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Library Strategies
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Fundraising is the #1 concern keeping librarians up at night, according to a recent national survey conducted by Library Journal magazine. With our partners at MS&R, we offer smart suggestions for facing the fears.
Library Strategies consultant Toni Garvey focuses on preparing public and multitype libraries for surviving – and thriving – in the future.
As the trend toward more private fundraising in
public libraries is likely to increase, a harmonic marriage of
the worlds of public libraries and development – Venus and
Mars – will assure that today’s public libraries remain useful, active and well-supported in our communities.
Raising private dollars and increasing public support for library services is more challenging than ever in today’s unpredictable and ever-changing financial environment, but there are effective ways to meet these challenges and achieve fundraising success. Jump Start™ brings to you an expert in the field of library fundraising who will study and analyze your current fundraising model, identify existing barriers to success and help you find new ways to reach into your community for support. This is not a “packaged” program. It is a unique, personalized service that addresses your challenges and works with you, your staff and Board to be successful at raising the money your library needs to be great. READ MORE...
What is Library Strategies? 
Library Strategies is a consulting group of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, created in response to increasing requests for services from libraries and library organizations. The mission of Library Strategies is to provide the highest quality consulting services to support libraries and all library organizations. Our consultants are leaders in the library community and other outstanding specialists offering a wide range of practical skills and decades of successful experience.
The Friends serves as the foundation for the Saint Paul Public Library in Minnesota. Through its advocacy, public awareness, cultural programming and private fund raising, The Friends is recognized as a national model for providing unique and comprehensive support of the Saint Paul Public Library. A portion of all consulting fees supports the mission of The Friends.
Library Strategies Core Services:
• Advocacy Training
• Board & Leadership Development
• Friends & Foundation Relationships
• Fundraising:
- Feasibility Studies & Capital Campaigns
- Development Training
- Feasibility Studies
- Grantwriting
- Membership & Annual Giving
- Planned Giving
• Keynote Speakers
• Library Security
• Marketing & Public Relations
• Presentations & Workshops
• Publications & Graphic Design
• Strategic Planning
Lead Consultants:
Peter Pearson, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
Peter Pearson is a leader and visionary in the national library community. He has been President of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library for 16 years. Under his direction, The Friends has received numerous awards for successful advocacy, public relations, fund raising and cultural programming. Pearson served six years on the Board of Directors of Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA) and twelve years on the Board of Libraries for the Future (LFF). He also served as chair of the Fundraising and Financial Development Section of the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA). In 2005, he was inducted into the American Library Association’s Advocacy Honor Roll. He provides consulting services to libraries and organizations throughout the country and is a frequent speaker at state and national library conferences.
Consulting Specialties: Advocacy Training, Development Training, Capital Campaign Design, Friends & Foundation Relationships
See Pearson's feature article below, "It Takes a Village to Support a Library"
for encouraging advice about fundraising and advocacy in a tight economy.
Sue Hall, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
The Coordinator of Library Strategies, Sue Hall has provided consulting services to libraries and library organizations, businesses and nonprofits, for over 15 years. She coordinated the planning process for Minnesota’s Five-Year Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Plan and designed and facilitated the Minnesota Library Association’s first Leadership Institute. Hall chaired the Minnesota Library Association Foundation Board for five years and currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Masters of Library and Information Science Program at the College of St. Catherine in Saint Paul. In 2005, she was given the Distinguished Achievement Award by the Minnesota Library Association for her leadership in the development of libraries and library services.
Consulting Specialties: Strategic Planning, Organizational Development, Meeting and Retreat Facilitation.
Additional Consultants:
Donna Bero, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library
Terry Collings, Seattle Public Library Foundation (retired)
Toni Garvey, Phoenix Public Library
Evelyn Hoffman, Library Foundation of Los Angeles (retired)
John "JR" Hunter, Hennepin County Library (MN)
Ann Hutton, Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (MN)
Marlene Moulton Janssen, Anoka County Library (MN)
Sally Gardner Reed, Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA)
Ben Trapskin, Hennepin County Library (MN)
C. David Warren, Richland County Public Library (SC), (retired)
Christine Watkins, Chicago (IL)
Library Strategies is supported by the ten-member staff of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.
Library Strategies Clients
Our clients represent libraries and library organizations across the country:
Anoka County Library System (MN)
Appleton Public Library (WI)
Bud Werner Memorial Library (CO)
Cincinnati / Hamilton County Public Library (OH)
Dakota County Library System (MN)
Foundation for Bayport Public Library (MN)
Fresno Public Library (CA)
Frisco Public Library (TX)
James J. Hill Reference Library (MN)
Lake Agassiz Regional Library System (MN)
Louisville Free Public Library (KY)
MELSA (Metropolitan Library Service Agency) (MN)
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System (WI)
New Jersey Library Association (NJ)
Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (MA)
Park Ridge Public Library (IL)
Petersburg Public Library (VA)
Reading Public Library (MA)
School Library Journal Summit (AZ)
SELCO/SELS Library System (MN)
State Library of New Jersey
South Central Library System (WI)
Washington County Library System (MN)
Wilmington Public Library (MA)
Read testimonials by some of our clients.
