptive Devices collection at King County Library System, <http://kcls.org/sc/special.cfm#daily> and the Adaptive Toy Collection at Pascoe County Library <http://pascolibraries.org/pcls/toys/toc.pdf>. Note that partnering with local social service agencies and organizations can make these services possible.

• Make library systems intelligible: Oakland Public Library Pictograms for Dewey numbers <http://www.library.ca.gov/newsletter/2007/2007spring/oakland.html>

• Collaborate across political boundaries. The Maryland Public Libraries MPower card, Know No Boundaries <http://www.howa.lib.md.us/borrowing/glibrary.php>; the PALS Library System <http://www.palsnet.info>
  
  
  

  SERVICES

• Book kits, like Books for Babies (FOLUSA has readymade plans and packets ready to go <http://www.folusa.org/outreach/books-for-babies.php>), storytime, book club, or teaching topics kits. See Springfield-Greene County Library's Ready To Go Bags <http://www.thelibrary.org/services/bags.cfm>, and Sick Kids Kits at <http://www.ohio.lib.in.us/children/sick_kids.php>

• Give kids a chance to shine: New York Public Library's teen literary magazine <http://teenlink.nypl.org/WordSmiths-Current.cfm>, poetry slams, Princeton Public Library's Student Film and Video Festival; Monroe County Public Library's Teen Poetry Wall, <http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/teens/for_you/poetry_wall.html>; Free Library of Philadelphia Teen Leadership Assistants providing homework help and computer assistance.

• Help people test drive new technology before buying it. See Princeton Public Library's "Gadget Garage," <http://www.princetonlibrary.org/research/techcenter/gadgetgarage.html>

• Early literacy programs, like Grow Up Reading at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library <http://www.growupreading.org> . Also, therapy dogs to help kids improve their reading, like Howard County Library's DEAR program (Dogs Educating & Assisting Readers) and Multnomah County Library's Read to the Dogs program.

• Citizenship classes for new Americans - Queens Library's New Americans Program <http://queenslibrary.org/?page_nm=NAP+-+Programs> Hartford Public Library <http://www.hartfordpl.lib.ct.us/>, many others

• Partner with local health organizations to promote health: flu clinics at the Wilton Library, monthly blood pressure screening at the Stratford Library Association; health-related programming like Queens Library's "Nutrition & the Art of Self-Healing with Whole Foods," Southfield Public Library's programs before school starts on immunizations and other child health issues, etc. Full-fledged health info centers: Williamsburg Regional Library's Cancer Information Center <http://www.westcancer.org/index/index.html> , Hillsborough County Library's Men's Cancer Research Center <http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/liblocales/jfg/B&G/mcrc.html>;

• assistance to nonprofits (see Tucson-Pima Public Library's Grants & Nonprofits Information Center <http://www.tppl.org/research/grants/>, Springfield-Greene County Library's Nonprofit Prophet <http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/infolink/nonprofit/>

• Connecting people by creating databases of community and government service agencies. See Queens Library's Community Information Database <http://queenslibrary.org/index.aspx?page_nm=Community+Information>, Lakewood Public Library <http://www.lkwdpl.org/>, Skokie Public Library's Community Resources <http://www.skokienet.org/american/index.html>

• Or if you work for a business, help it achieve business objectives. See BNA's Web Watch, <http://www.bna.com/webwatch> or The Virtual Chase, <http://www.virtualchase.com/>
• Stress to officials how your library brings foot traffic to your commercial area, improves property values, etc. See Economic Gardening in Littleton, CO and Lancaster County, PA. Also, Seattle Public Library's Economic Benefits Analysis, <http://www.berkandassociates.com/pdf/DraftReport.pdf>; branch libraries in malls creating new library patrons while providing a steady flow of traffic for shops
  
  
  

  PROGRAMMING

• Programs that help the public learn about important local and national issues. Wilton Library's "Operation Respect" which helped its community heal from a disturbing racial incident, Chelsea District Library's presentation shortly after Terri Schiavo's death on "Making Sense of Financial and Medical Powers of Attorney", and Hartford Public Library's "Democracy in Action Week," where city and state officials discuss important public issues like "The Clean Water Project" and "Life after Landfill," Fort Vancouver PL Program "The 2006 Election Results: What Do They Mean?" Fairfield (CT) Public Library's seminars on peaceful conflict resolution; Princeton Public Library's "Politics New Jersey" series of events.

