Usually library fundraisers might involved a party, reading event or book sale, but a few libraries have come up with creative alternatives all their own. The National Library of Peru was recently renovated, and now has a functioning pool. The library offers swimming lessons and raises money this way. This method will also attract non-traditional patrons into the library, who will then, hopefully, become regular patrons.
The city library of Vienna is currently running a sex hotline to raise money for their library. Here, Austrian actress Anne Bennent reads erotica in German, both original pieces and translations. The program was organized in collaboration with the Aktionsradius Wien cultural organization. The call cost about 53 US cents a minute, and the library estimates that they already have about 660 minutes worth of calls. You can read more about this projects from the American Libraries Online, the article is here.
It’s all fair when trying to keep libraries afloat!
08.21.07 – The Montana Library Association has found another interesting way of raising money. They are putting out a 2008 calendar called “Montana Book Babes: Librarians Under the Big Sky.” The calendar features real librarians along with a brief bio of each model. Calendars are $20 and can be purchased here.
01.30.08 – Here’s another calendar trying to raise funds, “The Mildly Attractive Men of SLIS” (These funds will be used towards helping library students at USC attend the World Library and Information Congress “Libraries Without Borders: Navigating Towards Global Understanding”, which will take place in Quebec, August 2008.) Cheers to the guys who helped out with this cause!