Please contact:
Sue Hall, Library Strategies Coordinator
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
325 Cedar Street, Suite 555
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Phone: 651-287-0060
Fax: 651-222-1988
Email: librarystrategies@thefriends.org
Library Strategies: Providing the Highest Quality Consulting Services to Support Libraries and All Library Organizations
Feeling stuck in old fundraising habits?
Facing challenges you don’t know how to meet head-on?
Could you use some real-world library fundraising expertise and a fresh perspective?
Jump Start Your Fundraising with the BEST library fundraising professionals in the country!
Jump Start™ is an intensive program that will give you on-site analysis and planning, and follow-up support to ensure that you’re ready to implement successful fundraising strategies. It’s the perfect “immersion” experience for libraries that have the potential to be more effective in their fundraising efforts — if only they knew how to be more successful.
We’ll identify your roadblocks to success and help you learn how to:
- Centralize fundraising efforts
- Ensure strong leadership to drive your fundraising efforts
- Recruit the best and most influential members to your Board
- Identify services and programs that funders are most likely to support
- Become an effective advocate for public support of your library
- Help Friends and Foundations work together to maximize success
Jump Start™ is divided into 4 steps:
Discovery – We’ll learn about your library’s strengths and challenges, and tailor an on-site visit that will prepare your library for successful fundraising.
Capacity Audit – On day 1 of our site visit, we’ll meet with your library leadership and look at your library from every view to determine your readiness to conduct a full spectrum of successful fundraising activities.
Observations – On day 2, we’ll share observations, discuss our findings and reach consensus on critical next steps. Together, we’ll begin creating a specific action plan for the weeks and months ahead.
Reporting & Supporting – Our help doesn’t end when we walk out your door. After our site visit, we’ll provide you a summary report and specific recommendations to Jump Start™ your fundraising activities. We’ll be available for another block of consulting via phone and e-mail to help you refine your fundraising plan, solve problems and monitor progress. We’ll be just a phone call or a click away! If necessary, additional consulting services are available.
Jump Start™ Consultants:
Donna Bero, Executive Director of Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, has more than 20 years experience leading financially successful nonprofit agencies. She currently heads a $16 million capital campaign for neighborhood libraries and last year led voters to support a ballot measure ensuring $1.2 billion for the San Francisco Public Library.
Terry Collings was the Executive Director of The Seattle Public Library Foundation from 1989 to 2007. Beginning with a staff of two in 1989, he built a fundraising board, annual giving program and special gifts fundraising “from scratch.” These early efforts culminated in an $83 million capital and endowment campaign in support of buildings, collections and special programs for children, teens, adults and people with special needs.
Evelyn Hoffman, retired Executive Director of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, has 30 years experience in nonprofit fundraising. She founded and oversaw the remarkable growth of the Library Foundation, which raised more than $70 million for Los Angeles Public Library programs and services during her 15-year tenure.
Peter Pearson has been President of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library for 18 years and led The Friends to being one of the most successful library support organizations in the country. He is nationally regarded as one of the best consultants in the areas of fundraising, advocacy and Friends and foundations.
Christine Watkins is a Chicago-based consultant specializing in nonprofit fundraising. She works with the American Library Association’s Development Office on special projects, and with other educational, arts, cultural, and social service organizations to help them improve their fundraising performance and success.
A portion of all consulting fees supports the mission of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.
10 Things I Know To Be True About Libraries…
Toni Garvey, Director of the Phoenix Public Library and a Library Strategies consultant, gave this keynote address as part of a unique strategic planning process for the joint Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO)/ Southeast Library System (SELS) in Minnesota.
Garvey used her remarks as the foundation for the planning process which focused on preparing public and multitype libraries for surviving – and thriving – in the future.
Click on the graphic in the column at right to download a PDF of the article.
If all types of libraries are to be vital to the communities they serve, there are 10 things to hold true to:
- “Focus on the user and all else will follow.”
The world has changed and libraries have fierce competition from all directions. Focusing on our users is critical to staying competitive. We need to ask our customers what they want…then deliver. - “Reference is not our niche.”
Google has won this competition! A recent OCLC study showed that 84% of individuals begin their search for information on a search engine. When compared with a library, they find the search engine more reliable, available, cost effective, convenient easier to use…and faster. - “We need to run our libraries like businesses.”
