Today’s libraries are much more than places to borrow books. They are community institutions that provide free access to education, technology, and resources for people of all ages. But with limited budgets and growing demand for library services, fundraising is often essential to help public and school libraries provide the resources their communities need.
Whether you’re raising money for new books, technology, children’s programs, or other library needs, the right fundraiser does more than generate needed revenue. A successful library fundraiser can bring library patrons and community members together and build awareness of your library’s mission. School libraries can also use fundraising to stay current with technology and create a fun way for students to give back.
So let’s explore some of the best library fundraising ideas, from reading challenges and book sales to auctions, community events, and online fundraising campaigns.
What We’ll Cover
- Our #1 Library Fundraising Idea: Peer-to-Peer Reading Fundraisers and Challenges
- 10+ More Great Library Fundraising Ideas
- Young Reader Literacy Events
- Write-a-thon Fundraisers for Libraries
- Library Book Sales
- Silent Auction With Entertainment
- Wine Tasting Events
- Computer and Tech Repair
- End-of-Year Appeals for the Library
- Walkathons and Fun Runs
- Library Fundraising FAQ’s
Our #1 Library Fundraising Idea: Peer-to-Peer Reading Fundraisers and Challenges
A fun library fundraising event that also ties into a library’s mission is a Reading Challenge. Community members sign up on your crowdfunding website to create a readathon fundraiser page and raise money. They then share a link via email and social media and ask relatives, friends, and neighbors to pledge or donate to support your cause. Donation or pledge amounts can be calculated based on the number of books read in a specified period, or contributors can choose to donate a fixed amount.
The best way to get lots of donations quickly is through our crowdfunding software. Set a clear fundraising goal for the event, such as purchasing new children’s books or upgrading computers. Participants create personal fundraising pages where they upload photos, explain their mission, and accept secure online donations.
10+ More Great Library Fundraising Ideas
Whether you’re part of a Friends of the Library group or a school library committee, you’ll find ideas to help you choose a fundraiser that fits your audience and goals. If a readathon is not what you had in mind, we have more great library fundraising ideas below.
Young Reader Literacy Events
Literary and book-reading events are another type of reading fundraiser that can work for young children and even babies. Sometimes called ‘Born to Read’ events, these programs reach out to parents of young children to promote literacy and a love of books early on. Sessions are held in the library to show parents and caregivers how much fun reading can be and encourage them to read to their children. The program can be funded through donations, sponsorships, or small session admission fees. Libraries can ask publishers for donations of new children’s books that a publisher is trying to promote. Libraries can give each attendee a book as a small gift, which covers their admission fee.
Write-a-thon Fundraisers for Libraries
Libraries are not only places to find great books, magazines, music, and information online; they are also great places to create. With this in mind, why not host a write-a-thon as a library fundraiser? Participants can research, become inspired, meet other writers, and work on their projects all at the same time. Blazing Laptops, a successful write-a-thon event in San Diego, brings in teachers, poets, and even yoga instructors to help lead activities throughout the day. Write-a-thons are a great way to highlight the library, build community, and raise money.
Library Book Sales
Hosting a community book sale is an excellent library fundraising idea. The book sale should be relatively easy to organize. A few months before the event, collect book donations. Recruit volunteers to help set up book displays on the day of the event and sell books at a low price. You may also consider making the event more appealing by adding refreshments, entertainment, and even a fundraising raffle. Find a local artist or band interested in performing during the event, or bring in a local author of a best-selling novel to attend the event for a book signing. Contact local restaurants to see if they would like to attend the event and offer free sampling or food and beverage sales.
There are plenty of other community events to consider, so feel free to explore our unique fundraising events for more ideas.
Silent Auction With Entertainment
A silent auction can be a great way for libraries to raise money while bringing patrons and community members together for an enjoyable evening. Start by soliciting donated items and services from local businesses. Popular auction items include restaurant gift cards, local experiences, weekend getaways, certificates to book stores, artwork, or unique items that appeal to the library community.
