ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries November 1991 / 635 M ore valuable than m oney: Outstanding friends groups hailed B y J o n E l d r e d g e A ssistant Professor, University o f New Mexico School o f Medicine and C h ie f o f Collection and Inform ation Resources Development, University o f N ew Mexico Medical C enter Library New and old winners o f the annual FOLUSA Award. F riends o f Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) has selected the Friends of th e Lovejoy Library at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsv the 1991 FO LU SA Award. T he SIU E group r e ­ ceived this $1,000 award for im plem enting am bi­ tious public relations and fundraising program s on th e occasion o f th eir 25th anniversary. Among the outstanding features o f this en try was a unique friends program for honoring students. The F riends o f the Lovejoy Library at SIU E was th e seventh academ ic library group to win a FO LU SA Award in the nine-year history of the competition. (Table 1 lists the group’s accomplish­ ments.) T he FO LU SA Award, established in 1982, encourages friends groups to take bold initiatives and then to share knowledge gained through these endeavors so th at oth er friends groups may benefit. Baker and Taylor Books donates funds for the awards; th e FO LU SA Board o f D irectors’ Awards C o m m itte e adm inisters th e selection process. Awards may be given to statewide friends groups, or to friends groups affiliated with public, school, or academ ic libraries. E ntrants m ust be m em bers of FO LU SA to be eligible for the award. T he Friends o f the Lovejoy Library at SIU E won th e award for an impressive array o f accomplish­ m ents in 1990. T he F riends increased their ranks to m ore than 500 m em bers, renovated the library’s il rare book room reading lounge, enlarged the library endow m ent to m ore than a quarter o f a million led ofollra rs, and established a “Challenge F u n d ” to m atch donations to the library by o th er groups or academ ic departm ents at SIU E. T he Friends also expanded th e n u m b er o f donors by 33%; individual m onetary contributions rose by nearly 89%. T h ree annual fundraising activities heightened w ider public interest in the library; an antique show TABLE 1 T he 1991 w inner at a glance F rie n d s o f th e Lovejoy Library, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville • E nlarged m em bership to over 500 • Library renovations • Grow th of endow m ent to over $250,000 • Challenge F und • Increased n u m b er and am ount of dona­ tions • Successful p ublic relations activities • U nique program of student awards 636 / C&RL News atte n d ed by 2,000 people, a book fair attended by several hundred, and a Good Buy Bookshop that sold used textbooks to students throughout the school year. Monies raised were devoted to developing library collections in world literature, w om en’s studies, Black Ameri­ can studies, and an assortment o f o ther disciplines. A unique program of student a w a rd s s p o n s o r e d by th e Friends also caught the atten­ tion o f the FOLUSA Awards C om m ittee. F o r the past 24 years the Friends have granted m onetary awards to SIU E stu­ dents. T here are now four dis­ tinct award categories. T he Li­ b rary S tudent D evelopm ent Award was presented to several students in 1990 for their “ex­ traordinary job perform ance” at the library. The Library Stu­ d ent H onors Award was do ­ nated to a sophom ore library employee for having the high­ Miss America est grade point average. The Carlson, perfo Student Teaching in English Affair— Holiday Award honored the student who by the Gustavus dem onstrated potential o f “b e ­ coming a successful and influential teacher.” Each student recognized through these th ree types of awards received $100. The fourth award o f $250 is offered to an SIUE alumnus or alumna pursuing an MLS. The FOLUSA Award selection process for aca­ demic entries was coordinated this year by Sam Streit of Brown University. In his rep o rt to the FOLUSA Board of Directors, Streit wrote: “All of the entries had something to recom m end them but SIU E was the most impressive in term s of the num ber and variety of activities th at its Friends group has undertaken and in balancing activities that stress public relations with those that provide a tangible benefit to the library.” 