• Open up your "community living room" and cable access so people can share in important broadcast events: Princeton Public Library and the World Cup matches.

• Memoir-writing workshops, biFolkal kits, for seniors -- see Madison Public Library, http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/services/bifolkal.html

• Bring families and generations together: MetLife ReadingAmerica program <http://www.lff.org/programs/readingamerica.html>, Read to your grandchildren Story Times, family game nights (Princeton Public Library), "family dinner theater" (Southfield Public Library), intergenerational book clubs, students interviewing elders for oral history projects (see Bemis Public Library's Memories of World War II <http://www.littleton.org/history/mem.asp>), etc.

• Male-oriented programs: Book clubs for fathers and sons or for fathers and daughters, talks on fly-fishing, extreme sports, car customizing, building a deck, designing computer games, etc. Scottsdale Civic Center Library's Googlewhack@Your Library event (see <http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/0928sr-arts28sideZ8.html>) Fairfax County Library's Harley Bikes and Bikers event; the Low Rider contest at Fort Worth Public Library; civil war re-enacters at the Albany (OR) Public Library;

• Give people a chance to show off their talents: contests, open exhibits, even enlist them as instructors - Garage Band nights, poetry slams, Pelican Rapids Public Library's Quilt Me a Story Contest, etc.
  
  
  

  SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

• Cakepan Collection. See North Liberty Public Library <http://www.northlibertylibrary.org/vttwo/cakepans/cakepans.html> -- with potential for related holiday programming

• Toy Libraries, as at Ashtabula Public Library <http://ashtabula.osu.edu/fcs/fcsttg.htm>, St. Louis Public Library <http://www.slpl.lib.mo.us/kidzone/using/[email protected]>.

• Tool Collection. See Oakland Public Library's Temascal Tool Lending Library, complete with training on how to use them <http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/Branches/temtll.htm>

• Iowa City Public Library's circulating art collection.

• Men's Cancer Resource Center, Hillsborough County Library

• Sportsman's Collection, Freeport (ME) Community Library, <http://www.freeportlibrary.com/sportsmans.htm>
  
  
  

  SOME WAYS TO USE VOLUNTEERS

• For web site -- see Waterboro Public Library <http://www.waterborolibrary.org/index.html>

• As greeters

• San Francisco Public Library has volunteers salvage illustrations from discarded books to make one-of-a-kind greeting cards sold in the Friends' store.

• Enlist teens for technology services and user training -- Skokie Public Library, Minneapolis Public Library's program for Hmong teens

• Enlist your local chapter of SCORE to offer small business counseling

• Oakland Public Library's "Lawyers in the Library" service, <http://oaklandlibrary.org/services/lawyers.html>

• Los Angeles Public Library "Grandparents and Books" volunteer readers program, <http://www.lapl.org/about/gab.html>

• As translators, tutors, program presenters
  
  
  

  WEB SITE

• Show off the physical library on your web site.
  1. On your main page: Southfield Public Library <http://www.sfldlib.org/>
  2. In a photo tour: Cerritos Public Library
  3. Princeton Public Library used to have a revolving slide show on its home page showing off different sites in its new building.
  4. With webcams: Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, <http://www.imcpl.org/about/construction/webcams.html>.
  5. Put your users in the picture: San Diego Public Library <http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/>, Cedar Falls Public Library <http://www.cedarfallspubliclibrary.org/>

