The most successful Adopt-A-Book campaign on record for Western Counties Regional Library has drawn to a close. When the final tally was done there were 1,621 new books on the shelves of the library’s 10 branches valued at $36,815. The previous highs were $30,074 in 2008 and 1,536 books in 1998.
“We particularly appreciate the generosity given the tough economic conditions in the Tri-Counties this year,” says regional library director Trudy Amirault.
Community support is so important to any fundraising campaign, says Ian White, public relations manager for the regional library.
“People knew the campaign was coming because our major sponsor Radio CJLS was airing advertisements about the campaign on a heavy rotation starting in March. By the time April 1 arrived to start the campaign, people were well aware it was here,” says White.
The campaign began with the April Fool’s Trivia Challenge at the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Library in Yarmouth. The campaign goal is to put at least 1,000 new books, or approximately $30,000 worth of books, on the library’s shelves between April 1 and June 30.
“The trivia challenge was rowdy and fun and brought a lot of corporate attention to the campaign as well as bringing in $2,431,” says White. Not only did large financial institutions give during the challenge, he adds, but more came after the campaign started.
Another key factor was the support of all the local media outlets, library staff and volunteers.
“So many hands played a role in this from the library’s friends groups to staff volunteering their time to carry out massive yard sales or other fundraising efforts on the campaign’s behalf,” White explains.
Friends of the library groups helped raise thousands of dollars through various events from aMother’s Day tea in Clark’s Harbour to a yard sale in Shelburne.
Amirault sees the success of the campaign as public approval of the library.
“There is support for the work that we try to do this year and every year,” she says.
She adds that support was evident throughout the region from the smallest branch library in Westport to the largest branch in Yarmouth.
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