You can display auction items in the library in the days leading up to the event, giving patrons a chance to browse and build excitement before the event. With mobile bidding, supporters can even bid online before the event. Promote the auction well in advance through your library’s email list, social media channels, website, and community partners.
To make the fundraiser engaging and raise more, add live entertainment and refreshments. Invite a local musician, author, storyteller, or other performer to provide entertainment, and ask local businesses to donate food and beverages.
Wine Tasting Events
Wine tasting events are popular social and Valentine’s Day Fundraising events. After all, most people love tasting wines! This makes finding participants pretty easy. If event promotion is done well, you will likely attract people outside your library’s supporter base purely on the popularity and appeal of wine-tasting events.
Your committee will need at least one wine connoisseur to serve as your wine expert and help bring in others in the wine industry. Ideally, the wine connoisseur is also connected to wine merchants, vineyards, sommeliers, restaurants, or wine bars in your area.
Read more on how to organize a wine-tasting fundraiser for your library.
Computer and Tech Repair
Since a library is already a local hub for people to gather and spend time, consider an event that strengthens the library’s mission. Libraries offer information and technology. So why not add a twist to the typical book sale by having the library systems team, tech-savvy librarians, or the school’s geek squad donate their time to answer questions and service home computers and phones? People often need technical support for their devices and aren’t sure who to turn to. Tech services can be offered in exchange for a minimum donation amount.
End-of-Year Appeals for the Library
The last month of the year is vital to most organizations’ fundraising efforts. Kicked off by #GivingTuesday and going through December 31, the year-end giving season should not be ignored by libraries. These annual fund drives offer a low-impact way for libraries to fundraise.
- Charitable Christmas or holiday gifts can be made in tribute to or in the name of a loved one.
- As a unique holiday gift – who needs another sweater?
- Tax purposes (last chance for a tax deduction, anyone?)
Create and send a year-end fundraising appeal to your entire patron and supporter list. Come up with a tribute idea that lets supporters donate in a loved one’s name in lieu of holiday gifts.
Walkathons and Fun Runs
Walk-a-thons and Fun Runs work well for almost any type of nonprofit or school fundraiser, and libraries are no exception. As parents and educators, we want to teach children how physical activity and a healthy lifestyle can contribute to self-esteem, productivity, and enjoyment of life. Today, children often make unhealthy choices such as eating junk food, playing video games, and not getting enough exercise. For that reason, we encourage educators and parents to continue looking for opportunities that convey the importance of building an overall healthy lifestyle. Hosting a walk-a-thon fundraiser as a library fundraising idea does just that!
Find more information about how to organize a walk-a-thon here.
Library Fundraising FAQ’s
Some of the best library fundraising ideas include reading challenges, book sales, silent auctions, write-a-thons, walkathons, technology fundraisers, and year-end donation campaigns. The most effective library fundraisers connect directly to the library’s mission while giving supporters an enjoyable way to contribute.
Great Friends of the Library fundraising ideas include used book sales, author events, reading challenges, silent auctions, raffles, and sponsored walks. Friends of the Library groups can also use online fundraising pages to make it easy for community members to donate and share fundraising campaigns.
Effective school library fundraising ideas include read-a-thons and literacy challenges, book fairs, walkathons, and online crowdfunding campaigns. Reading fundraisers suit school libraries well because they encourage students to build literacy skills and give back to the library.
To organize a library read-a-thon fundraiser, establish a reading goal and fundraising period, recruit participants, create individual fundraising pages, and encourage participants to ask friends and family for pledges or donations. Peer-to-peer fundraising software can simplify registration and online donations.
To make a library fundraiser more successful, set a clear fundraising goal, choose an activity that fits your audience, start promoting early, engage local businesses and sponsors, and make donating easy.
Organizations raise 2-3X more online with the DoJiggy P2P Crowdfunding platform.
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