1 9 9 0 w in n e r h o s ts fu n d r a is e r th a t n e ts $ 1 3 6 ,0 0 0 The Gustavus Library Associates of Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, M innesota, won the 1990 FO LU SA Award for th e ir extraordinary achievem ents in fundraising and for eliciting wide m em ber participation. T he crisis of rising journal prices p ro m p te d the Associates to establish a $100,000 endow m ent from which th e interest earned w ouldsupport needed subscriptions. Funds were raised with a single social event called “A Royal Affair— Holiday Magic” which consisted of a silent auction, dinner, and entertainm ent. Preliminaiy expenses were offset by 650 donated items for the auction, plus corporate in-kind or financial support. Five hundred friends were in­ volved in a highly-organized effort to plan and execute the event. More than 1,000 guests attended with a net gain of $ 136,000 realized by the Asso­ ciates. T he Associates’ application for the FOLUSA Award reads like a PR m anagem ent and fundraising textbook. The ap­ plication consists o f a two-page overview, essential docum en­ tation, sample materials, abud- get, and results from a thor­ ough evaluation. The Associ­ ates’ application even dem on­ strates how th eir managem ent o f this event laid the founda­ tion for future activities. This November the Associates hope to raise at least $130,000 to 1989, Gretchen build collections representing rm ed at “A Royal th e tra d itio n s o f d iffe re n t Magic” sponsored peoples. Library Associates. T he Associates can claim a remarkable series of past ac­ complishments since their formation in 1977. To date they have built a $1.25 million library endow­ m ent fund, offered continuing education programs, sponsored cultural opportunities, and provided social benefits to their members. Library director Michael H aeuser observes that the biggest benefits to the mem bers comes from a “sense of belonging to a cherished comm unity” and “being part of an active, dynamic group that really does something worthwhile.” The Associates have benefited the library by highlighting its importance as an institu­ tion in campus life. H aeuser compares the im por­ tance attached by college alumni to this library to the loyalty alumni might feel toward athletic teams at o ther colleges or universities. T he Associates have played an essential role in strengthening that loyalty. T he Associates won John Cotton D ana Library Public Relations Awards in both 1980 and 1984; in 1987 they received the Gale Research Financial D evelopm ent Award. L e c tu r e s , p r o g r a m s, a n d b o o k s fairs a m o n g e x e m p la r y p r o g r a m s h o n o r e d b y F O L U SA Descriptions of past FOLUSA Award winners’ programs reflect the diversity o f activities that ex­ tend beyond the often perceived function ascribed to friends as convenient vehicles for fundraising. November 1991 / 637 (Table 2 shows the last seven award recipients.) In 1984, for example, the Friends of the Libraries at SUNY Albany won a FOLUSA Award for a lecture series. The “Wednesday Wanderings” noontime lectures program featured faculty discussing their research projects or local speakers addressing rel­ evant social issues. T he “Wednesday Wanderings” series has consis­ tently attracted enthusiastic participants from the university and the community since its creation in 1981. Dorothy Christiansen, associate director for library development at SUNY Albany reports that the program, renamed “Community Conversations” in 1990, has continued to place a dual emphasis upon faculty research and public affairs. A recent talk focused upon “Criminal Justice and Its Impact on People of Color.” T he Tennessee Tech University Library Friends group won the FOLUSA Award in 1985 for its innovative program of Professional Enhancem ent Grants to Librarians. A foundation with a modest endowment was enlarged through a well-attended annual champagne gala sponsored by the Friends. Membership fees and donations also added to the endowment. T he Professional E nhancem ent G rants are awarded to librarians in amounts ranging from $ 100 to $1,000 and supplement modest university travel funds enabling librarians to attend workshops or preconferences where they may receive specialized training. These grants may not be used to attend regular conferences, however. According to library, director Winston Walden, the grants continue to be a greatly appreciated service provided by the Friends. The University of Illinois Library Friends in Urbana-Champaign won the 1986 FOLU S A Award for their concurrent efforts in fundraising and pub­ lic relations. Having developed a highly successful TABLE 2 FOLUSA Award Recipients 1984 State University of New York, Albany 1985 Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville 1986 