I Need a Die-Cut Machine -Creative Funding

For years, we wanted a die cut machine and dies for the library,  but there was never enough money in the budget.  In 2001, we learned about a printer cartridge recycling program called Funding Factory. 

We advertised throughout the community and since then, have sent in hundreds of used cartridges and in recent years, have sent in old cell phones, laptops, and other devices.  The program is free: FF provides the cartons and mailing labels and when UPS makes a delivery to the library, we can give them a packed carton of cartridges and they ship it free to us.

We earn points for each item we recycle and send and redeem the points for cash. We used the cash to purchase a die cut machine and dies, including an alphabet set and update our selection of dies on a yearly basis using these funds.

This ongoing project has kept  pounds and pounds of technology waste out of the landfill; it has provided a public service to help our residents properly dispose of such waste; we have a die cut machine and dies to use for library bulletin boards and programming; and we offer the use of the die cut machine and dies to the public. It is a "win-win" for everyone!

Luci Bledsoe/Johnson Creek Public Library

Stretching Money into Fun Programs

As we talked about the relationship of money to program success, many student-librarians shared how there are many fun programs that can be created with very little money to create a big impact.

The class also felt strongly that spending alot of staff time on preparing and doing programs also equals money so they make a concerted effort to keep the planning reasonable.

This is what they shared:

• Every summer we do a wildlife scavanger hunt.  We are lucky to be in nature, so I give each team a list of items to collect to make a collage.  It costs nothing for kids to gather various colored and textured rocks, leaves, flowers etc.  
• We always have a program that is "If you build it, they will come"  we gather paper toweling tubes plastic lids...etc. The kids use their imagination and come up with some fantastic displays.  This is a free program.  Very little planning, just time to collect, and set up the program.  best part, we all have a blast.
• I know I did a program for fall where the kids activity was to use stencils to put colored leaves on a tree on our library window. It turned out lovely and many patrons and the library board loved it. However the library board from then on wanted something on the window all year, well let's just say I wasn't as excited to do it after awhile and the ideas for something new all year stopped flowing.
• Our Smart Cookie program right now, is basically free. Our kids read, when they finish a level, then they get a free cookie from our local grocery store. Of course, we are lucky that our local grocery store donates all these cookies :)
• It is so fun to model to parents how so much learning can be done with so little money. We love using everyday objects to create a lot of fun and to use the imaginations of our kids. Sending home the recipe for homemade play dough, or bubbles, or origami instructions is very fun for all.

Where's the Money Coming From?

This week, as we explored whether money is the determining factor in program success, the class shared the many ways they find funding or press the creativity button:

* Small grants
* Generous donor
* Business donations of food or coupons
* Friends of the Library
* Lions Club or other local service organizations
* Endowment funds
* Regular library budget funds (my personal favorite)

In the end the class had some strong feelings about the relationship of money to program success:

• Money is nice – I certainly wouldn’t turn it down if offered – but staff creativity and enthusiasm are the real keys to successful programming. An idea that grabs participants’ interest and imagination is just as likely to cost little-to-nothing as $20.00.
• There were times when we had some money for programs and times when we did not. It's seems like that the times we didn't have alot of money our creativity was high. Our library is in a small town so we are able to find somebody who knows somebody that could do a program for us for little to no cost. One past SLP I was able to get all 8 weeks of programming with community members. It is nice to have money to purchase supplies and upgrading existing programs but I think you can put on quality programming with what you have already.
• I don't think there's any correlation between good programs and amount spent. I have planned programs that cost anywhere from $0-$500. Just because something is more expensive doesn't necessarily make it better or worse. Also, we’re LIBRARIANS! Resourceful people! I have made whole programs around a theme (free), books (free), paper (cheap), cardboard (free), and online content (free).
• For years, our only reading incentive in the summer reading program was the honor of being the first person to read a brand new library book. After reading a predetermined number of books, the child could choose a new library book to read. We would place a bookplate in that book that said "Child's Name" was the first person to read this book, with the date. Still have patrons who occasionally come in to look for "their" book. Since the incentive was from the book budget, there was no cost at all for SRP prizes.
• Does money guarantee the success of a program? No, not any more than if the reverse was true...does a free program guarantee success? Of course not. And yet, some of our most successful programs have been cheap, if not, free. We should not be looking at the funds we have available and then find a program to spend the money on. We should find or prepare programs that we believe will have appeal to our customers, then find the necessary funding.  
• Perhaps because our budget has never allowed for much money in the programming line item I have grown used to tailoring programs that are not dependent on expensive support to succeed. This may limit us to some degree. Ultimately however kids don't remember what was in the goody bag at the program, they remember what they made or did or the fun they had doing it.

