Where+can+I+find+some+money?

Where can you find money for your library? Your suggestions are welcome here!

I have used the following to raise money for my library

I have a Birthday Book Club (see link to the left) - I've already raised over $1,000 since school started in August

2 bookfairs a year - I've used several companies but am happiest with Cardinal Lanes Bookfairs (formerly Bedford Falls);  [|Cardinal Lane Book Fairs]


 * I had 3 book fairs last year ([|Scholastic], Bedford Falls and [|ImagineNation]). The last one was a catalog book fair. This year (2008-2009), I am also havgin 3 book fairs: just had a Bedford Falls book fair on our elementary campus (they're still called Bedford Falls in the Triangle area). In January, we're having another book fair on our upper school campus and I think it will be Bedford Falls again. Then in April, we're having one at Barnes & Noble -- people can buy anything in the store, including coffee and the proceeds help us out! / Carol Gehringer, GRACE Christian School, Raleigh, NC.

Carol - What was your experience with ImagineNation? I am thinking of doing a combination fair in the spring with both ImagineNation (to be able to provide Christian books) and Scholastic (because the profit is just so good!) Lisa Dirks, Asheville Christian Academy; Asheville, NC

Lisa, We did catalog ImagineNation book fair last fall and did pretty well, but ran into some delivery problems with the holidays. We sent home both catalogs (Christian, and Book & Gift) and let families order from either. I think we did pretty well, as I recall, but we're not planning one of those this year.

This year, we're doing two with Bedford Falls - one in Sept. aimed at our lower grades (K-6) and one in January aimed at our upper grades. We didn't do as well as the previous year, but we did well enough.

Then we're doing a 3rd book fair in April -- at Barnes & Nobles. It's just 2 days and we don't have to do any set-up, only publicity! Anything purchased in the store counts, and we get our profit in B&N gift cards. I'm looking forward to having our summer reading lists out at that one, in case parents want to purchase for that. Plus, our Fine Arts group is going to do some displays & performances one evening during our book fair.

Yes, Scholastic gives a better discount, but I'm only going to do them every other year. It takes so much time to deselect the titles from their carts, even when we give them a request list, that it almost isn't worth it.

I find it amusing that some of the Scholastic series like Magic Tree House might only have a few recent titles at our Scholastic sale but ALL the titles at the Bedford Falls one. Bedford has been much more responsive to our selection criteria. -- Carol Gehringer, Grace Christian Schoo, Raleigh, NC

Carol- Unfortunatly I had a bad experience with Bedford Falls this past fair (that was just a few weeks ago); I had sent them two pages of Christian Authors that I wanted them to provide for my middle school/upper school students so they could have a good fiction selection but they didn't send any! I am thinking of going back to Scholastic.....Lisa Dirks, Asheville Christian Academy, Asheville NC

Lisa, Was it Bedford Falls or Cardinal?? Did you give feedback to Gary Odom? I'll be real interested to see how my January book fair goes since it's on our MS/HS campus! -- Carol Gehringer, Grace Christian Schoo, Raleigh, NC

Carol It was Cardinal in Charlotte (which was Bedford Falls until this summer); Jean Odom knew my frustration but didn't really offer to resolve to my satisfaction.....Lisa Dirks, Asheville Christian Academy, Asheville NC

Lisa, Sorry to hear that. . . that is prompting me to write and make sure they will be following the selection criteria for us in January. I wonder if Bedford in Raleigh would book in Asheville???? or if there was someone else to consider.

Have you checked out any other companies? Carol Gehringer, Grace Christian Schoo, Raleigh, NC

---Lisa, I emailed Gary Odom at Bedford Falls and told him that I was concerned about our upcoming MS/HS book fair. I didn't mention your name only that a librarian in western NC didn't have a good experience with Bedford, and that concerned me.

Interesting thing - Cardinal Falls (aka Jean O.) is run by his ex-wife and has a different vision/philosophy. He is very interested in serving Christian schools. His website is: http://bedfordfallsbooks.com/ Don't know if he'll do a book fair in your area or not, but it might be worth a try!-- Carol Gehringer, Grace Christian School, Raleigh, NC