University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign 1987 Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1988 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 1990 Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota 1991 Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville local base of annual private support, the Library Friends launched a regional development cam­ paign a round th e state. To stre n g th e n th eir This logo was used by the Augustana College Library Associates, who won the FOLUSA award in 1987. fundraising and public affairs position, the Library Friends developed an opinion survey to identify potential donors and to communicate more effec­ tively with current donors. The award application described this survey as the “first o f its kind to be utilized by a library friends organization, and it could be a model for friends groups nationwide.” The Library Friends also conducted their first tele­ thon to raise funds and increase membership. Other special activities during the year included a recep­ tion for new university faculty and the publication of three major exhibition catalogs. The Augustana Library Associates, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, won the 1987 FOLUSA Award for their efforts to expand mem­ bership, increase donations, and sponsor special events. During the year the group built m em ber­ ship rolls by 83% and enlarged the treasuiy by 78%. The centerpiece of the Associates’ extensive events schedule was a four-month celebration en­ titled “Shaw and Friends: An Irish Festival.” This program series revolved around the donation of a 400-volume collection of works by and about George Barnard Shaw. A photography exhibit, theater per­ formances, lectures, and evenings of traditional Irish music drew in crowds of interested people from the larger community. A grant from the An­ drew W. Mellon Foundation also enabled the Asso­ ciates to sponsor lectures featuring nationally known historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and a well- known regional author. Library director Ronelle Thompson reports that the enjoyment and excitement generated from this activity-packed year spawned interest in new ven­ tures. During the years since receiving the 1987 FOLUSA Award the Associates have launched “A W inter’s Tale,” an annual program of literature and music to celebrate the season. Thompson stresses that “A W inter’s Tale” is not a fundraising activity; rather, it simply recovers costs while fulfilling broader public relations objectives of fostering goodwill toward the library. Readers may be interested in reviewing Thompson’s collection of materials on 638 / C&RL News academic library friends groups. (Ed. note: Friends o f College Libraries, CLIP Note #9, was published by ACRL in 1987 and is available for $17 from ALA’s Publishing Services O rder Departm ent, (800) 545-2433, press 7, or fax (312) 944-2641.) The Friends of the Louisiana State University Library in Baton Rouge won the 1988 FOLUSA Award for exemplary group leadership, prom oting strong comm unity interest, enlarging m em bership rolls to 810, and building assets of $586,000. The leadership provided in 1974 by a retired LSU chancellor and a graduate dean em eritus revitalized this group which had been quiescent since the mid- 60s. Among other achievements, the Friends helped gain legislative advocacy for construction of the third- and fourth-floor additions to the library. T hree hundred volunteers at the 12th annual Book Bazaar helped raise $38,500. O perating ex­ penses for this annual event w ere generated by the year-long Book Bam store in the library basement, which sells donated used textbooks to students. The Friends of the LSU Library have also sponsored a speakers program, rare-item auctions, special event receptions, and an annual banquet as a p art o f their ongoing activities. Mrs. R obert “Bill” Holtman, a m ajor leader in the Friends, has described the FOLUSA offers ideas that work for your friends groups Friends o f Libraries. U.S.A. (FOLUSA) is a national organization th at works to develop and supportlocal andstate Friends o f Library groups. T here are currently over 3,000 groups with nearly 750,000 m em bers actively working to support th eir libraries. FOLUSA provides its m em bers with a network o f support, ideas, and information for Friends groups. FOLUSA m em ­ bers have access to: Friends o f Libraries U.S.A. National Notebook— a quarterly roundup o f ac­ tivities that work; FOLU SA Ideabank— a q uar­ terly publication o f fundraising program ideas; a legislative agenda; how-to fact sheets; a