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Library Fundraiser: Silent Auction and Community Cookout

Alisha Short

Ivy Tech Community College

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Libraries can provide many resources and programs to the community. The wide range of

library services can be significant for an individual’s success. Access to technology is an

important benefit that libraries offer to their community. Technology devices are always in high

demand and many individuals depend on their libraries to offer them to the community.

Technology keeps advancing, and newer devices will keep emerging. For this assignment I am

going to talk about the fundraising it would take to add some technology devices to the library.

The money from the fundraiser will go towards additional laptops and tablets to benefit the

community.

Adding laptops and tablets to the library’s services will take a great deal of funding. The

library will provide an additional 10 laptops, 15 tablets and 4 children’s tablets to their

community. Patrons will be able to take these items home for use, or they may use them in the

library. The cost of the new devices totals approximately $4,000 dollars. The library is going to

need the help of their community to raise the funds required to provide these devices. The library

board and director are responsible for acquiring the new tech devices. They are also tasked with

creating a committee to promote the fundraiser. The Adult Services Librarian, Children’s

Librarian, 5 library staff workers and 10 volunteers make up the committee. The committee is

responsible for promoting the fundraiser to the community, and beyond, to acquire the finances

needed. In order to raise the $4,000 for the new devices, the committee have decided to host a

‘Silent Auction and Community Cookout’.

The library will promote their fundraising event by social media, direct mail, newspaper ads

and via email. Staff will contact local businesses to determine if they will hand out flyers to their

customers. Staff may also inquire if local organizations would help promote their fundraisers by
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having signage placed throughout their business to make the community aware of the event.

Staff will also promote this fundraiser by having t-shirts made for library staff and offering them

for purchase to the community. This could be acquired by library staff using a Cricut machine

that an employee owns. All money raised from the shirts would go towards the new tech

devices. The library can partner with the local school to make the fundraiser a success. Adding

laptops and tablets would be beneficial to their student’s educational needs and would encourage

continuous learning. Other organizations in the community may also wish to partner with the

library. These organizations may include the local grocery store, gas stations, restaurant,

churches and golf club. These organizations can help promote the event and ask for donations at

their place of business. The library’s collaboration with community businesses and organizations

will provide the library with a greater chance of having a successful fundraising event.

The fundraising event is a Silent Auction. Therefore, staff need to get the word out that they

need donations for their fundraiser. This is where local businesses and organizations can step in

to help spread the word about the upcoming event. Donations from the community and local

organizations will be collected the month before the event. Library staff will contact local

organizations and businesses to determine if they would like to donate some items. This could be

gift cards to their stores or contributions of store items. Donations from the community will be a

great help, and the library will depend on the community to assist with this fundraising event.

The silent auction can bring in a large amount of cash for the new devices. Having a few large

ticket items will be a great help because they will bring in the most money, this could include a

smart tv or workout equipment. The library will depend on the community to make the

fundraising event successful.

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The ‘Silent Auction and Community Cookout’ will be a family event for the community. An

auction table will be on display for three weeks prior to the event, giving everyone a chance to

view the auction items. The items will also be displayed on the library’s social media pages. On

the day of the event, sheets will be placed next to each item along with the item details and

starting bid amounts. Individuals will be able to place bids online via their phone or computer.

Staff will be monitoring the online bidding. The fundraising event will be a day of festivities at

the library that the whole family can enjoy. In addition to the silent auction, the library will host

a cookout for the community. Food, drinks and music will be provided to the community

throughout the day. Individuals can browse the items up for auction while enjoying some

delicious food. Once the event has concluded, the committee will get together and determine the

winners of the auctioned items. Library staff will be in contact with the winners the following

day. The money from the fundraiser will go towards the purchase of new laptops and tablets for

the community. If the library does not meet their $4,000 goal, library staff will host a book sale

to raise the additional funds.

I believe a Silent Auction is a great way to bring in funds for the library. Libraries would

easily be able to set up a location for the event, in the meeting room or outside would-be great

ideas. It would be free to host this auction at the library, which would save the library money.

Donations from the community and local organizations would be free, so the library would not

have to purchase items to auction off. The community would play a huge role in helping acquire

the new technology devices. Partnering with the local school or other organizations would allow

for easy promotion of the event. This would be a great way to get the word out. The Community

Cookout would be a fun way to thank the community for supporting the fundraiser. Providing

food and refreshments while the event is occurring will bring more people to the event and this
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could bring more funds to the library. Chances are high that people will go to a free cookout

hosted by the library. I believe the ‘Silent Auction and Community Cookout’ is a wonderful

fundraiser that would bring many people to the library. This would ensure the event would be

successful and the library would be able to purchase new laptops and tablets for the community

to enjoy.