• Put useful and unique information and services on your site to draw people to it.
  1. mash-up of new books list and cover photos <http://vielmetti.typepad.com/superpatron/library_mashups/index.html>
  2. Charlotte-Mecklenburg County's Story Place, <http://www.storyplace.org> and Book Hive, <http://www.bookhive.org/>
  3. Important civic information: Voter guides; Issue guides like Springfield-Greene County Library's The Informed Decision <http://www.thelibrary.org/informed/index.cfm>, Minneapolis Public Library's Issues of Local Concern <http://www.mplib.org/list.asp?subhead=About+Minneapolis:Issues+of+Local+Concern>, and Tulsa City-County Library Gov Docs room's Hot Topics pages, <http://www.tulsalibrary.org/govdocs/>; Darien Public Library's Community Matters Blog <http://www.darien.org/communitymatters/blog/>
  4. New site announcement services, like Neat New Stuff <http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html>, ElDorado County Library's What's Hot on the Internet This Week <http://www.eldoradolibrary.org/thisweek.htm>.
  5. Who Reads What, an intriguing part of the Gardiner Public Library's web site, <http://www.gpl.lib.me.us/WRW2005.htm>.
  6. The University of Minnesota Library hosts UThink, a blogging service so that students, faculty, and staff can set up their own, <http://blog.lib.umn.edu/>

• Allow your users to customize elements of your web site and services - see BraryDog at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, <http://www.brarydog.org>, My Library Account at Richmond Public Library <http://www.yourlibrary.ca/account.cfm>, Morton Grove (IL) Public Library's MatchBook Program, <http://www.webrary.org/rs/matchbookabout.html>

• Let your users talk back and contribute content. See Princeton Public Library's BookLoversWiki, <http://booklovers.pbwiki.com/>. Hennepin Count Library <http://www.hclib.org/blogs/CatalogNews.cfm?>

• Use your web site's prime display space to market events and little-known services: revolving signboard at the top of Middle County Public Library's site <http://mcpl.lib.ny.us/>; database of the month, as at Newton Public Library <http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/Library/default.asp>, Springfield-Greene County Library <http://www.thelibrary.org/index.cfm>

• Use movement to attract attention to particular events, features, or services - Middle Country Public Library, above; <http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/> (scroll down); Princeton Public Library's slide show of new facility

• Make your news available as blogs and activate comments: See Framingham Public Library's Teen Blog <http://fplya.blogspot.com/>, Darien Library's <http://www.darienlibrary.org/> Director's blog, new building blog. Find more at the Blogging Libraries Wiki<http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/index.php?title=Welcome_to_the_Blogging_Libraries_Wiki>.

• Make your blogs -- and even individual web pages -- available by RSS feeds. See Georgia State University Library <http://www.library.gsu.edu/news/index.asp>, Kansas City (MO) Public Library <http://www.kclibrary.org/rss/>, Topeka Shawnee County Public Library <http://www.tscpl.org/rss.asp>, Hennepin County Library <http://www.hclib.org/pub/search/RSS.cfm>

• Offer reference service by every communication style people use: IM, e-mail, phone, text messaging, and in person. See St. Joseph County Public Library, <http://www.sjcpl.org/askalibrarian/askalibrarian.html>

• Digitize your local history collection and create databases to provide access to local history materials, like Tacoma Public Library's Northwest History Resources <http://wwwv3.tacomapubliclibrary.org/Page.aspx?nid=73>

• Make community information available from your web site as databases. See above.

• Collaborate with your users to create community information See Allen County Public Library's "Day in Allen County" photo diary <http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=%2Fcoll10>
  
  
  

  MARKETING AND LIBRARY ADVOCACY

• Jill Stover's Library Marketing blog <http://librarymarketing.blogspot.com/>; Nancy Dowd's The "M" Word <http://www.themwordblog.blogspot.com/> and Library Videos <http://libraryvideos.blogspot.com/>

• Market to the people who fund you. Program (evenhandedly) with local political leaders and candidates - get them to read to the kids, hold public forums - take pictures and provide them to the pols; Colorado State Library's Colorado Virtual Library, <http://aclin.org/>.

