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Friends of The Library - Survey of Friends' Groups in Ontario
November 2003
OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE SURVEY RESPONSES
DEMOGRAPHICS
Library service population:
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Under 2000 |
14.1% |
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2,001 – 5,000 |
21.2% |
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5,001 – 15,000 |
23.5% |
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15,001 – 50,000 |
23.5% |
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50,001 – 100,000 |
4.7% |
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Over 100,000 |
12.9% |
Number of members:
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10 or less |
31.0% |
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11 – 20 |
18.4% |
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21 – 50 |
28.7% |
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51 – 100 |
8.0% |
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Over 100 |
13.8% |
- 78.1% of Friends groups that responded have less than 51 members
- 51.1% (mean) and 50% (median) of members participate actively
- 39% of Friends groups support single, independent libraries, 20.7% support one branch of a multi-branch system
STRUCTURE
75% of Friends groups that responded have constitution and bylaws, 53.4% have charitable status, 49% have a mission statement and 9.1% are incorporated
47% have one executive committee for a single site library, 22% are informal and 21% have one executive committee for a whole library system
Annual operating budget is under $5,000 for 81.5% of Friends groups that responded
30% of Friend groups conduct annual membership drives and 55% hold ongoing drives
6% of Friends group employ paid staff
Pamphlets in the library (67%), word of mouth (64%) and recruitment by the executive (32%) are the most popular ways to conduct membership drives. The Friends/Library newsletter was also identified as a popular method of attracting members.
RELATIONSHIP WITH LIBRARY
Libraries provide support to Friends groups mainly in these areas:
- Friends groups liaise with the library:
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CEO is ex-officio members of Friend Board |
46.6% |
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Through library employee |
38.6% |
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Member of library Board attends Friends meeting and
vice versa |
34.1% |
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SERVICES
Purpose of Friends groups:
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Fundraising |
93.2% |
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Build membership |
64.8% |
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Volunteering |
61.4% |
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Advocacy |
56.8% |
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Promote literacy |
44.3% |
Activities of Friends groups:
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Activity |
Occasionally/Often |
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Fundraising events |
85.1% |
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Used book sales |
74.7% |
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Friends newsletter |
58.8% |
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In-library volunteer |
54.3% |
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Raffles, bingos, lottery tickets etc. |
52.0% |
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Program sponsorship |
40.3% |
FUNDING/PARTNERSHIPS
Membership fees:
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Type |
Minimum |
Maximum |
Mean |
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Individual |
$1 |
$25 |
$7.54 |
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Seniors |
$5 |
$25 |
$7.22 |
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Student |
$1 |
$25 |
$7 |
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Child |
$5 |
$5 |
$5 |
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Family |
$8 |
$35 |
$16.27 |
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Small business |
$10 |
$50 |
$27 |
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Sponsor |
$50 |
$200 |
$92 |
- 52 Friends groups (59.1%) did not charge
membership fees and 28 Friends groups (31.8%) did charge fees. Other
membership categories that were identified by respondents included life,
corporate and staff memberships.
Grants
- 24% of Friends groups who responded had
received grants
- 10.2% of respondents got provincial government
grants including Trillium and lottery funding
- 5.7% of respondents got federal government
grants including summer student funding and funding from Canada Council
- Corporate funding sources were mainly banks
- Other grant sources included service groups
such as the Royal Canadian Legion and the Lions
Money raised by Friends groups
74.4% of Friends groups surveyed report raising
less than $5,000 annually
If the dollar amounts raised are extrapolated
from the data by using the median figure of each dollar range, $703,500
is raised annually by Friend groups that responded to the survey.
- (From under $1,000, median is $500 X 19
Friends groups = $9,500
- From $1,000 to $5,000, median is $2,500 X 42
Friends groups = $105,000
- From $5,000 to $10,000, median is $8,000 X 8
Friends groups = $64,000
- From 10,000 to $50,000, median is $30,000 X
11 Friends groups = $330,000
- From $50,000 to $100,000, median is $75,000
X 1 Friends group= $75,000
- From over $100,000 extrapolate $120,000 x 1
Friends group = $120,000)
What Friends group purchase for libraries:
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Library materials |
71.6% |
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Library equipment |
64.8% |
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Library furniture |
54.5% |
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Programming |
47.7% |
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Library facility improvements |
39.8% |
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Computer equipment/software |
37.5% |
Partnerships
31.3% of Friends groups had developed partnerships with other organizations
Wide spectrum of partners including arts council, Chapters, museums, fire department, church group, agricultural society, horticultural society, schools, computer group, Welcome Wagon, IODE learning centre, Safeway, Kiwanis, book shop, Optimists, theatre group, garden club, art gallery etc.
BARRIERS
Major barriers to success:
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Lack of membership |
55.7% |
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Ageing membership |
30.7% |
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Member burnout |
26.1% |
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Difficulty sustaining interest |
22.7% |
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Lack of commitment |
14.8% |
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Lack of structure, purpose & goals |
10.2% |
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Government "red tape" |
10.2% |
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Lack of recognition and support |
9.1% |
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Lack of leadership |
8.0% |
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MOTIVATION
77% of Friends groups describe their level of energy as highly motivated or motivated
Words Friends groups used to describe themselves: organized, committed, cohesive, problem solvers, planners
What Friends groups are proud of:
"Our group supports the local library and we are proud of it"
(see three page list of accomplishments of Friends groups)
FUTURE GOALS OF FRIENDS GROUPS
Wide variety of goals – some examples are:
Build new library
Maintain summer reading program
Increase membership
Automate the library
Maintain a sustainable volunteer base
Outreach to rural areas
Provide seniors and children’s programs
Raise funds for library expansion
Keep our branch open
Increase library profile in the community
Maintain advocacy around funding levels
Develop collections
Develop formal communications and advertising plan
Promote more of the library by public awareness
Promote literacy
Keep computer stations up-to-date
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