Graphic courtesy of Pixabay

Re-purposing Program Supplies

We are having a interesting set of discussions this week on whether money is the most important factor in driving program success.  One part of the discussion involves the wealth of program supplies we tend to accumulate over the years. Here are a few great ideas from the class on what to do with them!

• Never throwing anything out helps, too. Successful programs can develop from a stray thought and a well-stocked supply cabinet/closet/room. Years ago, we spent $20 on a huge supply of mat board scraps from a framing shop; we are still using them for so many crafts, such as bases for Box Cities (or its companion, Build a Castle).
•  In fact, one of the most popular events the last library I worked for put on was a seasonal “craft day” where we set out different crafts left over from past programs. Each child got a set number of tickets to “buy” different crafts. Children could select crafts, two at a time, they wanted to make. The library also provided all the materials necessary to make each craft (glue, crayons, scissors, etc.) at tables so that everyone could select their crafts, spread out, and create.
• We end every SRP with a Craft Smorgasbord Night, which is, you guessed it, stations set up with leftovers, and the kids can move around and do as many as they want!  They LOVE it ,and never complain that they "already did that one before."  Talk about a cheap, fun, non-labor-intensive program!  It is my favorite, but then, I am a tight wad!  :-)
• I started a program called Art a la Carte for the same reason. When I started at my current job, there was an enormous amount of leftover craft materials. I used what I could in storytimes, but if there weren't quite enough kits for 3 storytime offerings/week, I would offer them in the Art a la Carte program and they would be snapped up. I'm now investing in supplies vs. premade kit materials and doing more open ended projects that require less time and energy on my part. Process not product!  It's totally self-directed. I lay out a "buffet" of supplies and let patrons go at it. It's also for all ages, not just K-6, so I have parents bring in their little ones, teens, and even adults rifling through stuff to create something. It's AWESOME. :) The only prep work I have is to get the stuff out and make sure if there's any chance a super mess could happen that I throw tablecloths on the tables!
• Our team as a whole is very creative when it comes to saving money and making things out of what we have. I can get very crafty to come up with crafts, or sometimes for storytimes, I go through the closet, see what we have, come up with a craft and base that days theme on what i came up with.

How about you? Do you find another purpose for all those odds and ends?

Graphic courtesy of Pixabay

Aieeee! Program Challenges

While programming can be great fun, it also has it's share of frustrations and challenges.  This week, we shared not only what we love but also the darker side of our program work - the things that can be discouraging.

These include:

• lack of transportation - kids are dependent on adults to get them to the library
• attendance uncertainty- either no one or waaaay too many people
• lack of time - juggling so many responsibilities, it is difficult to devote sufficient time to planning
• families having so many options available, they are "over-programmed"
• lack of adequate funding and tireless fight to secure it
• lack of dedicated programming space
• lack of appreciation (your prizes aren't good enough...even when books are the prize!)
• politics of borders and fees - families who are in other districts/systems not able to access your services without paying a fee
• changing demographics - declining child population
• economic struggles of families - many families are struggling and while the library is free, gas isn't
• PR efficacy - the word isn't getting out despite traditional AND creative PR work
• cost of outside performers
• burn-out
• how to reach out to non-library users
• administration/board not supportive
• colleagues who don't program because they aren't interested or have given up

As we shared our frustrations, classmates also shared support and suggested possible solutions  (like partnering with schools and after school care programs, outreach, working with buses, ideas for PR). And just about everyone felt strongly that the positives far outweigh the negatives in their programming work.

Do these difficulties sound familiar?  What do YOU struggle with?  Leave a comment and let us know!

Image courtesy of Pixabay