Webinar: Author Events As Friends Fundraisers
Date: January 23, 2024
Speakers: Sheila DeChantal, Jen Ritz, Loretta Ellsworth
Synopsis: Friends of the Library fundraisers are often pigeonholed as strictly of the "book and bake sale" variety. In truth, the Friends fundraising landscape is a far more dynamic and creative space. Among other recurring models, Friends groups across the country have found great success coordinating author events - both as marquee fundraisers and as visibility generators within their communities.
Webinar: Warm Reads For Cold Nights - Year 2
Date: November 16, 2023
Speakers: Shannon Blackmer (Milkweed Editions) & Matt Smiley (UMN Press)
Synopsis: Icelanders indulge in a beloved winter tradition called Jólabókaflóð, which translates literally to "Christmas book flood." MALF’s final webinar of the year brought a little Jólabókaflóð spirit right here to Minnesota. Sales reps from two of Minnesota’s most prominent publishers – Milkweed Editions and University of Minnesota Press – offered MALF’s audience a sneak peak of their fantastic winter/spring release schedules.
Webinar: Making the Most of 'National Friends of Libraries Week'
Date: May 11, 2023
Speakers: Jillian Wentworth (United for Libraries)
Synopsis: United for Libraries, the Friends and trustees arm of the American Library Association, hosts an annual commendation of library boosters called National Friends of Libraries Week. Conveniently for those of us in Minnesota, this observance traditionally falls in late October. It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate and fundraise well before November opens up that jam-packed period for donor activity.
Webinar: Warm Books for Cold Days: Minnesota Authors Recommend
Date: December 14, 2022
Speakers: Alison Aten & Riley Do Davis (MHS Press), Ill Nippashi (Graywolf)
Synopsis: Warm Books for Cold Days: Minnesota Authors Recommend included two sections. First, sales reps and publicists from two of Minnesota’s preeminent presses offered Friends of the Library a sneak peek at their upcoming winter/spring release schedules. After we heard from Graywolf and MNHS Press, MALF debuted a montage of pre-recorded book recommendations from some of Minnesota’s most popular living writers.
Webinar: Book Banning Then and Now
Date: June 21, 2022
Speaker: Sheila DeChantal
Synopsis: What’s the difference between a challenged and a banned book – and more to the point, why are they dominating our headlines? Is there any precedent for it? Above all, what can Friends do to help their libraries navigate this climate? MALF’s summer webinar, "Living in Challenging Times: Book Banning Then and Now" tackled these timely questions.
Webinar: Friends Marketing Tune-Up Clinic
Date: April 6, 2022
Speaker: Kathy Dempsey
Synopsis: Kathy Dempsey, the nationally acclaimed "Accidental Library Marketer," provided a Friends-specific clinic on marketing. Topics of note included: audience segmentation; branding (and co-branding with your library); the roles of print collateral in the digital age; and how to find and work with graphic designers.
Webinar: Staying Friends: Volunteer Retention 101
Date: December 7, 2021
Speaker: Beth Steinhorn
Synopsis: Friends organizations, like volunteer-run charities of all types, often have difficulty retaining new talent, as well. National statistics show that this trend is unlikely to change any time soon. Beth Steinhorn of VQ Volunteer Strategies showed us how we can buck the statistics and nurture a volunteer base that is likely to stick around.
Webinar: Making New Friends: Volunteer Recruitment and Cultivation
Date: June 23, 2021
Speaker: Beth Steinhorn
Synopsis: Ask any not-for-profit, and they will confirm - recruiting "new blood" is easier said than done. These days, prospective volunteers have more options than ever to choose from; but because of today's hectic lifestyles, less time than before to volunteer. COVID only exacerbated this perennial challenge. What can we do? Well, as it turns out - plenty!
Webinar: The Next Chapter in Used Book Sales
Date: April 12, 2021
Speakers: Susi McCune (Isanti), Brooke Barsness (Fergus Falls), Karen Jacowitz |(Moorhead), Susan Miller (Ramsey County)
Synopsis: Friends across Minnesota have responded to COVID-19 by adopting new and innovative sales models to keep their book backlog in check and secure at least a portion of their usual sales revenue. Some methods are proving so popular and/or lucrative that Friends may continue those strategies long after the last pandemic restrictions are behind us!
Webinar: "Friend'ly" Tips: Effective Friends of the Library Marketing
Date: December 7, 2020
Speaker: Kim Horton
Synopsis: Communications & Marketing is a broad topic – sometimes frustratingly so. After all, essentially everything your organization does has strategic communications implications. Moreover, COVID-19 exacerbated the challenge ten-fold! Kim Horton, Sr. Director of Communications at The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, shared best practices and useful examples for navigating this unprecedented and tricky time.
Webinar: Friends Leadership Cultivation - During COVID-19 and Beyond
Date: June 10, 2020
Speaker: Mary Jo Wimmer
Synopsis: Mary Jo Wimmer, founder of Trillium Leadership Development, offered attendees a primer on a board of directors’ Five Major Responsibilities; pointers on sowing seeds for future success; and low-pressure breakout activities that drove these messages home.