Libraries can’t afford to keep things that don’t circulate. We need to approach collection decisions like we’re paying rent on every foot of shelving. We need to study our competition to learn how they choose, display and sell or distribute books and materials. - "Environment matters.”
Customers of all ages react to the physical spaces in libraries. They love it! They hate it! They find it welcoming or they can’t wait to get their books or DVD’s and get out. Library spaces should be clean, uncluttered, bright and comfortable. Again…look at your competition! - “You don’t need all the answers to move forward.”
Libraries need to be nimble. They need to stay tuned to the changes in their communities and respond. They need to be led by individuals willing to take risks, make mistakes and keep moving in new directions. - “Libraries must have a seat at the table.”
Decision makers need to see that the library is a critical asset to the community and a problem solver, not a financial drain. Community issues are library issues and library leaders (staff and volunteers) need to be a voice for stakeholders and the community at-large. - “Whining gets you nowhere...and it’s so damned annoying!”
Everyone’s suffering in these tough economic times and it doesn’t get us anywhere to focus on the plight of libraries. We need to find solutions, partnerships, be creative about funding…and spending. Libraries need to be the positive spirit of the community in good times and bad. - “Marketing is critical.”
A marketing consultant once told me that no organization was worse at telling their stories, extolling their contributions and promoting their services than a library. We don’t have to have big PR budgets to get the word out about what great places libraries are and all that we have to offer. Make marketing a priority and find creative ways to get your message out. - “There’s strength in numbers.”
Libraries that thrive have partners and collaborators everywhere – public and private. A unified voice – with many speaking the same message – gets more attention. - “Great customer service trumps everything!”
Think of the places that you love to return to as a customer – usually it’s because of the way you’re treated. Make sure that every one of your staff understands that customer service is your #1 product. Hire staff who genuinely like people. Define excellent customer service, then insist on it and reward it.
Here’s what our clients say about Library Strategies…
“When we were looking for outside expertise to help guide us through a capital campaign planning process, the first call we made was to Library Strategies. Their team has an outstanding reputation and they exceeded our expectations. Not only are they experts in their field, they were always accessible and very responsive. Their involvement and counsel assisted us greatly in navigating a complicated, fast-moving capital campaign process.”
Jamey Elliott,
Louisville Free Public Library Foundation (KY)
“Peter Pearson’s presentation on advocacy and fundraising, at the School Library Journal Summit in Arizona, provided hard-hitting advice filtered through valuable real-world experience… with quite a bit of humor thrown in. Our participants loved Peter’s talk --- taking lots of notes and posing plenty of questions. Everyone appreciated that Peter provided pragmatic action that participants could take home and implement.”
Brian Kenney, Editor-in-Chief, School Library Journal (NY)
“Library Strategies provided our board with a strong sense of direction and a realistic plan that includes strategies and objectives that our organization can & will achieve. The expertise and insight from Library Strategies allowed us to not only clearly see the path we need to be on, but also gave us renewed focus and a sense of confidence that we can make it happen. They "get" libraries and their wider, experienced view helped open our eyes to what is possible and practical. We had a great time working with them---it was engaging, enriching, encouraging and just plain fun!”
Mark Berthelsen, Chair, Bayport Library Foundation (WI)
"The program presented by Peter Pearson was an unqualified success. He hit all the right buttons in this highly informative workshop on finding new ways/changing old habits to increase funding to libraries.
The response from the nearly 80 attendees was very positive with many commenting on a renewed energy and focus for fundraising in their libraries gained from Mr. Pearson's workshop and his approach to increasing private funding revenue from outside sources.”
Paul Patwell,
New Jersey Library Association (NJ)
Blog: Capital Fundraising Advice 
Southeastern Libraries Cooperating/Southeast Library System (SELCO) Executive Director, Ann B. Hutton blogged recently about what she learned at the Minnesota Library Association’s Annual Conference in a program entitled “Taking the Fear Out of Capital Campaign Fundraising.”
The session, presented by two nationally accomplished fund raising specialists, Peter Pearson – President of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, and Morgan Rasmussen – Consultant, Library Strategies, summarized everything one needs to know about conducting a successful capital campaign. READ MORE...
It Takes a Village to Support a Library
by Peter D. Pearson
Nobody in the library world needs to be reminded about the very difficult times facing libraries during this economic downturn. Libraries are experiencing unprecedented use, and yet funding for libraries is decreasing rather than increasing to meet the new demands that people are placing on libraries in these difficult times. But these are not times to bury our head in the sand. This is the time when libraries need all the support they can get from their Friends, trustees and foundations. So, what should be the reaction of Friends, foundations and trustees to this unprecedented use accompanied with a loss in funding?
