How to Raise Money for a School Library
Many school libraries struggle for funding. Budgets shrink every year, leaving a school librarian wondering how to purchase books and other materials for his or her students. In order for children to love reading, they need to have access to current information, well-written literature, and popular titles. It is nearly impossible to foster the love of literature in students if the only books available to them are outdated materials yellowed with age and older than their grandparents. If a school librarian needs to find money to purchase more materials for the school library, it is possible to find or raise money.
Things You'll Need
- Computer with Internet access
- Word processing software
- Printer paper
- Printer
- Copy machine
Instructions
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Search for library grants. Many organizations offer free money to school libraries serving low income communities. The Laura Bush Grant is a popular grant that awards millions of dollars each year to deserving school libraries.
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Locate books or websites that teach you how to write grant letters so that you can learn how to persuade organizations to grant your struggling school library with badly needed funds.
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Devise fundraising ideas. One idea is to ask students to submit poetry or short stories for a school-wide anthology. Many print- on-demand companies will allow people to upload manuscripts to their website. People wishing to buy the resulting book can purchase it online. The creator of the book is not charged for this service.
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Use your computer and printer to create a letter to parents advertising the sale of your school literary anthology. Make enough copies of the letter and ask teachers to distribute the letter to their students. The letter will request that parents buy a copy of the book in which their child's poem or story appears. Parents will need to visit the print-on-demand website in order to purchase the book. Any proceeds from the sale go directly to the school library so that new materials may be purchased for the collection.
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Brainstorm other fundraising activities such as selling pencils and notebooks before or after school. Ask your principal for permission to have a bake sale on school grounds in order to raise money for the school library. You can even organize a car wash. These are just a few ideas school librarians can use to raise money for a school library.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask your principal's permission before applying for library grants.
Before undertaking any fundraising activity, make sure you receive your principal's approval.
Resources
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Comments
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CBPope
Nov 19, 2008
I like these ideas. My daughters school is great but they don't have a library! As a parent and author, that troubles me. I have begun to brainstorm of ways to have classroom libraries since there is no space for a 'real' library. -
CBPope
Nov 19, 2008
I like these ideas. My daughters school is great but they don't have a library! As a parent and author, that troubles me. I have begun to brainstorm of ways to have classroom libraries since there is no space for a 'real' library.
