LIBRARY MILESTONES CELEBRATING YOUR LIBRARY’S HERITAGE

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NATIONAL FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES WEEK October 16-22,

LITERARY LANDMARKS

UNITED FOR LIBRARIES AWARDS Baker & Taylor Awards National Friends of Libraries Week Awards Kingsolver Award Best Friends Awards

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CELEBRATING THE “BIG 5-0” Visual Arts and Creative Writing Contest on the Theme: “My River Vale” Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration Open House Children’s Activity at Octoberfest Town-wide Read Author Luncheon

TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: AUTHOR EVENT The Friends of the Library, Montgomery County (MD) used their twentieth anniversary to thank their community and provide a terrific author program for those who attended. Regional authors of note were asked to contribute their time for this worthy cause and corporate sponsors were brought on board to keep ticket costs low.

LOVELAND (CO) PUBLIC LIBRARY – 100 YEARS What book, books or author most influenced/motivated you to achieve what you have accomplished in your life? Why or how?

CALDWELL COUNTY (NC) PUBLIC LIBRARY – 75 YEARS During this six-month period, Friends, library staff, and trustees worked together to plan: Search for the holder of the oldest library card Forgiveness Week when no overdue fines were charged Timeline for the 75 years Time Capsule Essay contest Drawing contest Scavenger

TIPS ON CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARIES Validate and document the date of the event on which the anniversary is based. Link your anniversary to what was going on in your community during the year on which your anniversary is based. Start planning early! The more significant the anniversary the earlier you should start. Three to five years for a centennial celebration is not too early. Why not make it a multi-year event with a count down to the centennial year. Establish a planning committee made up of enthusiastic members. The committee should include community members as well as library staff and board members. Get your Friends of the Library organization involved. Involve outside groups and organizations such as the local historical society and the municipal government. Establish an overall plan with a timeline. The plan should include a strong public relations/marketing component. The Library History Buff

SOME WAYS TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARIES Conduct a variety of events and programs throughout the anniversary year. Designate one day as the date for the "birthday party" or key special event. Have an open house. Invite dignitaries. Arrange for entertainment. Have staff where historic clothing. Heavily publicize the event. Prepare a printed event program. Develop and utilize a special logo for the anniversary. Establish an anniversary blog and seek stories from people in the community about the library's past and their involvement with the library. Create a special page on the library's Web site for all anniversary related information. Develop an exhibit of historical artifacts related to the library or to the community. Use old library photos. Arrange for regular stories in the local media. Arrange to have a history of the library written and place a version of it on the library's Web site. The Library History Buff

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