Clearly, we never want to see private funding take the place of public funding of our libraries. It would be a mistake for any library to turn to its Friends and foundation and request that they plug all the gaps of lost public funding in these challenging times. Private donors don’t want to play the role of bailing out an ailing library system, nor is it fair that we put them in that situation. Public funding should always be the cornerstone of the operations of our libraries, and private funding should be viewed as funding to enhance basic services and make a good library great. Unfortunately, that’s a difficult task to accomplish in these times.
An appropriate action for all libraries at this time would be to look closely at the effectiveness of the support organizations that are in place to help the library. Let’s look first at our Friends of Library groups. Friends groups have traditionally been volunteer groups that have done book sales and other volunteer activities to help support their libraries. But one of the activities that should be a central part of every Friends organization is advocacy. By advocacy, I mean political advocacy. Every Friends group should play a significant role in letting its community’s elected officials know the importance of the public library. In my organization, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, we have a standing advocacy committee that meets all through the year to develop proposals for our mayor and City Council to consider for the library’s budget in the next year. The committee works hand in hand with the library administration to be certain that the funding initiatives that are being presented to the elected officials are in sync with library plans and needs. However, citizens presenting these needs to the elected officials are far more effective than the library director asking elected officials to increase library funding.
Elected officials expect the library director to give them this message, where the citizens have nothing professionally to gain, which makes them a valued source of information to the elected officials. In St. Paul, the elected officials have listened closely to the annual lobbying platform of our Friends group for 18 years now. As a result of this, library funding has increased almost every year in St. Paul while neighboring library systems have experienced significant cuts in a number of those years. The role of being an advocate for the library is probably the most important role that any library support organization can take on. After all, more than 90-95 percent of a library’s total funding typically comes from government sources rather than private funds and other special funds.
The other important activity to combine with advocacy is private fundraising. Fundraising can be done either through a library Friends group or a library foundation. Typically, library Friends groups are run on a volunteer basis while a library foundation relies upon professional staff members for this function. Whether fundraising for the library is done through a Friends group or a library foundation, there are a couple of key factors to keep in mind in developing the most effective library fundraising organization. First and foremost is the board of directors of the organization. The fundraising capabilities of an organization are only as good as its board of directors. Boards of directors of fundraising organizations serve an important role of opening doors to their influential friends and colleagues and serving as ambassadors for the organization, bringing a higher level of visibility and recognition to the library in the community.
An organization that wants to attract the highest level of board members should take its responsibility of nominating new board members very seriously. I’ve seen way too many organizations who send their board members out on the street in a random fashion asking anyone they may come in contact with about serving on the organization’s board. Instead, a very thoughtful process is needed in which a select group of the board is sanctioned to be the nominating committee. It only makes sense that the individuals on this committee be the individuals from the board who have the greatest number of contacts and influence in the community. These individuals will recruit like-minded individuals to the board.
All nominating should take place through this committee, and new board members should go through an orientation process including receipt of a job description before actually beginning their term on the board. This is probably the most important aspect of fundraising and will guarantee that the organization continues to be vital and well-respected in the community.
Another important factor is to move fundraising beyond just membership contributions. Most library Friends groups ask their members for a membership renewal each year. We need to go beyond membership and ask our members to make additional contributions in support of the library each year. Most people don’t view membership as a large-scale contribution nor do they view it as a philanthropic venture. Individuals who give $5 to $25 as members earlier in the year might be favorably inclined to give $100 or $500 at year’s end to a special project that the library has described as a special need that year. Individualizing these requests through board member involvement is also critical, rather than having all requests be direct mail. Just these few simple ideas can make Friends groups’ fundraising efforts far more successful for the future.
Many libraries operate a Friends group side by side with a library foundation. This model can work very effectively with good communication and role responsibilities clearly defined for each group. However, an alternative model is a merged model of a library Friends group and foundation serving as one organization. That model is the one which is in place for The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library where one organization with one board of directors has a mission of doing major fundraising for the library, along with advocacy, author programs and a membership campaign. This model has worked well in St. Paul as well as in a number of other communities. The advantages are obvious. There is less confusion in the community about which organization to write a check to. There is no competition for board members between two organizations. And, the library staff and director will need to spend less time at meetings of one organization than for two.
Yes, these are unprecedented times for libraries. But, with a little bit of planning and careful operations, library Friends and foundations can continue to provide the vital support that’s necessary to give libraries the financial resources that they need to provide vital services to all the members of our community.
Peter D. Pearson is president of The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library in Minnesota. The organization is a 64-year-old nonprofit organization that acts as both a Friends group and as a library foundation, raising more than $1 million annually in support of the library. Pearson is also a member of the board of directors of the Association of Library Trustees, Friends and Foundations.