• Make sure people understand your contributions to your local economy's well-being - the Larry White technique <http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6423434.html>:
  1. career and jobhunting assistance (see Memphis Public Library's JobLINC, <http://www.memphislibrary.org/linc/Joblinc.htm>), Cuyahoga County Public Library Career Center workshops, <http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/CareerExpert.aspx?id=178>; ESL training, resume writing, etc.
  2. assistance to business and aspiring entrepreneurs (like Brooklyn Public Library's Power Up Business Plan Competition), San Mateo Public Library's Small Business Center ("A lot of companies have business librarians. The Local library can be yours.")
  3. Bringing in money from outside the community through grants and fundraising
  4. Getting additional bang for every buck through partnerships with other cultural institutions and public agencies

• Speakers Bureau: like Fresno County <http://www.fresnolibrary.org/serv/speakers.html>, Calgary Public Library <http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/library/cpl_presents.htm>, Gail Borden Public Library <http://www.elgin.lib.il.us/speakers/

• Use endorsements from real users in your PR material, annual reports, web site. When somebody falls in love with a service you've shown them, say, "tell all your friends about it." Solicit testimonials. See King County Library System's post-paid comment form at <http://marylaine.com/cheap2.html#comment>>

• Allow users to make an intimate connection with the library, through
  1. Patron-initiated selection,
  2. invitations to contribute their skills,
  3. after-hours use of facilities for important moments in their lives - weddings, proms, parties - Salt Lake City Public Library, Chicago, Sacramento
  4. Participation in or sponsorship of community festivals

• Calendars: West Bloomfield Township's Grow Up Reading calendar; Cumberland County Public Library's datebook cum annual report and West Bloomfield Township's "Go Beyond Books" CD case calendar <http://marylaine.com/cheap2.html#fakecd>

• Use your library card as a marketing device: Richland County Public Library's Sendak library card <http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/press_releases/new_card.htm>, Houston Public Library's Power Card <http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/index.html>

• Make points graphically -- Fargo Public Library's campaign for a new library, and Prospect Heights Public Library's key point in its new library campaign info <http://marylaine.com/cheap2.html#graphic>>

• Library "Top 10" Lists -- media people love them. See White Plains Public Library's 10 Best Reasons To Read To Children <http://marylaine.com/cheap2.html#top10>>, Heights Library's 10 Most Requested Items, Patrons of the Skokie Library choose the Greatest Novels of the 20th Century, etc.

• Mascots -- then use them, on t-shirts, tote bags, for visits to elementary schools and pre-schools, etc.
  1. Gwinnett County Public Library's dinosaur
  2. Boone County Public Library's dragon, Tales < http://www.bcpl.org/PDFfiles/newsletters/lffk.pdf>,
  3. Kansas City (KS) Public Library's R.U. Reading stuffed toys <http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/LIBREPT/LNMAR04.HTM>
  4. Anderson Public Library's on-its-way-to-mascot <http://www.and.lib.in.us/>

• Slogans -- but only if you back them up with deeds.
  1. King County Library System: "Turn To Us. The Choices Will Surprise You."
  2. St. Joseph County Library: "Learn. Discover. Enjoy."
  3. Santa Monica Public Library: Preserving the Past, Serving the Present, and Shaping the Future";
  4. Boone County Public Library: "Where Imagination Takes Flight;"
  5. Cleveland Heights/University Heights Library: "Opening Doors, Opening Minds."

