Support our Shelves
Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Go to WebsiteInnovation Leader: Shannon Snead, s.snead@brooklynpubliclibrary.org
Problem Statement
Raise much needed funds and advocacy efforts from community members to support all 60 Brooklyn Public Library locations.Innovation
In March 2009, Brooklyn Public Library launched a new four month community campaign Support Our Shelves (SOS) organized around the theme “Proud to be Shelf-ish” with the following goals:- raise at least $300,000 to purchase library materials (books, DVDs, CDs and electronic resources) for all 60 BPL locations and to provide funds for cultural and educational programs that were at-risk from looming City and State budget cuts;
- encourage BPL patrons to let their elected officials know that BPL is a community priority; and
- encourage community members to register for a library card and use their neighborhood libraries.
Our goal was to engender broad community participation as we encouraged each neighborhood library to meet a designated goal with “adopters” helping to champion local fundraising efforts.
The SOS campaign was promoted through a press kick-off event that was widely attended by local elected officials as well as corporate and foundation supporters. We also distributed campaign materials - posters, flyers and buttons at all BPL locations along with return-reply envelopes which were given to patrons as they checked out library materials. The SOS campaign was also prominently featured in our quarterly Calendar of Events, e-newsletters, Web 2.0 vehicles such as Facebook, Twitter and BPL blogs as well as on BPL’s website.
