Even though this is Jan. I want to add my two cents to this for it is so important to be able to have the necessary money to run the library. I concur with Rita's ideas, but there is one item I want to expound on. During the year you will receive memorial gifts, "in honor of", and "in appreciation of"gifts. Be careful and check up on how your church book keeper accounts for these gifts. They are apt to be instructed by the Treasurer or Chair of Finance to place it in the funds in such a way that it helps to make up the amount that you are allowed in the budget. This is not the correct way to account for such funds and you need to be sure that such funds are "in addition" to the amounts that you requested. Remember that you are constantly needing money for expensive items that you did not request, simply because you made up your budget on the expenses that you know you must incur to keep the library running efficiently and you hold off on such items as a map cabinet, or a new truck,etc. These you have listed on a most wanted list and you advertise the list. Patrons know that you are wanting a new this or that and that is how they choose to remember a person, so it is supposed to be over and above the budgeted money.
State your needs and back it up with statistics. Show by actual church numbers the amount of materials needed by each age group and how much each item costs, not bargain, but actual costs. Then, you can work your magic by getting as many good deals as you can. Being fair and honest is always the way to go. I know times are hard now with the soft economy, but we can not allow our libraries to die down in provision.
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Norma
Rita Kirkland