Your library is a peaceful haven for escaping into fictional worlds, learning about new cultures, and finding information on a wide range of topics. Beyond a rich collection of books, many libraries also provide access to digital resources and host educational programs, such as author visits that spark literary conversations.
No matter your library's goals and projects, hosting library fundraisers allows you to raise the funds you need to provide value to your community.
Whether you're a school library or a public library looking to raise money to keep your book selection fresh and your programs running, we've got you covered. Let's jump into the most popular library fundraising ideas you can start planning today.
1. Read-A-Thon: The Best Library Fundraising Idea
When you think of a library, you immediately think of reading. So why not raise funds by hosting a Read-A-Thon? During this highly engaging library fundraiser, you'll have students or other members of your library community sign up as readers. They'll log every minute they read while their friends and family members make donations to support their efforts.
Getting started is easy—all you have to do is follow these simple steps:
- Sign up for a free account. It costs nothing to start a Read-A-Thon, so you don't have to worry about any contracts, minimums, or hidden fees. It takes only five minutes to set up your account. From there, you'll receive a starter kit at no charge, complete with printed flyers and an admin guide that walks you through the entire Read-A-Thon fundraising process. Plus, you'll have a dedicated customer service team member who is available to answer any of your questions.
- Promote your library fundraiser. The Read-A-Thon platform comes with all the marketing materials you'll need to spread the word about your library fundraiser. At any time, you can access digital flyers and pre-written emails all at no cost to your library.
- Track fundraising progress on the platform. Once you've launched your library's Read-A-Thon, log onto the platform to get a complete view of your fundraising progress. There, you can examine real-time reports on reading minutes and donations earned—from individual readers to your whole school.
Read-A-Thons are an especially popular choice among schools that want to nurture a love of reading and learning among their students. Whether your library serves elementary school students or high schoolers, planning a Read-A-Thon allows you to boost literacy while raising funds for your programs.
When families hear about the chance to support their student's education—rather than contribute to some other fundraiser like a cookie dough sale—they'll be thrilled to help you reach your fundraising goal. Plus, if you choose Read-A-Thon's prize model, your library will receive 75% of total donations, while student readers earn points by collecting donations from friends and family, which they can spend in the prize store of over 200 toys, games, and books. It's a win-win for everyone involved!
Another option allows your library to receive 80% of donations by sponsoring your own rewards. Regardless of which model you choose, there are two Read-A-Thon add-ons you can opt into. You can browse over 100 prize coupon templates, which will then be printed and shipped to you at no cost. Additionally, you can enter Read-A-Thon's Disney contest, where twice a year, you can give students the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for four to Disney.
2. Love My Library Book Fair
A Love My Library book fair is an online fundraiser that reduces the effort and planning involved with traditional book fairs. The process looks something like this:
- Sign up for a free Love My Library account.
- Activate student accounts.
- Have students collect donations from friends and family.
- Get 100% back to expand your library's book collection and programs.
At the end of the fundraiser, your library will be able to spend 50% of donated funds on books from Love My Library's bookstore or receive a percentage in cash. The books will be shipped directly to you at no cost. Your students, in exchange for their hard work, will receive 50% of their individual donations to shop at the online bookstore.
3. Book Sale
Books can make long-lasting mementos or gifts for anyone. By planning a book sale, your library can gather its community together to browse new reads to take home and cherish for years to come. To host a book sale for library fundraising, start by:
- Assembling donated books from your community or your library's own collection.
- Arranging the books in your library or another open venue for sale.
- Recruiting volunteers to handle purchases and pricing the books.
While you can organize a book sale at any time of the year, consider waiting for special occasions such as Read Across America or the holiday season, when people are more likely to be looking for new books to buy.
4. Book Club
A book club is an excellent way to raise funds for your library and help your community members build connections with fellow readers. Have participants pay a registration fee to join and meet either once or twice a month to discuss a selected book with a small group. To earn even more from your book club, consider hosting it at your library and selling refreshments during the meetings.
Or, you can reach out to local cafes, restaurants, and bookstores for a partnership. A cafe or restaurant may be willing to provide you with a percentage of their sales on days when your book club meets there. If you recommend that book club participants buy their books from a certain bookstore, that bookstore might agree to send you a portion of its profit.
