Friends of the Library Membership Campaign

Goals of Friends’ Membership Campaign:

• 300 total membership added during campaign
• Reach 60% (1,800) of total FOL memberships for this year (3,000 member goal)
• Include libraries in promotion of membership
• Encourage membership sales during campaign rather than at Booksale
• Encourage online memberships
• Encourage “Bedtime Stories” Library Members to join Friends

Support from Libraries:

• Track Membership to specific library
  
  • Two three-hour coffee/cider/tea/hot chocolate bars with cookies (fresh-baked in your library) with a membership table at the winning favorite library!
  • Results will be prorated by FTE’s at each library (community libraries grouped into one)
  • Customers can designate their library when purchasing a membership:
    
     
• Talking Points
  
  • “Remember to designate _____ library as your favorite library”
  • “Our Friends’ have given almost $4 million in grants to support the library system”
  • “Friends have supported this library by: _____________________________________
  • “I belong to the Friends of the library because: _________________________________
  • Cost of memberships will be raised at the door on Friday night at Booksale (from $10 to $15)
  • While giving customer library receipt: “the services you received today from the library are FREE, but you can show your appreciation and support of the Library by joining the Friends of the Library”
• Become a member yourself at www.mlsfriends.org

Library Tools:

• Message at bottom of library customer’s receipts encouraging Friends’ Membership
• “Find a Friend at the Library” sign and stand.
• Membership forms and remittance envelopes (work to encourage online memberships when possible)
  
  • Send forms with check or cash in locked money bag Attn: Friends
  • Be sure to stamp or write your library on the form to get credit for your location
• Friends’ pictures and promotional info are available to download from MyMetrolibrary for digital frames and screens in your library to run during the campaign
• Flyer in Spanish detailing membership benefits and levels available upon request

*Winning Strategies from the 2015 Village Champions:

• Staff worked as a team – everyone participated
  
  • Talk to each other – make a conscious effort
  • Set a goal to win
  • Everyone on staff became a member
  • Encouraged friends and family to join
  • Send internal emails that show where you are in relation to other libraries
  • “What do each of us need to do to win?”
• Make it easy for members
  
  • Have forms up front and visible
  • Help potential members complete the form (“I can help you with that!”)
  • Show them online how to sign up and help them if needed
• Ask library members to become members of the Friends
  
  • Listen for compliments as a lead in to talking about supporting the library by joining Friends
  • Share the incentives of being a Friends Member with customers (Booksale, Info Magazine e-mailed at $25 level)
  • Bring it up to people – pick up on their nonverbal cues that they have time and are relaxed and open
  • Highlight important information
  • Share the incentives of being the favorite library!  Everyone gets to enjoy a Thanks a Latte and Cookie!

FAQ’s:

• Where will the Favorite Library standings be posted? 
  On MyMetrolibrary.
• How often will they be updated? 
  Weekly on Tuesdays
• Will the libraries that have Special Friends groups be at an advantage? 
  No.  Each member will choose a favorite library regardless of any Special Friends membership they choose to purchase.
• If we win, when will our “Thanks a Latte Bar” be scheduled? 
  The winning location will be notified by Thursday, December 1 and will have until December 5 to notify DVS when they would like their two Latte Bars to be held.
• Are the Latte Bars just for everyone? 
  Yes!  Members, Staff, young, old, everyone will enjoy the hospitality of the winning library!

Questions or Supply needs: