The richest person in the world – in fact all the riches in the world – couldn’t provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library. Malcolm Forbes
Since the library does not receive any State or City funding, we rely on Membership fees and various fundraising activities. We also rely on an all-volunteer staff to keep the doors open.
When we first opened, Dr. Warren Young donated a Disney figurine collection to us. We knew nothing about selling items on e-Bay, so Brandi Craycraft from Trenton, Ohio, offered to assist us. Brandi photographed the items, posted them on e-Bay, packaged them and provided the paperwork for shipping. We sold a few thousand dollars worth of figurines to help start our building fund.
For our first anniversary, we hosted a luncheon and invited guests to the library for an all you can eat hor d’oeuvres party. Each guest paid five dollars. We also had a variety of raffle items donated by local businesses and sold tickets for the raffle. Again, through the generosity of our members, we were able to raise additional money for operating expenses.
We have had used book sales. In fact, we have an on-going sale of used books.
During the summer of 2006, we were talking about a fundraiser we could have in conjunction with Monroe’s Christmas on the Plaza. Each of us brainstormed craft ideas that we could make to sell. We wound up making bracelets, necklaces, book thongs (book marks), and needlepoint boxes. These items were so successful that we have included them in our Christmas sales every year. Phyllis really got into the needlepoint. She became creative and started doing boxes with Monroe Hornet, Ohio State, University of Kentucky, etc. We had so much fun watching our stack of craft items grow. We all had busy and tired hands.
Another successful fundraiser has been our monthly Quarter Auction. I had attended a quarter auction in Eaton, Ohio, and got hooked. At these auctions, each guest pays one dollar to use a bidding paddle. Representatives from ten to twelve companies like Home Interiors, Tastefully Simple, Avon, Southern Comfort, Dove Chocolates, Bare Paws Animal Stuffing, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Just Jewelry, Sumner Sweets, Elegant Expressions, Vera Bradley and Two Men and Their Tools bring items to auction. The bids are from one quarter to three quarters. When the bidding paddle is purchased, they have a numbered chip. The chip is placed in a container. The auctioneer describes the item, announces the bid and each guest places their quarter bid in a bowl on the table. The bids are collected and a chip is drawn. If the chip matches your paddle, you win the item. The library keeps all of the paddle money, raffle ticket money, half of the split-the-pot money and the concession stand proceeds. The representatives keep the bidding money to pay for their items. These auctions have become a major source of income for the library They have enabled us to increase our book buying budget and to increase the amount of money going into our building fund. The auctions are a fun night of entertainment for the entire family. We have developed a following of regular quests who come every month for the fun and camaraderie. They have become a wonderful part of our library family.
Without the support of the people in our community who come to our auctions and the generosity of Mount Pleasant Retirement Community where the auctions are held in their Activity Building, the library would have difficult time staying afloat. We cannot say Thank You loud enough for helping to support us.
Judy Mann