5. Silent Auction
A silent auction can be a memorable fundraising experience for your library and its community. There are so many reading-related items you can auction off, including:
- Signed books
- Bookmarks
- Coffee or tea gift cards
- Pillows
- Cozy gift baskets
- Tablets
To acquire these items, ask for donations from individuals and businesses in your local area. Then, you can charge an admission fee and set starting bids for each item to encourage competitive bidding.
6. Board Game Tournament
Board games, like reading, provide opportunities for players to exercise their critical thinking. By hosting a board game tournament, your library can raise funds by charging registration fees for participants and even selling raffles during the event. Popular board games to consider include:
- Scrabble
- Chess
- Bananagrams
To encourage more people to participate, come up with a few prizes for the winning individuals or teams. For example, you might award them with high-quality bookmarks or gift certificates to a coffee shop.
7. Arts and Crafts Fair
By planning an arts and crafts fair, your library can celebrate local talent within your community while raising funds to purchase more books and run your programs. If you're part of a school, take this opportunity to showcase your students' art.
Charge an entry fee for attendees and consider selling the artwork for a percentage of the profit. You can make the event even more engaging by hosting interactive craft sessions such as origami or jewelry making.
8. Paint-and-Sip
Connect with the adults in your community for a fun night of drinks, socialization, and casual arts and crafts by hosting a paint-and-sip. Hire a local artist to lead participants through a step-by-step painting. Then, provide refreshments and invite attendees to socialize and have fun.
Sell tickets in advance to earn revenue and ensure you have enough supplies and refreshments to go around.
9. Quiz Bowl
Everyone loves trivia, and your library can invite locals to show off their knowledge by hosting a quiz bowl. Turn your fundraiser into a community event by encouraging participants to team up and compete against other groups. At the end of your quiz bowl, provide prizes to the winning teams, whether bookmarks, keychains, or free books!
Have teams register in advance to raise funding and get your event space set up.
10. Live Readings and Music
Libraries don’t always have to be quiet, and yours can be the heart of your local artistic community with a range of live performances. Invite local musicians to perform a few songs or host an open mic night where participants can pay to reserve a few minutes on your library’s stage.
Make a little extra revenue at your event by selling refreshments and encouraging guests to come back for your next scheduled performance.
Library Fundraisers FAQ
How do libraries get funding?
Libraries primarily receive local government funding. In most cities, property taxes fund libraries, with additional funds allocated from the county budget. However, this funding tends to fluctuate depending on the local government’s priorities.
Additionally, some libraries receive state and federal grants to provide additional programming, like support for local businesses and students. However, this funding often comprises a small portion of a library’s budget.
To supplement these revenue sources, many libraries host fundraisers.
What are the most profitable library fundraisers?
The most profitable fundraisers are ones that engage your community while leveraging the resources your library already has. For instance, a Read-A-Thon aligns with your organization’s core mission and encourages participants to visit your library, helping instill community connections.
Which fundraiser is right for my library?
Discover what fundraiser works best for your library by taking our interactive quiz!
Wrapping Up: Hosting a Memorable Library Fundraiser
Libraries are all about creativity and community engagement, so embrace these elements in your next library fundraiser! If you're not sure which fundraising idea will most appeal to your supporters, consider sending out a survey and asking them directly.
No matter which type of fundraiser you end up going with, be sure to follow up with everyone who participates and thank them for all of their contributions. By practicing gratitude and adopting an improvement mindset, your library will be on its way to raising more funds year after year.
For more fundraising ideas and tips, check out our additional resources:
- What is a Read-A-Thon? How to Host an Engaging Fundraiser. Learn all about Read-A-Thons, the benefits of hosting one, and tips for success in this detailed guide.
- 10+ Middle School Fundraising Ideas to Wow Your Community. The most popular middle school fundraising ideas are engaging for both students and their families. Get inspired with this list.
- 10+ PTA Fundraising Ideas Your School Community Will Love. Looking to branch out with your PTA fundraising? Explore these top ideas to jumpstart your planning.
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