• Logo: See
  1. the versatile Princeton Public Library logo <http://princetonlibrary.org/>;
  2. King County Library System <http://kcls.org/>;
  3. Ramsey County Library <http://www.ramsey.lib.mn.us/home.htm> (a HAPLR library that doesn't display its HAPLR icon)
  4. Let your patrons join in on the fun of designing a logo: Mount Laurel Library Logo Contest

• Contests:
  1. Anderson Public Library's name the mascot competition,
  2. Douglas County Library District's annual Teen Photo Contest,
  3. New Jersey Public Library's SuperLibrarian "backstory" contest, <http://www.njlibraries.org/Resources/bstory.htm>;
  4. Dayton Metro Library's "Discover Exclusive Internet Resources and enter to win a free laptop computer"
  5. my own invitation to have people help me name the dragon on Best Information on the Net <http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/>; <http://marylaine.com/myword/frombook.html>

• In a multilingual community, market to ethnic media as well as your usual sources

• Talk your local newspaper or shopper into a regular column for the library director or reference librarian, and use it to showcase outstanding services and events. See the Springfield News-Leader column by Jeanne Duffey of the Springfield-Greene County Library District <http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704060329>.

• Cross-promote and co-sponsor programs with museums, schools (Howard County Library's A+ partnership), friendly local businesses, other libraries, etc.: Brooklyn Public Library partnership with a major bank for its business plan competition, Williamsburg Regional Library's partnership with a hospital for a Cancer Resource Center <http://www.westcancer.org/index/index.html>, Wilton Library's New York museums road trip series with the local Episcopal Church. Library night at the ballpark, free passes to local museums, prizes for library contests, matching grants for donations, etc.

• Got an impressive new staff member? Send a postcard to the people who'll be most interested in her services, as Toledo Public Library did: <http://marylaine.com/cheap2.html#postcard>

• Events and Stunts:
  1. celebrate milestones and anniversaries with big splashy events featuring LOTS OF GOOD FOOD
  2. help organize community festivals like the Tapestry of Tales Family Storytelling Festival, <http://www.multcolib.org/events/tales/>, the Tampa Hillsborough Storytelling Festival, <http://www.tampastory.org/> and Louisville's IdeaFestival <http://ideafestival.typepad.com/>; Dia De Los Niños / Día de los Libros <http://reforma.org/resources/ninos/dia.html>; Queens Library <http://www.queenslibrary.org/index.aspx?page_id=27§ion_id=6>
  3. Send book cart drill teams to participate in community events
  4. Voluntary public humiliation in honor of youth reading milestones: Aaron Coutu's green hair (see <http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA385872.html>),
  5. Henderson County librarians' quest to crack the Guinness record for reading aloud (see the USA Today story, <http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/2005-06-18-reading-record_x.htm>,
  6. Reading Marathon -- see NYPL's Books That Changed My Life Read-a-thon at <http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9796173/>
  7. time capsules
  8. San Francisco Public Library's own version of antiques road show: a free Book Appraisal Clinic, <http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/news/releases/bookappraisal.htm>
  9. a bookmobile parade or roundup.

• "Did you know?" pieces like Brooklyn Public Library's <http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/pdf/DidYouKnow.pdf>, Washington-Centerville Public Library, 30 Ways We've Grown <http://www.wcpl.lib.oh.us/library/history_thennow.html>

• Use your meeting space to market your services. Display books and videos, reading lists, and webliographies relevant to each meeting outside the meeting room door

• Comprehensive campaign: Chicago PL To Kill a Mockingbird campaign: study guide, "Are you reading Mockingbird?" buttons, a mock trial (advertised on wooden-handled paper fans)

• Book recommendation electronic postcards from Lakewood Public Library, <http://www.lkwdpl.org/postcards/>

• Put your library's picture on a stamp, <http://www.usps.com/postagesolutions/customizedpostage.htm> and maybe postmarks, if your local post office will permit <http://www.usps.com/news/online/02_0215_2.htm>)

• regularly scheduled treats: fresh brewed coffee and goodies available Friday mornings at the Easton Public Library - good time to invite a public official? doughnuts with the mayor?