new m em bers kit— a startup package that includes guides for drafting bylaws and samples o f the above publications; the FOLUSA speakers b u ­ reau; awards; videos; and more. FOLUSA meets twice yearly in conjunction with ALA. Only FOLUSA m em bers are eligible to apply for the FOLUSA/Baker & Taylor O utstanding Friends o f the Library Award. Application details will be published in the Spring 1992 FO LU SA National Notebook. M em bership fees are $25 for groups with less th an 499 m embers; $35 for groups with over 500 m em bers. F o r m ore information or to join contact: FOLUSA, ALA, 50 E. H uron St., Chicago, IL 60611; (800) 545-2433, ext. 3222. Mike the Tiger helps publicize the annual Book Bazaar held bij the Friends o f the LSU Library, the 1988 FO LU SA winner. Friends activities in “Portrait o f a W inner: Friends o f th e LSU L ib ra ry ,” in N a tio n a l N otebook (FOLUSA), Spring 1989. T he 1991 Friends of the LSU Library president, Mrs. Ben Hamilton, credits the m em bers’ deep com m itm ent to “our great pride in what we’re doing for the library.” She also says the Friends enjoy the “Southern style and grace” that perm eates all of their special events. A m ajor benefit for m embers, she says, derives from their valued interaction with the librarians and their shared love of books. E n te r t o w in Applicants may b e surprised by the absence of m uch structure found in the FOLUSA Award appli­ cation process. FOLUSA prescribes few strict guide­ lines for entrants since friends engage in a diversity o f activities. Indeed, the inventory of past winners' accomplishments reviewed in this article reveal that in some instances the commonly-perceived role o f fundraising by friends may be altogether absent. T he open-ended application form challenges e n ­ trants to clearly and concisely present their achieve­ m ents in an organized manner. Com petition can be stiff in any given year. That judges be able to review and understand within 20 m inutes’ tim e w hat the entrants have done is one wise guideline to follow. FOLUSA Awards Com m ittee chair Blane Dessy indicates that the judges … look for outstanding, innovative programs that serve the library and the community.” Applicants should describe their goals November 1991 / 639 for the year and demonstrate how those goals were met. T he b e tte r applications tend to place the year­ long goals in the broader context of the long-range goals set by the friends. Any novel or unique aspects of the friends’ program should be emphasized. F orm er FOLUSA Awards C om m ittee chair Elaine E stes offers h e r shorthand criteria for win­ ners that asks: “W hat effort was expended, what results were achieved? W hat kinds o f breadth and scope did the friends’ activities en­ compass?” To m eet these criteria applicants should provide essential documen­ tation. Winning entries typi­ cally include press releases, newspaper clippings, b ud­ gets, promotional materi­ The logo used by t als, im portant correspon­ Library, the 198 dence, and any other docu­ ments that will address these criteria. Growth in group m em bership or funds, for instance, should be presented in measurable terms. FOLUSA executive director Sandy Dolnick has observed over the years that winning entries pro­ vide evidence of community involvement. “Pro­ grams that obviously are orchestrated by the library director do not win awards,” comm ents Dolnick. She also notes that the variety of people involved in a group seems to be an important indication that the entrants are providing a strong link betw een the library and diverse groups in the community. Dessy hesitates to recom mend any winning for­ mula. H e has noticed, though, that the … excel­ lence of a program depends upon enthusiasm, good planning and careful follow-through, rather than on the size or prestige of the c o m m u n ity o r th e li­ brary.” Readers interested in applying may want to re­ view Best Ideas, 1979- 1989w hich FOLUSA dis­ tributes free to its m em ­ bers. This book summa­ rizes some of the best pro- g ra m s sp o n s o re d by friends groups. FOLUSA Friends o f the LSU m embership information FOLUSA winner. may be obtained from ALA headquarters in Chicago. The next award entry deadline will be in early spring 1992. W inners will be honored at the FOLUSA Awards Luncheon at the 1992 ALA Conference in San Francisco. Ed. note: Jon Eldredge is serving his second two- year term on the FOLUSA Board o f D irectors. H e’s served on the FOLUSA Awards Com m ittee and chaired the Library Administration and Manage­ ment: Association’s Public Relations Section. ■ ■ he 8