Boot Camp Photos
Did you miss Boot Camp?
Welcome to the Friends of Connecticut Libraries
The Friends of Connecticut Libraries is a statewide support group whose members believe libraries are essential. FOCL exists to promote library enrichment by helping Friends groups support their libraries through education, advocacy, training and resources.
May 16
Changes to FOCL Bylaws
Attendees at the FOCL Annual Meeting will be asked to approve changes to the organization’s bylaws. Please take a look at the proposed changes if you are planning on attending the annual meeting.
View the FOCL Bylaws (Pending approval)
Boot Camp: Learning Importance of Promotion
Library Friends groups need to publicize themselves not only to draw people to their events but just to survive, said Nancy Frede of Frede Enterprises.
“Marketing is how you can recruit people of different ages,” she said, answering the often repeated question of how to get younger people to join. Frede spoke to the approximately 60 people from 30 Friends groups at Boot Camp 2012, organized April 21 at the University of Hartford by the Friends of Connecticut Libraries. By publicizing their groups Friends can get advocates, donations and members, Frede said.
View Nancy’s presentation here.
Other Boot Camp programs talked of how to improve your group’s online profile, and the challenges of communicating in large or small Friends groups.
Apr 23
Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony
The Friends of Connecticut Libraries Cordially Invite You to Our Annual Meeting & Award Ceremony
Saturday, June 9, 2012 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
At the Hamden Public Library. 2901 Dixwell Ave., Hamden, CT
Our Featured Speaker will be Best-Selling Author, Laura Van Wormer
Laura Van Wormer has been a force in fiction since the publication of Riverside Drive in 1988. She is the author of thirteen critically acclaimed novels that include passion, mystery, murder, suspense, romance and characters that readers can relate to. Her engrossing plots, memorable characters and insider knowledge of the media professions have won praise from the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Good Housekeeping, and People. Laura will talk about her novels and the effect that electronic books are having on the publishing industry. Learn more about Laura by visiting her website.
The agenda and registration form can be Downloaded here.
Feb 29
FOCL Boot Camp 2012
Boot Camp 2012 will be held at the University of Hartford, Gray Conference Center, on Saturday, April 21st. Our theme focuses on how Friends groups communicate with both their membership and their community. The program consists of a main speaker, an introduction to the new FOCL On-line Directory, and three discussion groups.
Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the program at 9:30 a.m. Camp will run until 12:30 p.m. There is a fee of $15.00 ($25.00 for non-FOCL members). Coffee, tea, water and pastries will be provided.
Our featured speaker, Nancy Frede of Frede Enterprises, kicks the day off with her presentation titled ”Marketing Your Friends Group”. Nancy, who specializes helping non-profits market themselves, will discuss branding your group, creating community relationships, working with media, and marketing best practices.
The web is here to stay, so we will turn to Adam Delaura, FOCL’s own Webmaster. This year, FOCL is replacing our printed Directory with a new on-line version. Adam will introduce the new directory including some new features that make it more responsive to changes. FOCL is looking for feedback on the enhanced Directory and any additional features you would like to see included.
After a short break, we will split up into three discussion groups:
- Adam Delaura will lead “A Chat with the FOCL Webmaster” He will offer ideas on ways to rev up your website or Facebook page, discuss technical questions you might have, and explain in detail how to get your Friends group onto Facebook.
- The second discussion group will address the challenge of “Communications in Small Towns.” This topic has been requested a number of times and we hope to have a good discussion and to generate ideas and lessons learned that Friends groups can put to immediate use.
- Shifting focus from small Friends groups to large ones, the third discussion group will deal with the challenges of ”Communications in Friends Groups with Large Memberships.” Large groups need focused attention and creative ways to communicate with and retain members. We will identify and share ideas that work those that don’t.
Boot Camp is designed to present some general concepts first and then let each attendee chose a discussion group where a moderator will help the group talk through the issues with Friends from other groups. The feedback we get, including feedback from the Fall Conference indicates that you wanted more time to speak with each other.
As always, it important to FOCL that we address issues and questions that are significant to you. So please forward your questions ahead of time to Carlybilly@aol.com. This is especially true of questions you have for our Webmaster, so he will have time to research the answer.
To attend the Boot Camp, complete and mail the registration form, link below.
For directions to the conference and more, see Boot Camp facts Link below
Don’t be sitting home fretting over a Friends problem. Chances are someone has walked down that path before. Come to our Boot Camp and get the benefit of some knowledgeable insights.
Carl Nawrocki
FOCL President
FOCL Boot Camp 2012 Registration Form