• Library vehicles as mobile advertising - Gwinnett County Public Library (arrow down) <http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelcasey/34936045/>

• Librarian trading cards, <http://www.flickr.com/groups/librariancards/>

• Brag about your awards! Naperville Public Library, <http://www.naperville-lib.org/>; Washington-Centerville Public Library incorporates it into its masthead, <http://www.wcpl.lib.oh.us/>, Lakewood Public Library shows off its HAPLR top 10 icon <http://www.lkwdpl.org/>, albeit at the bottom of its web page; Gwinnett County Public Library making sure everyone knew about their Library of the Year Award <http://marylaine.com/cheap2.html#gwinnett>

• Put your library where your users are in cyberspace:
  1. MySpace: see Hennepin County Library MySpace page, <http://www.myspace.com/hennepincountylibrary>;
  2. Denver Public Library's MySpace page, <http://www.myspace.com/denver_evolver>, Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County LibraryLoft page <http://www.myspace.com/libraryloft>
  3. Flickr: Photos from Darien Library, <http://www.flickr.com/photos/darienlibrary/>, Kankakee Library <http://www.flickr.com/photos/kankakeepubliclibrary/>, Bridgeport Public Library <http://www.flickr.com/photos/46882611@N00/sets/>, lots more.
  4. del.icio.us - see LaGrange Park Public Library's Bookmarks at <http://del.icio.us/LaGrangeParkLibrary>
  5. Make sure your library events are part of any community-wide calendar of events <http://www.heartlandspirit.com/events/events.htm>, even if you have to create that calendar yourself - see Wilton Library's Community Calendar <http://www.wiltonlibrary.org/calendar/calendar/>
  
  
  
  

  FUND RAISING AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

• Check out "good ideas from the network" at FOLUSA <http://www.folusa.org/>

• Associate your library with food: a chocolate tasting fundraiser (Friends of the Allen Public Library), cookies in the shape of the new library building (O'Keefe Library, Saint Ambrose University)

• Ask the public to let you copy and/or digitize their historic photos; solicit their memories for an oral history project. Toledo Public Library postcard: Help your library collect and preseve the history of jazz in Toledo: photos, posters, programs, flyers, videos, recordings

• Spare coins drive: White Plains Public Library fundraisers for "The Trove" <http://marylaine.com/cheap2#trove>

• Paint a tile. White Plains Public Library fundraiser for The Trove.

• A run/walk fundraiser, like the 5K one Carmel Clay Public Library did in 2002

• Ask Friends or celebrities to donate unique items for auction or raffle: Wilton Library got a Martha's Vineyard home rental for 3 weeks in the summer, and Pike's Peak Library District got a 1946 Indian Motorcycle; Bettendorf Public Library auctions off Celebrity Doodles <http://www.bettendorflibrary.com/doodleday.htm>.

• Mine your special collections -- or even chunks of your old building -- for historic photos, maps, etc. and print them as postcards and notecards. See
  1. Sandusky Public Library merchandise - site temporarily offline - offers chunks of its old mosaic floor
  2. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh merchandise <http://store.yahoo.com/carnegielibraryofpittsburgh/>,
  3. Toronto Public Library merchandise <http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/uni_spe_osb_merchandise.jsp>.
  4. Meriden Public Library's Meriden Ornaments <http://www.cityofmeriden.org/CMS/default.asp?CMS_PageID=214>

• Solicit paintings and drawings of the library to use on library postcards and such.

• Use Cafe Press to make and sell your library logo merchandise <http://www.cafepress.com/buy/library/-/cfpt2_/cfpt_/source_searchBox/copt_>, like the Ashland Library <http://www.cafepress.com/ashlandfriends> (while you're at it, check out the Curmudgeony Librarian's wares there, <http://www.cafepress.com/curmudgeony/634513>)

• Sell paving bricks to be engraved with a name and placed in front of the new or remodeled library: York County Library's Bricks for Books, <http://www.yorkcounty.gov/library/brick.htm>, Skidompha Public Library <http://www.skidompha.org/support.htm>

• Pet Memorials -- see the Dallas Public Library, <http://dallaslibrary.org/petfund.htm>, Lake Oswego Public Library <http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/library/PetMemorials.htm>