Fundraising for any purpose can sometimes be an arduous task. People are usually not inclined to give their money, especially if the assignment requires them to take any action. However, there are many methods by which the attention of the target audience can be attracted to a particular problem. This essay aims to consider fundraising options for the library and analyze various approaches to this issue.
The library in the modern world is a concept that periodically causes controversial discussions. At the moment, a massive number of people are switching to electronic media. Advanced technologies have presented humanity with electronic books, making it possible to read from the screens of phones and tablets. In this regard, libraries are somewhat outdated because to perform the same action, a person will have to spend much more effort. Although their relevance to society does not decrease since library funds store a considerable amount of unique information, the loss of interest in visiting these places is understandable.
That is why fundraising for the library, no matter what the purpose of the collection, is challenging. The most ambitious solution to the situation could be to draw attention to the library concept as such, an attempt to return people to that interest. However, this task is too large-scale, one library cannot change the mood of the whole society, so it is necessary to look for other methods. The most common is book donation, a strategy that is prevalent in many institutions around the world. People who donate books that have become unnecessary to them help to expand the library fund, which may eventually lead readers there.
However, such an approach cannot solve all the problems of the institution. The library does not receive any additional funds from accepting new publications, and the indirect, associated income is minimal. For the most part, this little money is not able, for example, to cover the repair of a building, the purchase of new materials, or the renovation of an interior. Therefore, the question arises of obtaining additional funds to meet organizational needs. Since the current economic society is purely capitalistic, possible solutions to this situation also include embedding these trends in the library work.
Parallel activity in the form of a car wash, in this case, is an excellent solution. Often, institutions with a lack of money begin to raise prices or take payment for those services that are usually free. In that case, the library administration provides an additional service, which in no way interferes with the institution’s primary activities. Although this combination of proposals is very unusual, it can be quite beneficial for all parties in the presence of suitable resources. The availability of a proper place for washing machines is crucial since this type of activity requires compliance with a relatively large number of standards. For example, the water that is washed by vehicles should go into a special drain, and not remain on the surface of the parking lot, slowly destroying it.
Nevertheless, subject to all requirements, this solution is indeed mutually beneficial cooperation. With the current proliferation of cars, automobiles washes are a very lucrative business that can generate a constant income. If a library sets the price significantly lower than that required on official, large washing systems, this will ensure a steady customer flow. At the same time, the funds raised can help it realize internal tasks.
Thus, the problem of raising money for institutions such as a library may indeed be quite acute. Although combining library activities with a business such as a car wash is a non-standard solution, it can be fully justified. However, to implement this plan, it is necessary to comply with a whole range of measures and fulfill a variety of requirements, from hiring workers, which may be students, to the disposal of washing waste. With the active implementation of the plan, it is necessary to conduct a thorough analysis of the required expenditures, and only after that proceed with the actual application of the idea.