Geauga County Public Library and its foundation have been busy.
Geauga County Public Library and its foundation have been busy.
They’ve completed renovations of the Middlefield Branch, are opening the newly-constructed Thompson Branch Oct. 29 and are due to complete the brand new Bainbridge Branch before year’s end.
But that’s not all GCPL has in the works.
In keeping with its long-range plan of integrating the library system to better serve every corner of the county, the former Friends of the Library groups are being asked to form a new service arm called “Geauga County Library Foundation and Partners,” said the Geauga County Library Foundation Executive Director Rebecca Gierman.
The Friends of the Library originated with a centralized group. In 1973, each branch of the library formed their own Friends groups. Their primary fundraiser for the GCPL has been their famous book sale at the Great Geauga County Fair.
As a reflection of branch size, location and the clout of the patrons, some Friends’ groups were extremely active and flush with funds, while others struggled.
This disparity became more obvious as a result of the mobile services (Bookmobile) lacking a Friends group, the Newbury branch of the library closing, Thompson and Bainbridge beginning to show more growth and Friends groups struggled with attrition.
These factors caused the need for a re-examination of the structure of Friends groups, Gierman said.
Foundation Board President Cathy Leary said county voters passing the library’s bond issue in 2017 pointed to the need to bring Friends groups back together to serve the county as a whole.
“I had trouble understanding how allegiance to one branch could be redirected. My own West G branch was so devoted to its particular library,” she said. “I happen to be a person who embraces change and I see the great wisdom in doing this.”
Plans for consolidation began with discussion in early 2019. But autonomy made the transition hard and emotional for members.
“Some fear this change and fear they may not have a role in it in the future,” Leary said.
Thompson Friends member and Treasurer Audrey Kerr did not feel insulted nor despair about the change to consolidate the groups.
She believes the plan and the leadership is wonderful and full of enthusiasm.
“People don’t like change, but change can be good,” Kerr said. “The directors have the say. We are all volunteers, after all. Although our treasury is smaller, much smaller that the likes of West G and Bainbridge for example, we will pool our current funds, but can earmark the funds for items we still value.”
Gierman confirmed no branch will struggle with not having the funds they need to function due to combined fundraising and the fact the new association will operate with no competition.
They adopted this approach using examples of other systems that have met with great success, such as the Medina County Library, Gierman said, adding their assimilation in 2011 from four groups to one has worked well and even raised $30,000 for a recent summer reading program, a writer’s series and more.
Leary said some of the positives anticipated include volunteer sharing, vendor sharing — and possible cost savings as a result — having a combined newsletter going out to all 400 plus friends, sharing ideas, working together on fundraising and making new friends. Membership is only $5 per year.
Leary has been working on some possible future enhancements to entice new members and reward current ones. In addition to having a preview to every GCPL sale, other incentives might include special partner discounts at book sales and online, exclusive preview meetings with visiting authors, special membership cards, decals and newsletters, and participation in advocacy and awareness events.
Gierman and Leary stressed benefits will now be across all branches, not just limited to the branch to which a member belongs. Previously, members had to belong to each individual Friends group to participate in activities.
Gierman said the new association will help build a sense of community.
COVID-19 has interrupted some of the communication effort to bring the Foundation and Partners to completion, but plans are progressing, Gierman and Leary said, adding they see this as a great opportunity for a better future.
